BSC 2460 – Can We Design “Better” Humans?

About The Course

The creation of a human that has specific traits or superhuman abilities has been a central theme in science fiction for decades. An outstanding example of a “created” superhuman comes from the iconic story of a how a scrawny kid from the Lower East Side of Manhattan in 1940 was transformed into Captain America. While a body-altering “super serum” seems unlikely, especially in a time period where penicillin was just starting to be widely used, is the creation of a superhuman possible using our current understanding of the human body?

For >70 years it has been known that the DNA present in each one of our cells is the blueprint that makes us human. In 2003, the blueprint (I.e., the “human genome”) was made freely available to the entire world. Contained within this blueprint are the directions responsible for making every part of the human body, and controlling how it works. Upon publishing of the human genome, it became possible, in theory, to modify specific parts of our blueprint to generate a human with specific characteristics (i.e., a “designer human”). But should we?

In this course, we will explore two broad questions: 1. Can a human be created that has specific characteristics and 2. Should we design “better” humans? We will examine the technologies behind how the human genome can be modified and discuss the controversies surrounding these technologies. Both of these questions will be addressed through an international lens since many of the scientific breakthroughs that allow us to even ask the above questions, and the resulting ethical discussion surrounding these discoveries, were developed outside the US.

Course Goals

You will have an understanding of what is currently possible and impossible in the field of human cloning.

You will be able to lead discussions with your peers on the ethical questions surrounding this rapidly advancing field, interpret new breakthroughs, and understand how manipulation of the human genome may affect their, and the public’s, future health.

Satisfied High School Graduation Requirement Subject: Elective

High School Credit: 0.5