Writing Homework Help. University of Rochester Genes Play a Significant Role in Many Diseases Analysis
These clips are part of a documentary about a neuroscientist in California who finds a “signature” pattern of brain function (in PET scans) that is specific to murderers and serial killers, suggesting a way of diagnosing a murderer by examining their brains and genetics. Then he gets a huge surprise when he looks for the same signature among some ‘normal’ people’s brain scans.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAbUmF4Pujc (Labeled “A Killer’s Genes | Are You Good or Evil? | Horizon | BBC Studios”)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2bPMDTXQTY (Labeled “The Brain of a Murderer – Are You Good Or Evil? – Horizon – BBC”)
Write a paragraph of opinion (~4-8 sentences) about the following issues related to Dr. Fallon’s discoveries. There are no right or wrong answers to this opinion post, instead your grade will reflect whether you actually address the concepts. You might put forth an opinion and support it – or discuss how more research could resolve issues in one direction or another. Consider any or all of the following points in your discussion, but make your opinion substantive:
- What are the implications for this research? Could crimes be prevented with brain scans?
- What are the ethical implications of such a practice (i.e., scanning everyone’s brains, or genes, in order to identify people as psychopaths or potential killers)?
- In a later video, Dr. Fallon reveals that in his family tree are 6 known murderers, including the infamous Lizzie Borden. But Dr. Fallon is not a murderer, which he attributes to the fact that he had a childhood free from abuse. What are the implications of this additional information? Is there a reason to identify people with these signature brain functions in order to protect them?