Discussion questions for academic study

¶ … Human Evolution Heading?

The evolution of the human being has been the subject of constant research since technology has enabled scientists to have a more technical and elaborated approach on this theme. The results of such research are remarkable and at the same time contradictory.

Apparently, according to research conducted, although people have evolved in terms of eating habits, resources available, and living conditions, these evolutions enable them to sometimes use the results to change the human in itself, for instance through the choice of DNA and the desire for perfect traits to improve the next generations (Shute, 2008). At the same time though, the discovery and research of DNA has enabled human kind to avoid the reproduction of mutations and to overall provide a better quality of gens for people. Given the rapid growth of the population by comparison to 10,000 years ago, these changes are significant because they reduce the changes that non-resistant, frail generations are born. Even so, there are those that argue that the mixing of gens and the technological capacity of parents to choose the sex of their unborn child is just a matter of perspective and there are few chances to consider that such actions will become a policy in the future. Regardless, the fact that human kind has managed to get this far in the research area is important and it proves, on the one hand, the advancement of human kind, and on the other, the important perspectives technology, science, and human will can provide to the next generations.

2. Teaching evolution in medical school is important, yet it should not be the cornerstone of medical teaching. It is important because the questions arisen from the constant researches conducted ensures the evolution of science which in turn finds its applicability in every day practice of medical doctors. This is crucial in the improvement of the work doctors eventually undergo. At the same time, the actual research that is constantly evolving is vital and the reason for this research is precisely that of eventually providing more quality assistance.

At the same time though, medical schools have grueling programs that are needed to create great doctors. Indeed, all students in medical schools must be up-to-date to what the research specialists are undergoing. However, spending time on this kinds of subjects does not improve their every day practice and is not crucial for the treatments that are conducted on a day by day basis.

3. The case of the Blue Fugates

The case of the Blue Fugates in Kentucky is representative for the way in which science can, to a certain extent, improve the lives of people. More precisely, it is rather known the fact that people have a tendency to be scared or at best avoid things or other people they do not know. The Blue Fugates is one such case in which people with a rare disease were in fact stigmatized by the fact that they had a bluish color on their skin. After research conducted on this issue, it turned out that in fact there was nothing special about these people and in fact suffered from medical conditions that in time would be cured. Even so, this community was left outside of the social norm particularly because of a change from the ordinary conditions of men. From this point-of-view, medicine and the evolution of research not only saved those people's lives but also contributed to an improvement of their social and community lives.

4. Race and racism