Over the course of the last century, incidents of melanoma have steadily increased. There are various factors behind this trend, but chief among them is radical lifestyle changes adopted by people. As societies became more and more industrialized, activities involving sun-exposure had correspondingly declined. No more do a majority of people spend hours in the…
Tag: DNA
Richard Dawkins’ Blind Watchmaker
What is the thesis (the central idea or main point)? Richard Dawkins’ main argument is that the forces of evolution give an illusion of deliberate design, whereas in truth, they were shaped by gradual and random mutations sifted by the filters of natural selection. What are the main arguments made in supporting the thesis? Drawing…
Under what conditions, if any, is abortion morally acceptable?
The debate surrounding abortion has been a part of public policy discourse for more than half a century now. Despite widespread exposure to the issue and passionate presentation of views there is no generally accepted consensus. Apart from universally recognized pros and cons for legally permitting abortion, there are also localized cultural sensibilities to contend…
Can we really trust our senses and the interpretation of sensory data to give us an accurate view of the world?
The human sensory faculties, in addition to the processing power of the brain, play a vital and definitive role in how knowledge is acquired. The five major sensory faculties are sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch. Cognition is the higher faculty that integrates and interprets inputs from these five senses. But what is also interesting…
Molecular Genetic Diagnostics in the 21st century
The advent of molecular genetic diagnostics has opened up new opportunities in the field of preventative and restorative healthcare. The newly available genetic diagnostic technologies have given rise to legal and moral conundrums that have not been sufficiently resolved. Just as the debate on the broader implications of genetic technology continues, the number of patients…
Forensic Science in the 21st Century
In the last decade or so, the applications of forensic science in criminal investigation have increased. For all sorts of criminal allegations, including rape and murder, the services of forensic scientists are being employed. The infiltration of forensic science into the field of criminal justice is so deep that courses in police academies have included…