Biomedical Sciences and Society
Lecture 1: Introduction
Articles:
1. Yuval, Noah, Harari: Humans are the most dominant species due to shared narratives
which allow us to collaborate, the most prevalent (current) narrative is humanism,
depending on which future narrative takes over, algorithms could eventually replace
us (as the most dominant species).
By telling stories and deciding which stories to believe in, we together decide which
story wins. Over time, we’ve become more intelligent, which is why the story that
wins in the long run is whichever benefits us the most as a whole.
Humanism humans are the central element and our individual freedom our
greatest asset
Technological development offers possibilities but also comes with risks. If we are
not careful, we lose control over our data, decisions, and lives. Interactive\
Deterministic view.
2. Gene: the genome of a Chinese baby has been altered to disable a gene known as
CCR5, blocking the pathway used by the HIV virus to enter cells. Professors in China
reacted appalled, calling He a fraud, while others around the world asked for the
research to be shared.
Fundamentally, there is no difference between gene altering an adult versus gene
altering an embryo, however, the fact that the genes could be passed on to future
generations creates an ethical problem, as this could create a genetically modified
elite, who cannot get sick but pass it on.
3. Kevin Kelly’s Ted Talk: Technological development is exciting and offers an endless
number of possibilities. People cannot and should not try to stop or change this
process Deterministic view.
Lecture slides:
A vaccine is made a success by several different actors: people, infrastructure &
logistics, goods and products, systems and structures, and knowledge and
experience. People remain unvaccinated for a variety of reasons, increasing the
vaccination rate therefore requires careful collaboration between all relevant actors.
Science, technology, and society are intertwined, they emerge through mutual
shaping. However, they have fork-shaped, messy processes of development. For
example, the internet, it was created for researchers to share their findings, but now
the internet is used for so many more things than it was intended for.
S&T is part of the solution to many problems that we have on earth, but it is often
part of the problem as well.
Four views on technology and society:
1. Instrumental view: society develops and uses technology to reach its own goals.
2. Deterministic view: technological development follows its own trajectory, and
technological development has an impact on society.
3. Interactive view (designing): society and technology influence each other
‘What kind of world and society do we want to live in and what kind of
technology contributes to that world.
, 4. Interactive view (adaptive): society and technology influence each other. ‘How
can society reinvent itself in the context of its technological development’.
Tutorial articles:
1. Birth of the Pill: Margaret Sanger (Planned Parenthood) had a lifelong dream which
consisted of a cheap, simple birth-control method that would allow sex to be
spontaneous. A woman should be able to use it without her partner’s knowledge,
had to be safe and reversible, with a pill being best. Katharine McCormick financed
Gregory Pincus so that he could find this pill. Pincus started trial with some of Rock’s
patients, later on mental patients without their consent. They violated two protocols
of modern research: did not inform the patients of the purpose of the study or warn
them of possible risks. 1950s joke: What do you call a woman who uses the rhythm
method? Mommy.
2. NHS offer safer Down syndrome test: the NHS offers pregnant women a safer way to
test whether their child is at risk of developing the syndrome of Down. Before the
NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test) women with a higher risk of a Down’s baby would
be treated via amniocentesis, which involves removing a tiny amount of fluid from
the womb. However, amniocentesis has a high risk of miscarriage, that is why the
NIPT was developed, this test has a very low chance of miscarriage.
But the change created controversy, because it is expected to lead to a greater
number of terminations as more women agree to be screened. However, ministers
point out that the test will only be offered to the same women currently offered
amniocentesis.
3. NIPT documentary: in the video different views over children with Down syndrome is
seen, some see it as a mistake in nature, some see the children the same as every
other child, some see their own child, and some see the pain and difficulties that
come with having a child with the syndrome of Down.
Society brings us to believe a narrative of Down’s syndrome that is tragic and
disastrous.
Societal pressures on new parents to abort unborn babies with Down’s syndrome
are increasing.
The voice and experience of individuals living with Down’s syndrome is excluded
from debate.
Tutorial slides
Development of the pill started in the 60’s, it caused a sexual revolution, as it
detached sexuality and reproduction. It also allowed for women’s emancipation and
the emancipation (normality) of homosexuals. The pill was made by unequal power
structures and was tested in an unethical way.
NIPT can be seen as a development in prenatal diagnostics, however, it is not
refunded (175 euro) by Dutch insurance, unless there is a medical indication. This
could lead to Down syndrome becoming a sign of poverty, as only people with
money can afford the test, and decide whether they want to terminate or not.
Down, Edwards, and Patau syndrome are tested prenatally to give parents the
option to terminate their pregnancy. However, Down syndrome does not belong
with Edwards and Patau syndrome, as Down syndrome has a life expectancy of 60
years, while the other two barely make it past the age of 1.
Lecture 1: Introduction
Articles:
1. Yuval, Noah, Harari: Humans are the most dominant species due to shared narratives
which allow us to collaborate, the most prevalent (current) narrative is humanism,
depending on which future narrative takes over, algorithms could eventually replace
us (as the most dominant species).
By telling stories and deciding which stories to believe in, we together decide which
story wins. Over time, we’ve become more intelligent, which is why the story that
wins in the long run is whichever benefits us the most as a whole.
Humanism humans are the central element and our individual freedom our
greatest asset
Technological development offers possibilities but also comes with risks. If we are
not careful, we lose control over our data, decisions, and lives. Interactive\
Deterministic view.
2. Gene: the genome of a Chinese baby has been altered to disable a gene known as
CCR5, blocking the pathway used by the HIV virus to enter cells. Professors in China
reacted appalled, calling He a fraud, while others around the world asked for the
research to be shared.
Fundamentally, there is no difference between gene altering an adult versus gene
altering an embryo, however, the fact that the genes could be passed on to future
generations creates an ethical problem, as this could create a genetically modified
elite, who cannot get sick but pass it on.
3. Kevin Kelly’s Ted Talk: Technological development is exciting and offers an endless
number of possibilities. People cannot and should not try to stop or change this
process Deterministic view.
Lecture slides:
A vaccine is made a success by several different actors: people, infrastructure &
logistics, goods and products, systems and structures, and knowledge and
experience. People remain unvaccinated for a variety of reasons, increasing the
vaccination rate therefore requires careful collaboration between all relevant actors.
Science, technology, and society are intertwined, they emerge through mutual
shaping. However, they have fork-shaped, messy processes of development. For
example, the internet, it was created for researchers to share their findings, but now
the internet is used for so many more things than it was intended for.
S&T is part of the solution to many problems that we have on earth, but it is often
part of the problem as well.
Four views on technology and society:
1. Instrumental view: society develops and uses technology to reach its own goals.
2. Deterministic view: technological development follows its own trajectory, and
technological development has an impact on society.
3. Interactive view (designing): society and technology influence each other
‘What kind of world and society do we want to live in and what kind of
technology contributes to that world.
, 4. Interactive view (adaptive): society and technology influence each other. ‘How
can society reinvent itself in the context of its technological development’.
Tutorial articles:
1. Birth of the Pill: Margaret Sanger (Planned Parenthood) had a lifelong dream which
consisted of a cheap, simple birth-control method that would allow sex to be
spontaneous. A woman should be able to use it without her partner’s knowledge,
had to be safe and reversible, with a pill being best. Katharine McCormick financed
Gregory Pincus so that he could find this pill. Pincus started trial with some of Rock’s
patients, later on mental patients without their consent. They violated two protocols
of modern research: did not inform the patients of the purpose of the study or warn
them of possible risks. 1950s joke: What do you call a woman who uses the rhythm
method? Mommy.
2. NHS offer safer Down syndrome test: the NHS offers pregnant women a safer way to
test whether their child is at risk of developing the syndrome of Down. Before the
NIPT (non-invasive prenatal test) women with a higher risk of a Down’s baby would
be treated via amniocentesis, which involves removing a tiny amount of fluid from
the womb. However, amniocentesis has a high risk of miscarriage, that is why the
NIPT was developed, this test has a very low chance of miscarriage.
But the change created controversy, because it is expected to lead to a greater
number of terminations as more women agree to be screened. However, ministers
point out that the test will only be offered to the same women currently offered
amniocentesis.
3. NIPT documentary: in the video different views over children with Down syndrome is
seen, some see it as a mistake in nature, some see the children the same as every
other child, some see their own child, and some see the pain and difficulties that
come with having a child with the syndrome of Down.
Society brings us to believe a narrative of Down’s syndrome that is tragic and
disastrous.
Societal pressures on new parents to abort unborn babies with Down’s syndrome
are increasing.
The voice and experience of individuals living with Down’s syndrome is excluded
from debate.
Tutorial slides
Development of the pill started in the 60’s, it caused a sexual revolution, as it
detached sexuality and reproduction. It also allowed for women’s emancipation and
the emancipation (normality) of homosexuals. The pill was made by unequal power
structures and was tested in an unethical way.
NIPT can be seen as a development in prenatal diagnostics, however, it is not
refunded (175 euro) by Dutch insurance, unless there is a medical indication. This
could lead to Down syndrome becoming a sign of poverty, as only people with
money can afford the test, and decide whether they want to terminate or not.
Down, Edwards, and Patau syndrome are tested prenatally to give parents the
option to terminate their pregnancy. However, Down syndrome does not belong
with Edwards and Patau syndrome, as Down syndrome has a life expectancy of 60
years, while the other two barely make it past the age of 1.
