The advancement of science and medical technology always comes with an ethical discussion attached. In previous years it has been embryonic stem cell research and human cloning. As the field of genetic engineering makes significant strides, the discussion of ethical application of scientific knowledge will only get more difficult.
Genetic engineering is the practice of cutting and splicing genes and DNA from different sources. A gene for color blindness could be replaced with one for normal color vision, and a gene that causes cystic fibrosis can be replaced with a "good" gene. Scientists have already created everything from higher yielding plants to glow in the dark monkeys! However, the practice leads to some interesting questions. Should genetic engineering be used on humans? There may not be a right or wrong answer.
One worry is that if genetic engineering is used on humans, it may bring about the discrimination of said individuals. This is a valid point, because even 45 years after the Civil Rights act, we still deal with discrimination pertaining to race. Also, just as someone who is sick can be discriminated against by their employer, genetic engineering could lead to discrimination due to being too healthy! Another issue surrounding genetic engineering is the ability to use it for selective breeding purposes. Should parents be able to custom build a baby from the genetic traits they want? Picking gender is already allowed in some in vitro fertilization clinics. How about a baby with blue eyes, or perfect teeth? This is sounding a bit too close to Adolf Hitler's quest for a perfect race for my comfort. But, what if the parents want to avoid the baby inheriting a genetic defect for the disease they carry? For an individual with an inherited genetic disease, this could mean they could have children without fearing passing on the disease.
The issue of genetic engineering is a very personal one for me. I have a condition called a primary immune deficiency. A primary immune deficiency occurs when a person is born without their immune system or their immune system doesn't function properly. (See this article for more details.) These diseases are caused by genetic defect and most often leave people with an increased susceptibility of infections. In my case, not only does my body not produce enough of one type of antibody, but there is a hidden piece of the puzzle they can't seem to figure out that makes me not respond to the normal treatment very well. My immune deficiency has a very limiting effect on my life, and my best hope is if they can someday perfect adult gene therapy.
Although I do realize that the usage of genetic engineering doesn't come without serious questions, I believe that it will someday benefit us all. And who knows, maybe it will save your life.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
The Economic Recession: Why the Stock Market Isn't a Good Idea
Sometimes I just don't know where the time goes... well, I do. If you haven't figured it out yet, I've got a lot of health problems. Most of my time has been spent in doctor's offices or traveling to them.
This piece is (possibly) one in a series of pieces looking at different sides of the economic recession. I know that the Recession has been extensively covered by the news media, but I feel that they have left out or chosen to ignore some very important factors that have greatly contributed to it.
Today's topic? The stock market.
Now, for those of you that don't know, here's the best explanation of the stock market I could put together: A stock is the capital (money) raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest. (equity) Now here's one of the crazy things: A stock actually has two factors that determine price: What you can buy it for (Your bid), and what you can sell it for. (Your ask) Both are the "real price," because buyers and sellers each have a price in mind. When they match, a sale is made. Basically, you want to buy low, sell high. Could they make it any more confusing?
Anyways, one of the big problems with this approach is the fact that the stock buyer's emotions can run the stock up or down. Take GM for example. News comes out that it's not doing well and may fail. What's the stock buyer's first thought? Sell, sell, sell! This drives down the cost of GM's stock, and adds to the hysteria that GM may fail. This drives more people to sell their stocks. Quite the vicious cycle.
The other main problem with the stock market is the fact that it is used as an icon of economic stability. How on earth can it be used as a basis for economic stability if it's run by emotions? Has anyone looked at some long term numbers rather than short term? Or have all of these people gone absolutely mad?
-Meredith
Questions or Comments? Contact purplepineappletown@hotmail.com
This piece is (possibly) one in a series of pieces looking at different sides of the economic recession. I know that the Recession has been extensively covered by the news media, but I feel that they have left out or chosen to ignore some very important factors that have greatly contributed to it.
Today's topic? The stock market.
Now, for those of you that don't know, here's the best explanation of the stock market I could put together: A stock is the capital (money) raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest. (equity) Now here's one of the crazy things: A stock actually has two factors that determine price: What you can buy it for (Your bid), and what you can sell it for. (Your ask) Both are the "real price," because buyers and sellers each have a price in mind. When they match, a sale is made. Basically, you want to buy low, sell high. Could they make it any more confusing?
Anyways, one of the big problems with this approach is the fact that the stock buyer's emotions can run the stock up or down. Take GM for example. News comes out that it's not doing well and may fail. What's the stock buyer's first thought? Sell, sell, sell! This drives down the cost of GM's stock, and adds to the hysteria that GM may fail. This drives more people to sell their stocks. Quite the vicious cycle.
The other main problem with the stock market is the fact that it is used as an icon of economic stability. How on earth can it be used as a basis for economic stability if it's run by emotions? Has anyone looked at some long term numbers rather than short term? Or have all of these people gone absolutely mad?
-Meredith
Questions or Comments? Contact purplepineappletown@hotmail.com
Thursday, April 2, 2009
It's been a long time... but we're back!
Hello Everyone! I'm happy to announce that Purple Pineapple Town is back after the long hiatus! I've had a bad 6 months with my health and had to focus on the necessary things. I'm very happy announce though that I am back, with (hopefully) more regular postings, as I've got a lot of topics I want to cover. I've also got big plans as far as the layout and design of the site goes, so you're in for a bit of a surprise! I'd like to thank the readers that have stuck around, I really appreciate it. Hopefully I can pay you back a bit with some interesting content.
My friends at Crew Creative Advertising asked me to put up a piece on a new show coming up on Animal Planet, called River Monsters. The details:
The show tackles such legends as: Did a large catfish attack a teenager in a German Lake? Did a school of piranha eat flesh down to the bone of a busload of passengers that crashed in an Amazonian river? Host, biologist, and extreme angler Jeremy Wade travels worldwide to solve these freshwater mysteries, to debunk these myths and to track down these harrowing tales. Each Sunday, he'll come face-to-face with fear and try to understand these mysterious predators with a taste for human flesh, putting his life on the line to find truly monster sized fish while globetrotting through Germany, Australia, Brazil, and even the state of Texas. River Monsters premieres Sunday, April 5 at 10PM (ET/PT) and 9pm central on Animal Planet.
It seems like it could be interesting- I wonder if he'll take on the Loch Ness monster mystery? Here's a sneak preview picture- that's a huge fish!
Keep an eye out for new content and a new site design!
-Mer
My friends at Crew Creative Advertising asked me to put up a piece on a new show coming up on Animal Planet, called River Monsters. The details:
The show tackles such legends as: Did a large catfish attack a teenager in a German Lake? Did a school of piranha eat flesh down to the bone of a busload of passengers that crashed in an Amazonian river? Host, biologist, and extreme angler Jeremy Wade travels worldwide to solve these freshwater mysteries, to debunk these myths and to track down these harrowing tales. Each Sunday, he'll come face-to-face with fear and try to understand these mysterious predators with a taste for human flesh, putting his life on the line to find truly monster sized fish while globetrotting through Germany, Australia, Brazil, and even the state of Texas. River Monsters premieres Sunday, April 5 at 10PM (ET/PT) and 9pm central on Animal Planet.
It seems like it could be interesting- I wonder if he'll take on the Loch Ness monster mystery? Here's a sneak preview picture- that's a huge fish!
-Mer
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