Blog7-Mrs Pamela-Song Zhuokun(Kevin)-Science and Technology

   My Opinions about "Human Cloning"

    Since the emergence of Dolly, cloning has no longer been just an issue that is remote from our lives. We can use this technology to "copy" whatever we like. But can we apply cloning to human beings? In my view, "human cloning" is a toss-up. There will be both beneficial and negative effects if we put "human cloning" into practice.
  
    First, we human beings can get a big benefit through "human organ cloning". Recently, a piece of news deeply shocked me. It was said that a Chinese old woman sold her grandson to an "organ-dealer" in order to get some money for herself. Nowadays, there is a growing number of people having diabetes, heart disease, and so forth. And all these people want to do is to find the organs that can "match up" their bodies. This phenomenon of "organ-trading" gives organ dealers a chance to get wealthy as well as to commit crimes. However, if we can take out some cells of patients and then use these cells to clone their organs, there will be not only a higher probability of organ transplanting, but also a lower crime chance of organ trading.


    Nevertheless, some negative effects will also emerge if we put "human cloning" into practice. First, cloning is a kind of asexual propagation which is against the "natural law". If we clone someone, there will be two same person in the world. Then, who will be more important? Do they have equal rights? Do they have the same "human personhood"? Until now, our ethics cannot give clear answers. Second, we cannot "produce" the absolutely same person by cloning. That is to say,  we can only clone someone's appearance but not his personalities. To illustrate, many couples who lose their kids want their dead children to "be resurrected" by cloning. However, such "substitutes" will only have the dead children's bodies but not characters, because the personalities which cloning children will have can be only determined by postnatal cultivation. Thus, such kind of cloning children may make these couples very disappointed and even regret their decisions of cloning their dead kids.

    In a nutshell, there will be both beneficial and negative effects if we carry out "human cloning". In my viewpoint, we can put "human organ cloning" into practice to relieve the pain of patients but not to execute "human cloning" which will bring disasters to us. Let's hope cloning will do us more benefits in the future. 

Blog 7 - Mr Seto - Chen Chi - Science and Technology

If Jack Dawson Were to be Cloned

This week, we have focused on science and technology. Cloning is a controversial means which requires advanced and latest science and technology. After watching Titanic 3D (2012) in IMAX® for the fifth time today, 

I started to wonder what would happen if Jack (the male leading role in this movie) were to be cloned.

There are some assumptions which can be confirmed. The cloned Jack would still be handsome, attractive and charming. It is because most part of the gene of the original Jack and the cloned Jack are the same. Similarly, Rose (the female leading role) might think that the cloned Jack was very good at sketching. Moreover, both Jacks would be easygoing. Finally, the cloned Jack would still be a guy, of course.

However, the cloned Jack would be somewhat different. Although the new Jack was attractive, Rose might not have a crush on him. It is because this Jack would never be the original Jack, who Rose fell in love with, any more. The cloned Jack would just be the twin of Jack or Jack II, not the original one. Then, the cloned Jack would still be a good artist, but his style might change. It would be possible that Rose did not appreciate his paintings any more. Furthermore, he would also be easygoing, but there has been no longer RMS Titanic for him to board since it foundered on her maiden voyage on 15 April, 1912. As a result, he had no opportunity to encounter Rose. Finally, even if he managed to meet Rose by other means, he might be unable to love her for he was not straight any more.

As a loyal fan of Titanic and Jack, I do not want these things happening. If Jack were to be cloned successfully, it would be a nightmare to me.

Blog 7-Mrs Pamela-Hu Yiyao(Scarlett)-Chimera (Science and Technology)

In 6th November, the research team from Newcastle University and King's College London apply to the HFEA, for wishing to human and animal cells mixed together to create embryos for medical research. HEFA finally passed this application and the United Kingdom even put it into law.

The scientists who advocate this program point out that, after the success of mixing the embryonic cells, they will observe them for 6 days and extracted stem cells from them. Immediately after that, they will destroy these embryonic cells completedly, and never allow them to survive for more than 14 days.

It is reported that, the stem cells extracted from embryos have not fully developed. They are able to breed a variety of human tissues for the treatment of leukemia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, heart disease, organ failure and other illnesses. Because these tissues has the genetic characteristics of the cell provider, the patient after transplantation will not have allograft rejection. Because of that, this technology has high medical value.

Alwhough it may cure so many disease, there are manny people against it. They think it is unethical behaviour and may mix the boundaries of human and other animals. Baldwin, a British scientist, warned that "it is not a scientific advance, but a prelude to human self-destruction."

However, actually, these embryos cannot exist for more than 14 days and they cannot finally develop to be a new creature. In my opinion, this kind of experiment has high medical value and may benefit human beings. But, we must supervise and regulate this experiment strictly to prevent these embryos exist for 14 days. After all, within 14 days, these embryos are just a group of cells, and organ differentiation and nerve cell system have not appeared yet. So, they cannot be considered as a person or an animal within 14 days.

Blog7-Ms Ivy-zhangchenwei- "science and technology"

     science and technology influence our moralty and nature

"First we thought the PC was a calculator. Then we found out how to turn numbers into letters with ASCII — and we thought it was a typewriter. Then we discovered graphics, and we thought it was a television. With the World Wide Web, we've realized it's a brochure."

This quote exactly shows how technology develops. From easy to complicated, from impossible to reality. However, I personally do not want to live in a world with so many advanced technologies. I believe, the more we get from technology means the more we have lost in other aspects, like morality and environment. What is the point of scientific advance without moral advance? Too advanced technology digs out bad characteristics hide in human inside.

 I would like to quote another guy’s words that "People today have forgotten they're really just a part of nature. Yet, they destroy the nature on which our lives depend. They always think they can make something better. Especially scientists. They may be smart, but most don't understand the heart of nature. They only invent things that, in the end, make people unhappy. Yet they're so proud of their inventions. What's worse, most people are, too. They view them as if they were miracles. They worship them. They don't know it, but they're losing nature. They don't see that they're going to perish. The most important things for human beings are clean air and clean water." Though these words seems to be somewhat inaccurate, I do have the same feeling to him to some degree. if we do not have the ability to control the anti-nature power, we had better not use it.

Blog7)-"Ms Ivy Chan"-"Wang Kexin"-"Science an Technology"

 2012 is not the end of the world

   Ever since the movie 2012 hit the screen, the rumors about the end of the world never stop. The prediction that human being will no longer exist after 21^st Dec, 2012 has caused a great panic among some people, and which leads this issue under the spotlight of science. However, what I want to say is that 2012 is not the end of the world; and I would like to explain this to you in the following article.

   One reason we have this 2012 nonsense is there is a prediction in May, 2003. A rock planet, whose name is Nibiru, was go to crash into the earth and end the world, which quietly did not happen. Thus, just like every other predictions of the end of the world ever, when we did not die in May, 2003, it probably just pushed back a bit to 2012.

   Apparently, one more reason why 2012 is picked as a new end point of humanity is because of the Mayan calendar, more specifically, the Mayan long-count Calendar. The Maya is an ancient and mystic civilization, whose people were found of time study and they created their own calendars which were far more accurate than that used in Europe at that time. But just as the calendar hanging on our wall does not cease to exist after December 31, the Mayan Calendar does not cease to exist after December 21, 2012. This date is the end of the Mayan long-count period, but then, just as our calendar begins again on January 1, another long-count period begins for the Mayan calendar. So December 21, 2012 is not the Mayan’s prediction of the end of the world, it is merely the end of their calendar.

   But some people still believe that catastrophes are actually going to happen on the day they picked. The planet Nibiru, as I mentioned before, which is sometimes referred to as Planet X, is apparently on its way to destroy. While, it is probably surprise to hear that there is no such thing as Planet X! In fact, if Nibiru is going to hit us in December this year, it would has to be close enough to the earth now, and we will be able to see it in the sky with our naked eyes. But there is no such thing in the sky, right?

   If you are still worried about that solar storms will send us scary solar flares, because sun activities is nearing its peak. Actually, I cannot deny this theory. We will be hit by solar flares by some point in this year and they will have noticeably effects on our planet. Most noticeably, they will make some very pretty and harmless lights in the sky, called the northern lights. Terrify, I know.

   But I think the most ridiculous theory is the worry of the earth and the sun will line up in the center of the Milky Way, causing something bad to happen. Let us think this way; ever though the earth and the sun will line up in the center of the Milky Way, nothing ever happened in every single year, how come this year is different?

   From the reasons above, we can definitely come to the conclusion: 2012 is not the end of the world. And remember, always deny the apocalypse, because you are usually be right. And when you are wrong, there will be nobody around to say I told you so. :P

Blog7-Ms Lim-Zheng Siyuan-My opinion about baby design

Nowadays the science and technology develop in quite a fast speed. And we human beings are facing many ethical problems on advanced technologies. One of them is baby design. Scientists are doing experiments to change the gene of mice before they are born. In the future, this technology would be used in human beings to design the baby. However, this is a coin-toss.

We can not deny that there are many cases that it is better to change some gene of the babies. Many couples find their fetus having certain heredopathias. If the gene of the fetus is not changed, the babies would suffer from the disease since they are born, and some disease are even deadly. Besides, in other cases, the fetus may carry some gene which cannot cause diseases but are also bad. For example, the color of eyes or hair is different, the height is too short. These would cause trouble in the future, so it is better to change the gene.

However, in the second kind of cases, it is difficult to determine the degree of trouble. Then, there would be many couples want to change the gene of the fetus, just wanting to make their babies more beautiful or have better personalities. In my opinion, in these kind of cases, the gene change cannot be used. In biology, that the baby is the child of its parents is because that the gene of the baby is totally from its parents. If the gene has much unnecessary change, the parents are not its parents anymore. The parents have the responsibilities to raise the baby no matter what the baby is because they give birth to the baby.  

blog 7 - Mrs Ivy Chan - Zhou Shaowen - My Opinion about Science and Technology

Life Belongs to Nature
     Science has brought people great power of creating the world. Nowadays, it even provides people with the power of creating a new creature. In 2010, scientists created a new life which was nicknamed Synthia. This creature was different from trans-gene creatures because the whole DNA of it was artificial. And this research indicates that human beings have known the secret about how a basic life produces itself. However, in my opinion, the success of the research should not be celebrated. I think science is going to be horrible. What if terrorists use this technology to create a life that can cause plague all over the world? What if scientists create a monster by accident? I really fear that one day human beings may have the power to control nature. People can do unexpected things because the market is there. Though technology benefits people, it should not be so advanced that can bring people infinite power. Nature had existed long time before human beings. Its system has been experimented much longer than artificial system. Why do we need to change a lot? From my perspective, it would be better if science did not give us the power to create new lives. Life belongs to nature.

Blog 7 - Ms Lim - Zhang Yaowen (Sophie) - The Fascination of Science

The Fascination of Science

        Nowadays, science is changing the world at an increasing rate, which has a great effect on people’s daily lives.

        Science is broad. It is leading people to discover all kinds of secrets of nature. While people are trying to reveal these secrets, we may get lost in another haze, so people will work harder to figure out them. That is exactly the broadness of science, which attracts more and more people to get immersed in the sea of science.

        Everyone is equal in the world of science. Any individual can post his own opinions, although they may not agree with the theories of Newton or Darwin. However, as long as his points of view are reasonable and logical, they will be acknowledged by the world of science.

        From the birth of human beings, we cannot resist the fascination of science. The door of the world of science will always be open to us.

blog 7 - Mrs Pamela - Li Xinyan (Effy) - My Opinion about Euthanasia (Science and Technology)

Some people think euthanasia is disrespect to life. Legalization of euthanasia is an abuse of the right of life. However, in my opinion, euthanasia should be allowed to execute. The meaning of life lies within one’s pursuit of happiness. When there is no hope to get it and all that has been left is pain and suffering, attempts to remain this torture are truly cruelty and disrespect to life. In contrast, euthanasia can save people who are in torture of incurable diseases further suffering, and reserve their dignity. Moreover, the patient’s family will feel less sorrow if they know the patient will suffer less. They also don’t have to face their loved one rolling back and forth and groaning out of pain in his dying bed. At the same time, they are set free from the huge financial burden of paying endless medical fees. Thus, euthanasia could also bring relief to the patient’s family both mentally and financially.

In a word, I believe euthanasia is a reflection of humanity and progress of human civilization. It should be legalized. 

Blog 6-Mrs Ivy-Xiao Xiao-My Values

My values

  People's values change as their ages change. And my values at now is very different from that in my childhood. Today I want to talk about my different values in different ages.

  When I was a child, I paid more attention on the standard of material life; and I wanted to earn as much money as I could. Because I thought money means happiness. When I grew up, my values changed a lot. Now, I do not want to just take things from the society, and I want to give something back to the society. Based on my own experience, I am a scholar from China; the Ministry of Education in Singapore provide me the tuition fee and the living expenses, and it is Singapore who gave me the chance to study in Notional University of Singapore. I think I take a lot of benefits from the society, and I cannot have so much success now without the help of the society. Therefore, I think it is time for me to do something good for the society to requite the society. Maybe, I am not strong now, for I do not have enough money, and I am not successful enough, but it is significant for us to serve the society no matter how little the things we do. So I will try my best to serve the society from now on.

Blog 6) "Mr Seto"-"Zhu Zikun"-"My personality: INTJ"-"Theme: Personality"

      According to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment I did last Tuesday, I am an INTJ. "I" stands for Introversion preferred to extraversion; "N" stands for iNtuition preferred to sensing; "T" stands for Thinking preferred to feeling; "J" stands for Judgment preferred to perception.
      As I looked through the detailed description of INTJ personality type, I felt that it was exactly describing me. The following are some of the traits of INTJ:

• Extremely logical and rational. I like difficult theoretical challenges. That is why I love mathematics and science and did very well in these subjects throughout my primary and middle school.
• Have no patience with confusion. Exactly, I cannot stand any confusion in almost everything, especially in the process of learning mathematics and science. I am always forcing myself to understand every concept, every law and every formulation completely and clearly. Also, I often get annoyed with arts subjects, like History, Chinese and English, because these subjects appear not so rigorous or logical.
• Have very high standards for performance. I am never satisfied with my performance. I scored 95 or so in mathematics and physics almost every time, which is OK in an objective perception. However, I aimed to get full marks every time. Nevertheless, when I got full marks, I thought, "The exam is very easy. Getting full marks is not a big success."
• Future-oriented. When I was in Junior Middle One, six years before entering the university, I had started looking for majors that suits me and planning how to score high in order to be admitted into the top university in China. Moreover, before flying to Singapore, I had started planning the course schedule and considering what programmes to join in the university. Now, I am concerned about PhD study.
• Work best alone, and prefer to work alone. Exactly, I am not good at cooperating with other people. However, I hope to develop group working skills in the future because I am now aware of the importance of group work.

      Besides, the recommended careers for INTJ, including mathematician, scientist, computer programmer, are exactly what I like. I am happy to be an INTJ. As I work on, I also hope to overcome the weaknesses of my personality.
      By the way, here is the link for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) assessment: http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp Anyone interested can have a try.

Blog 6-Mrs Pamela-Liu Yanan(Linda)-Personality and Criminal characteristic

Personality --- Criminal characteristic

There is a debate about how criminal characteristics have developed. In my opinion, it is from both inherit and environment influences.

 I think there are some genes that control the violence and criminal behaviors. It could make people crazy. Because of genes, sometimes this type of personality may make people do something out of control. Where does this kind of gene come from? The most possible explanation is inherited. Genes are too miracle to describe. As a result, if people have some criminal tendencies, he may have this kind of genes which come from his ancestor. It may also have a family criminal history among his family.

Environment influence is another significant factor. In another words, the criminal characteristic is not merely caused by congenital character but mostly the influence of the living environment later. To illustrate, a young boy whose step-father always maltreat him became a homicidomania at last. Indeed everyone’s growth process is coherent, good living environment for children affected major.

Criminal behavior is a product both of our innate human and our individual and environment. Not only criminal characteristic but also all personalities have influenced by both inherit and living environment. However, whatever your personality is, if you choose to live in a positive way, you will be a lovely person.

Blog6- Mrs.Ivy- Wang Xiao- My Thought on Personality

                                  My Thought about Personality

In my opinion, environment influences one’s personality a lot.

Nowadays, more and more people tend to be materialism.  I still remember the music song sung by a group of young ladies.  The rhythm of the song is very vulgar, which is that these young ladies pursue to buy the most expensive cars, the most splendid houses, and the designed clothes.  It is not wrong to pursuit these things.  But regarding money as the whole life is definitely not a right personality.

Is these young ladies born with this personality?  I think the answer is certainly “no”.  It is the influence of social environment that plays the most important part.  The rich in society are much easier to get everything they want, while the poor have to struggle very hard, and might still not achieve what they want.  Also, many people regard poverty as a disgrace.  That is, they are extremely grief when in poverty, and they will show a little disrespect to the poor.  As a result, people try their best to get rid of the poverty, and be very rich.