Science & Discovery

Should gene-drive technology be used to eliminate disease-carrying insects? Disease prevention must be weighed against irreversible changes to interconnected ecosystems.

Should humans deliberately alter wild species to reduce suffering? Intervention may help some animals while creating ecological consequences that are difficult to foresee.

Should researchers revive extinct species if habitats remain uncertain? Restoration can inspire investment while diverting resources from species that still need protection.

Should parents share a child's genetic information publicly to seek research help? Collective learning may offer hope while creating a permanent privacy loss for someone else.

Should adults be allowed to refuse information about their own genetic risks? Knowledge can support choices, but learning an uncertain risk may carry lasting personal burdens.

Should insurers be allowed to price coverage using genetic predictions? Risk-based pricing can conflict with solidarity and protection from inherited disadvantage.

Should employers ever have access to genetic risk information? Planning and safety arguments can conceal discrimination based on possibilities rather than present ability.

Should genetic testing companies be forbidden from selling customer data? Secondary use may support research while exceeding what customers understood they were agreeing to.

Should people be allowed to patent parts of the human genome? Ownership can encourage investment, but naturally occurring biology raises different questions from invention.

Should pharmaceutical companies have to disclose the full cost of developing a drug? Transparency may inform pricing debates while exposing information competitors could exploit.

Should lifesaving medicines be exempt from patent protection? Access and affordability compete with incentives to finance difficult and uncertain research.

Should private companies own patents on discoveries funded by taxpayers? Commercial incentives can support development, but public investment creates a claim to shared benefits.