Please read instructions carefully and topic carefully. Instructions: Though thi

Please read instructions carefully and topic carefully.
Instructions:
Though this is not an ethics course, ethical issues are inextricably intertwined with human genetics, both in history and in the future. In this assignment, you will use your understanding of human genetics from this course to interpret an ethical issue and provide your informed opinion on that issue. Although it might seem that there is no right or wrong answer on these issues, a clear discussion and good reasoning can sustain better arguments. This is also an opportunity for you to excel in your interpretation of the existing information and your ability to express your opinion coherently and persuasively. 
Your report should be 3.5 to 5 pages, 12 pt. Arial font, 1-inch margins, 1.5 line spacing. Minimally, you should spend at least 1 page on the background to the topic, one page to develop your main argument (or arguments), one page on possible rebuttals to your argument(s) and their possible solutions, and half a page to conclude your essay. You should cite at least 2 peer-reviewed journal articles (see the tutorial on how to search for journal articles) using APA format (see Citation Guide). You may also cite any number of reputable media sources (i.e. New York Times, Scientific American, RadioLab, Ted Talks, Washington Post), also using APA format. See the “Finding Scientific Literature” handout for help in identifying relevant and useful articles from the primary literature. The report is due on Canvas on Tuesday, November 9 at 11:55 pm, with no extensions (note revised deadline). 
We will discuss what you have learned on Thursday, November 9, so you should be prepared to engage in constructive and polite debate on your topic. 
  
Citation Guide 
In this assignment, you will be using APA format to reference sources from the academic literature and websites that you have used in your writing. One very important thing about scientific writing is that direct quotes are used VERY INFREQUENTLY. To receive top marks, you should not directly quote anything, and instead, paraphrase the information in your own words. Below are a few resources for how to cite using APA format. 
Topic:
Forensics. Genetic data has been used in forensic science since the mid-80s and has aided in convictions as well as exonerations. As genetic data are more widely used and as genomic techniques and research develop, the legislature surrounding the use of this technology also needs to be updated. In this topic, you can choose from the following options (or one you identify and get approved by Megan by October 24).
* Genetic profiling. With DNA, we can sometimes predict (with varying levels of accuracy) a person’s appearance, ancestry, or even how they might behave. This information is currently used to help investigators identify leads but is not always admissible as evidence. For example, if we find DNA from a crime scene and use it to predict what a person’s face will look like, the prosecutors will not be able to point at the defendant and say, “it looks like the defendant!” For this topic, you should discuss whether DNA profiling should be admissible as evidence, in addition to being used for generating leads. You should consider examples of when DNA profiling was used to aid in a court case, the accuracy of this type of evidence, and how well a court/jury could interpret the evidence.
* DNA databases. In the United States, the CODIS database contains genetic information from 9 million people. The UK National DNA database contains information from roughly 6 million people. The DNA samples in these databases arrive because of some sort of criminal investigation (no matter how minor), but some critics have argued that it should be unlawful to keep DNA in the database if the person is found innocent. This type of critique led to a law in 2012 in the UK that required the deletion of 1.7 million DNA samples from the national database. Others have raised questions about whether DNA from other databases should be merged with the national databases, even if the persons are not suspected of a crime. For this topic, you should discuss the ethical aspects of having a national or state searchable DNA database accessible to law enforcement. Some specific aspects that you might want to explore are: How samples should end up in the database? Should there be restrictions on when the database is queried? (i.e., should we search the database when a murder happens but not with petty theft?). 
See slides below for further information