This is an exercise in brainstorming, critical thinking, and making a provisional statement of your position.
IMPORTANT: There are THREE parts to this week's exercise. As long as you do all 3, you will get 5 marks. As usual you should prepare your answer offline and save a copy, then copy and paste it into the discussion board.
IMPORTANT: Unlike every other exercise this semester, part of this one is due Friday by 11:59pm and then the second part is due Monday by 11:59pm.
The question you will be thinking about is below.
Given what you know and think today, who do you think should have access to and regulate the future of biotechnology:
Explain why you chose what you did.
Part One: Critical Brainstorming
For each of the possible choices listed above write what could be said in favour of them being given the power. If you can think of another possible answer, you can discuss that as well.
Part Two: Provisional Answer
Provisional means "arranged or existing for the present, possibly to be changed later." By "provisional answer," I mean the answer you would give today based on whatever you know, feel, and have had time to think about so far. You might well change your mind later. But don't say "I can't decide." Of course you can't! But you're going to push through that uncertainty and "choose a lane" anyway. We are fully aware you might choose a different answer later, and that this is a super hard question. But it is one we probably have to face. Spend some time trying to come up with your answer (for today anyway). State your provisional response to the question and explain why you chose as you did.
You should feel free to talk about other aspects of this week's lesson in your post too, but be sure you do the above exercise as part of your post.
Come back on the weekend or Monday and read what some of the other students have posted. Respond to a post made by a student who made a provisional answer different from your own. You can ask a question, agree, disagree, or add to the points made by the student you are responding to. The idea is to simulate a conversation like you might have in class or a break-out group session, and to think about how other people think and see if there is anything to be learned from that. Good luck!