Health & Biomedicine

Health

» 1. What are 3 things people can do to live a healthy lifestyle?

» 2. What are some potential reasons why people may find it difficult to live a healthy lifestyle?

Biomedicine

» Biomedicine:˃ Refers to any issue that involves the human body having to adapt or

change because of disease, the environment, &/or technology˃ It has lead to improvements in health & longevity

» Major benefits include: ˃ Vaccines for measles & polio, insulin treatment for diabetes,

antibiotics, improved treatment for AIDS & cancer, microsurgery

DNA Mapping

» Cells contain DNA—the hereditary material of all living systems.˃ The genome is an organism’s

complete set of DNA and is organized into chromosomes.

˃ DNA contains genes whose sequence specifies how and when to build proteins.

˃ Proteins perform most essential life functions, often working together as molecular machines.

DNA Mapping continued

» By mapping DNA, researchers hope to find what diseases people may be predisposed to & what medicines would work best for individuals˃ http://

www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9832535/DNA-map-offers-hope-on-cancer-treatments.html

» 3. Would you want your DNA mapped? Why or why not? ˃ Discuss: Should there be any regulations or laws to mapping individual’s

genetic information?

Designer Babies

» 4. Would you “design” your baby if you could? (i.e. pick gender, hair/eye color, personality, athleticism, intelligence, etc). Why or why not? ˃ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz-2SvUzT7c ˃ http://www.cbsnews.com/news/designer-babies-on-the-way-in-china-

scientists-attempt-to-unravel-human-intelligence/

» 5. What could be the downside (long-term implications) of designer babies?

Biometrics

» Biometrics refers to the identification of humans by their characteristics or traits.˃ Biometrics is used as a form of identification & access control. It is

also used to identify individuals in groups that are under surveillance.˃ It relies on unique human characteristics - including fingerprints, facial

dimensions or the rings and furrows in the colored tissue of the eye - that can verify a person's identity

˃ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlThIvXn2Hk

» 6. Identify the pros & cons of biometrics

Biometrics continued

» Discuss:˃ Are there limits to using technology to track &/or identify people?

˃ When does technological tracking begin to infringe on privacy, if ever?

˃ Are biometrics tamperproof? (i.e. can you get around them)?

˃ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xgv10Pa168