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This class explores the changing political choices and ethical dilemmas of American scientists from the atomic scientists of World War II to biologists in the present wrestling with the questions raised by cloning and other biotechnologies. As well as asking how we would behave if confronted with the same choices, we try to understand the choices scientists have made by seeing them in their historical and political contexts. Some of the topics covered include: the original development of nuclear weapons and the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; the effects of the Cold War on American science; debates on the riskiness of nuclear power and pesticides; radiation experiments on terminally ill patients and CIA mind-control experiments with LSD on unwitting participants; the effects of secrecy on science; the trials and tribulations of medical researchers confronted by AIDS activists; and debates on the human genome project, human cloning, embryonic stem cell research, and designer babies.

Requirements

Besides lectures, there are videos shown during class. As far as the class size permits, there is also considerable class discussion, and students should come prepared to participate in these discussions. That means doing the reading before class. Regular attendance is required and monitored. Course requirements also include three 7 page papers, and a final exam.

Grading

The final course grade is determined as follows:

Required Texts

Marks, John. The Search for the Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control. New York, NY: Times Books, 1979. ISBN: 9780812907735.

Kidder, Tracy. Mountains Beyond Mountains: Healing the World: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer. New York, NY: Random House, 2003. ISBN: 9780375506161.

Rifkin, Jeremy. The Biotech Century. New York, NY: Penguin, 1999. ISBN: 9780753808481.