The below lesson was modified using the Beep site. Bioethics education project. 

Introduction: This is to be completed in your notebook. All materials are hyperlinked for you to click on and go to the site with information.

What is bioethics?

  • Ethics, sometimes called moral philosophy, is concerned with how we should decide what is right and what is wrong.
  • Biology, the science of life, is concerned with the normal structure and function of living things at various levels of organisation.
  • Biomedical science usually incorporates biochemistry, physiology, pharmacology and medicine (human and veterinary).
  • Biological/Biomedical sciences + Ethics = BIOETHICS
  1.  In your own words define bioethics using the above information.

  2. Think of some examples of decisions we must make, based on what we think is right or wrong, about:

    • the biosphere
    • ecosystems
    • habitats
    • organisms  
    • organs
    • tissues
    • cells
    • subcellular structures down
      to the molecular level 

  3. For zoology go to the secion on animal ethics and summarize what it says. Environmental science go to part 3 below. 

  4. Next go to Humans and other animals in the navigation. What does it say about language, self-awareness, and moralizing?
  5. Pick one of the topics and summarize what it say. They are Animals in research, recreation, food, fashion, or work.
  6. In beginning zoology why do you think this is an important topic to be mindful of? 


     Environmental do these for 3-5

     3. For environmental science go to the section on Environmental ethics and come up with your own definition for environmental ethics. 

     4. Go to the section on biodiversity and answer the below questions.

  • What is biodiversity?

  • What are the 3 components of biodiversity?

  • Where do you find the greatest biodiversity?

  • Why is biodiversity important?

  • What are main threats?

  • Can we do anything to enhance biodiversity?

     5. Out of the ways we can enhance biodiversity pick one to research by finding 2 videos and 1 article. Cite what the sources are and summarize what the main points are. Make sure the cites are credible and science based. 



Stop





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Resources

Lessons from NABT


The Science and Ethics of Animal Research from the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research

TED talk on intraspecies internet

Article about animal intelligence- Discover Magazine

Animal Intelligence Article from Scientific American

The secret life of Dogs- Dog research and intelligence

Zoobiquity- Website and new degree based on the book.  I would highly suggest reading it.

What makes a mammal?- This is a brain comparison

Also discussed are various invertebrate species and their intelligence including octopus.

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Gorillas in the Mist is a movie I watch in class as well and we discuss the impacts of war and human conflict on animal species.  Recently the use of Palm Oil has been in the news due to the deforestation and habitat loss it is causing for various animals.