TRANSGENIC TECHNOLOGY:ETHICS AND CONTROVERSY

Using transgenic technology issues to develop critical thinking skills in the

classroom

Some possibilities:

• Critical examination of information sources

• Risk-benefit analysis

• Role-playing to present different viewpoints

• Debate

Critical examination of information sources

• Information vs. propaganda

• Peer-reviewed scientific literature vs. other sources

• Reliability of internet sources?

• Monarch butterfly controversy as case study

Risk-benefit analysis

• Identify and define risk• What could go wrong? (Identify specific risk)• How likely is it to happen? (Assess

probability of risk occurring)• How harmful is it if it does occur? (Assess

the consequences)

Quantifying risk

• Risk = hazard x exposure

• Amount of risk = hazard x exposure

safeguards

Assessing benefits

• Does it save lives or improve health?

• Does it improve quality of life?

• Does it solve problems?

• Does it increase efficiency?

• Who derives benefit?

Role-playing and debate

• Presentation of two sides of issue with students researching and adopting opposing viewpoints

• Assignment of project to develop plan of action and then presentation of proposal