Introduction

Modern biotechnology is the most important new development in science. It will change our lives profoundly by finding new cures for diseases and damaged organs, and perhaps by extending the human life span. Aldous Huxley's famous science fiction novel, Brave New World, explores some of the implications of this new technology.

Guiding Questions

What are clones?
Is it ethical to clone animals and people?
What are stem cells?
Is it ethical to clone human embryos to obtain stem cells?

Questions

1. Who was Jean Baptiste Lamarck and what was his theory of evolution?
2. Who was Charles Darwin and what was his theory of evolution?
3. Who was Bishop Wilberforce and why did he debate Thomas Huxley at Oxford on June 30, 1860?
4. What are some objections to the theory of evolution?
5. Why do the Catholic and other major Christian churches not object to the theory of evolution?
6. What is the Roslin Institute and what did it achieve in 1996?
7. What happened to Dolly the sheep clone?
8. Why is cloning controversial? What do some people think is wrong with it? What ethical problems are involved?
9. Is it legal to clone animals in the U.S. now? People?
10. Is it legal to experiment with embryonic stem cells in the U.S. now? Should it be, or should it not be legal?

Internet Resources

Jean Baptiste Lamarck
Charles Darwin British Naturalist
Dolly the Sheep
Roslin Institute
Evolution and Creationism
Beliefs of Different Faith Groups about Evolution
Creationism and Creation Science
Ban on Human Cloning a U.S. Goal at United Nations
Should We Clone Animals?
The Great Debate
Samuel Wilberforce

Activities

1. Make a diagram listing great discoveries in biology.
2. Create a chart identifying five causes and effects in the development of genes, chromosomes, and stem cells.
3. Draw a map showing the location of parts of the human cell.
4. Research and describe cloning plants, animals, and humans.
5. Write a paragraph explaining what a stem cell is.
6. Choose an ordinary citizen in the year 2100 and create a "Day in the Life" journal.
7. Create a children's book about the theory of evolution.
8. Imagine yourself living in the year 2100. Write a letter to your parents (130 years old but still look young)
9. Imagine yourself living in the year 2100 and illustrate a scene you might witness there.
10. Find three primary sources describing the 1st clone- Dolly the sheep.
11. Design a chart depicting the sequence of events that led to cloning Dolly.
12. Imagine yourself as a newspaper correspondent sent to document Dolly. Write a newspaper article about the event.
13. Compare and contrast evolution vs. "creationism" and Darwin's theory vs. Lamarck's theory.
14. Identify the different points of view involved in teaching the theory of evolution in high school biology classes, in the recent controversy in the Kansas City Board of Education.