Ethics, Behaviorism, Genomics, and Societal Impacts in Scientific Exploration

Ethics, Behaviorism, Genomics, and Societal Impacts in Scientific Exploration

Importance of Ethics in Scientific Research

            Scientific research ethics are principles that govern the actions of researchers. These ethics should be upheld during research design, data collection, and the dissemination of findings (Weinbaum et al., 2018). Examples of research ethics include honesty, anonymity, confidentiality, informed consent, responsible publishing, and proper dissemination of findings (Weinbaum et al., 2018). Ethics play a significant role in the process of research. Firstly, ethics ensure that the rights and dignity of respondents (study participants) are protected. This is accomplished via ethical considerations such as informed consent. Informed consent requires all researchers to inform participants of any foreseeable risks or benefits of scientific research (Weinbaum et al., 2018). By so doing, the possibility of coercion is eliminated, and voluntary participation is achieved.

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The rights and dignity of respondents are also upheld via confidentiality and anonymity. These principles ensure that the participant’s right to privacy is achieved. Researchers should avoid personal identifiers during data collection and dissemination (Weinbaum et al., 2018). Confidentiality and anonymity eliminate the risk of discriminating against participants. Ethical practices such as protecting human participants avert the likelihood of physical, psychosocial, or legal harm (Weinbaum et al., 2018).

The other importance of ethics is the maintenance of the validity and integrity of scientific research. For example, informed consent eliminates the possibility of coercion in the study (Weinbaum et al., 2018). This increases the integrity of the scientific study because any form of manipulation is eliminated. The integrity of the research is upheld via confidentiality. Confidentiality enables non-discrimination by keeping all personal identifying information private (Weinbaum et al., 2018). The validity of scientific research is achieved by honesty and transparency. For instance, honesty, transparency, and open communication should be upheld when disseminating research findings.

The Theory of Behaviorism and Its Description of Human Development

Behaviorism is the theory of human development that focuses on learning. According to this theory, an individual’s behavior depends on environmental stimuli (Reimann, 2018). Behaviorism can be demonstrated by classical and operant conditioning (McLeod, 2022). Classical conditioning occurs via three successive stages. The first stage precedes conditioning. Essentially, during this stage, an environmental stimulus elicits an unlearned behavior (McLeod, 2022). The elicited behavior is natural; hence, learning a new behavior has not occurred. The second stage entails conditioning. This happens when the unlearned behavior is integrated with the neutral stimulus. The neutral stimulus should be combined with the unlearned behavior to elicit a response (McLeod, 2022). The third stage occurs and indicates a newly learned behavior. This is called a conditioned response (McLeod, 2022).

On the other hand, in operant conditioning, the likelihood that a response would be repeated depends on its effects. According to operant conditioning, positive behaviors, as evidenced by rewards and reinforcement, are more likely to be repeated, whereas negative behaviors, as evidenced by punishments, are less likely to be repeated (McLeod, 2022). Positive and negative reinforcement are major aspects of operant conditioning. Positive reinforcements occur via reward systems. These rewards strengthen behavior and increase the likelihood of repeating the desired behavior (Reimann, 2018). In this context, reward systems are the motivating factor. Negative reinforcement occurs when an undesirable stimulus is terminated. By so doing, negative reinforcement ensures that the desired behavior is strengthened.

Behaviorism is an important theory because it describes the learning process among human beings. For example, operant conditioning can be applied when formulating strategies for promoting improving learning among students. In this context, reinforcement using rewards or compliments can enhance learning. Additionally, instructors should ensure that learners link satisfying emotional experiences to learning.

Ramifications of the Human Genome Project

The human genome project focused on or aimed to develop the human genome sequence. It culminated in evolving sequences representing over 90 percent of the human genome (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2022a). This project propelled policies and support to enhance information sharing. The human genome project had technological and biological ramifications (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2022a). Firstly, the project led to a comprehensive understanding of a significant proportion of human genes. This knowledge has been applied to predict the occurrence of diseases and mitigate them. Notably, this knowledge is used for genetic diseases. For example, the risk of suffering from schizophrenia is high among first-degree relatives of a patient (McCutcheon et al., 2020).

Secondly, the project revolutionized medical practice. The availability of more genetic information enhanced the accuracy of diagnosis of various conditions. This information also transformed forensic science by improving DNA fingerprinting (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2022a). This technique reveals the unique identity of individuals based on their genome sequence. Furthermore, the availability of more genetic information developed the model of personalized medicine. Personalized medicine ensures that the treatment modality with the highest response and least toxicity is selected. This is relevant in oncology to manage conditions such as breast cancer.

Thirdly, the human genome project fostered the creation of complex computational and analytical data analysis techniques. This was accomplished by promoting collaboration among an interdisciplinary team. As a result, this project advocated for sharing information and data with the general public. Information sharing is beneficial to researchers and the general public. It allows timely access to critical information. Notably, convenient access to genetic information enables researchers to develop personalized medicine, predict the prognosis of the disease, and advocate for health promotion and prevention.

Consequences of Sex Selection

Sex selection allows parents to choose their offspring’s sex. Consequently, sex selection has various implications. It can cause an unbalanced sex ratio among members of society. This occurs when parents prefer one sex (Ganguli-Mitra, 2021). This is an enabler for sex discrimination and stereotyping. For example, male offspring are selected in countries like China (Ganguli-Mitra, 2021).

On the other hand, female offspring are chosen among Caucasians (Ganguli-Mitra, 2021). In addition, sex selection predisposes parents to preventable medical risks. For instance, procedures such as in vitro fertilization predispose the mother to ectopic pregnancy and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (Ganguli-Mitra, 2021).

Nonetheless, sex selection enables the parents to avert sex-linked diseases. Females are least affected by sex-linked diseases because they can be carriers of defective and normal genes. On the other hand, males have only one X chromosome and cannot be carriers of sex-linked diseases. Males are the worst hit by these diseases. Examples of these diseases include Fragile X syndrome and hemophilia (National Human Genome Research Institute, 2022b). Therefore, in this context, sex selection will be beneficial for medical purposes.

Protagonists for sex selection argue that it upholds an individual’s right to reproduce. In this context, individuals are allowed to select the sex of their offspring. In addition, sex selection may promote family balancing in which parents are allowed to have their desired number of male and female offspring (Ganguli-Mitra, 2021). It is worth noting that religiously, sex selection is prohibited by the Roman Catholic church (Ganguli-Mitra, 2021). Lastly, sex selection is a costly procedure that has financial implications for the patients and the government. Patient education should address aspects such as the likelihood of conceiving or having children of the un-desired sex despite undergoing sex selection procedures (Ganguli-Mitra, 2021).

References

Ganguli-Mitra, A. (2021). Sex selection and global gender justice. Journal of Social Philosophy, 52(2), 217–233. https://doi.org/10.1111/josp.12405

McCutcheon, R. A., Reis Marques, T., & Howes, O. D. (2020). Schizophrenia – An Overview. JAMA Psychiatry, 77(2), 201–210. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.3360

McLeod, S. (2022). Behaviorist Approach. https://www.simplypsychology.org/behaviorism.html

National Human Genome Research Institute. (2022a). Human Genome Project. https://www.genome.gov/about-genomics/educational-resources/fact-sheets/human-genome-project

National Human Genome Research Institute. (2022b). Sex Linked. https://www.genome.gov/genetics-glossary/Sex-Linked#:~:text=And%20so%20some%20of%20the,and%20also%20Fragile%20X%20syndrome.

Reimann, A. (2018). Behaviorist Learning Theory. The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118784235.eelt0155

Weinbaum, C., Landree, E., Blumenthal, M. S., Piquado, T., & Gutierrez, C. I. (2018). Ethics in scientific research: An examination of ethical principles and emerging topics.

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Ethics, Behaviorism, Genomics, and Societal Impacts in Scientific Exploration

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 Chapter 1

1. Why are ethics so important to scientific research?
2. Review the 5 major theories of human development (Psychoanalytic, Behaviorism, Cognitive, Humanism, and Evolutionary). Explain your chosen theory and why it best describes human development.)

Chapter 2

1. Explain some of the ramifications of the Human Genome Project.
2. If sex selection were allowed, it would have several possible consequences.

Your answer should be 1-2 pages in length.