2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

To what extent does Patricia Piccinini challenge our perspective on the ethics of bioengineering?

Biological engineering Biological Engineering is the interdisciplinary study that focuses on the application of engineering principles to analyse biological systems through the use of human-designed machines, processes and structures (Bee.cals.cornell.edu, 2019). The history of bioengineering sprouts back to the first world war with British scientist Heinz Wolff in 1954. His work in both the electrical engineering and medical field helped him realise the mass significance this research could have for the world (Puckett, 2018). Nowadays these studies have evolved exponentially over time, with vast research areas in which bioengineering is concerned. The areas specific to Piccinini’ concepts are that of molecular bioengineering, Nucleic acid engineering and physiological engineering. What these three studies hold in common, however, is there focus on life and the natural world. Whether this in organisms and toxins/pathogens, DNA and Reproduction, or cosmetics and physiological functionality all of these disciplines require research and testing on live structures (Bee.cals.cornell.edu, 2019). Therefore, introducing a myriad of ethical dilemmas with many arguing that the relationship between engineering and biology/nature is morally problematic.

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