This course is offered for doctoral students. The current technologies in life sciences such as assisted reproductive technology, genetic diagnosis, gene therapy, life support and use of embryonic stem cells and iPS cells are developing drastically.
Along with them, however, many problems have been arising, including those on the following subjects:
1) bioethics: a human dignity, human rights,
2) security: human genomic information, genetic recombination, studies on human embryonic stem cells and their utility, epidemiological studies,
3) dual use: diversion of research results into biological weapons.
In this course, specialists in bioethics called on as adjunct lecture deliver introductory lectures with concrete and intelligible descriptions. At the end of each class, a discussion is held among students with the lecturer to deepen their consideration and to learn how to handle and settle bioethics problems. Students are required to take the leadership in the discussion as group leader. Through this course, we hope students to cultivate their ability of global leadership with wide visions, without withdrawing into their own field of expertise, which is indispensable for playing active roles in various fields such as industry fields as well as academic fields.
Students' qualifications will be assessed with the written report on bioethics from the viewpoint of the qualities for doctor.
This course is offered by Education Academy of Computational Life Sciences (ACLS). Students who are not enrolled in ACLS must obtain permission from the instructor before registration.
The goal of this course is for students to (1) learn the basics of bioethical and safety issues that have arisen in association with the significant development of the life sciences, and (2) acquire the skills for thinking about and properly dealing with these issues as a scientist or engineer.
human genome information, biosecurity, dual use
✔ Specialist skills | Intercultural skills | Communication skills | ✔ Critical thinking skills | ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills |
This course is an intensive course, and three classes are given.
In each class, two 2 credit hour lectures in succession are conducted by adjunct lectures, specialists in bioethics, followed by 1 credit hour discussion among students with the lecture on current topics and concrete problems.
Course schedule | Required learning | |
---|---|---|
Class 1 | Property of the human genome information (1): Basics of the property and usage of the human genome information. | Understand the essential features and contemporary usage of the human genome information. |
Class 2 | Property of the human genome information (2): Problems of the usage of the human genome information. | Explain the current situation of the problems of the usage of the human genome information. |
Class 3 | Landscape of biosecurity and the studies that a dual use becomes the problem. | Acquire the basics of biosecurity and dual use on bioethics. |
There is no assigned textbook.
In each class, the lecturer hands out materials.
Reports in each class (100%).
There are no prerequisites for taking the course.