Activity

Bioethics: Saviour Babies

Duration: 3 period(s)
Suggested level: Secondary Cycle Two
Subject: Culture and Citizenship in Québec, English Language Arts, Law

Description

This activity involves a class debate on two hot topics in biotechnology: the selection of human embryos and the use of a baby’s tissues or organs to cure another person. Students then draft a bill on these topics.

Learning objectives

  • Reflect on ethical and legal issues raised by scientific advances
  • Learn about parliamentary debate
  • Take a position and make oral arguments
  • Learn about drafting a bill

Subjects and subject-specific competencies

Culture and Citizenship in Québec - Secondary IV

Cultural realities and compulsory main concepts: Technology and future challenges - Technological innovation.

Compulsory specific concepts, and related topics and examples: Biotechnology, Treatment of diseases, Technologically assisted reproduction, Genetic selection and eugenics.

  • Competency 2: Reflects on ethical questions:
    • Discerns the ethical dimensions of a situation:
      • Describes a situation.
      • Calls on relevant information and concepts.
      • Identifies existing tensions.
    • Examines a variety of points of view:
      • Considers points of view and experiences.

Français, langue seconde

  • Compétence 1: Lire des textes variés en français
  • Compétence 2: Interragie en français
  • Compétence 3: Produire des textes variés en français

Duration

Two to three classes

Connections with other subjects

  • Science and Technology, Competency 1
    • Secondary 2: Life-sustaining processes (cells), survival of species (fertilization, stages of human development); OR
    • Secondary 3: Technological world, biotechnologies (Cloning, assisted reproduction, cell cultures)

Broad areas of learning

  • Heath and Well-being: Awareness of the consequences of collective choices on individual well-being

Cross-curricular competencies

  • Exercises critical judgment: Forms an opinion
  • Communicates appropriately

External pedagogical tools

The National Assembly provides a teaching guide on how to draft a bill (PDF) on its youth website Par ici la démocratie! (French only).

Additional ressources

Fiction:

  • Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, 1931 (futuristic novel)
  • My Sister’s Keeper (2009 American film directed by Nick Cassavetes, starring Cameron Diaz and Abigail Breslin)
  • Gattaca (1997 futuristic film directed by Andrew Niccol, starring Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman)