Read the excerpt below, and consider the question:
Do you believe that it is ethical or moral to use dead animals, like spiders, in scientific research? Use the RAD method to support your answer.
Engineers put a dead spider to work — as a robot: An Excerpt
Engineers have literally reanimated dead spiders. Now those corpses do their bidding.
It's part of a new field called necrobotics. Here, researchers converted the corpses of wolf spiders into grippers that can manipulate objects. All the team had to do was stab a syringe into a dead spider's back and superglue it in place. Pushing fluid in and out of the cadaver made its legs open and shut.
It all started when Faye Yap saw a dead spider in her lab. Yap is a mechanical engineer at Rice University in Houston, Texas. She wondered: Why do spiders curl up when they die? The answer: Spiders are hydraulic machines, which means they move by pushing fluid around their bodies. For spiders, that fluid is blood. They extend their legs by forcing blood into them. A dead spider has no blood pressure, so its legs curl up.
"We were just thinking that was so cool," says Yap. She and her team wanted to use that ability somehow, and since they sometimes do research on grippers, they decided to try using a spider to make one.
They first tried gently warming the dead wolf spiders in a special kind of kitchen pan. They hoped the wet heat would make the spider expand and push its legs out. It didn't, so the researchers injected fluid straight into the spider's corpse. And just like that, they could control the spider's grip. They could use the dead spider to pull wires from a circuit board — or even pick up other dead spiders. Only after hundreds of uses did the necrobots start to become dehydrated and show signs of wear.
In the future, the team will coat the spider bodies with a sealant in hopes those bodies will last even longer. But the next big step, Yap says, will be to figure out more about how spiders work so they can control each of the legs individually. Her team hopes their findings could translate into ideas to better design more conventional (non-corpse) robots.
"That would be very, very interesting," says Rashid Bashir, who is a bioengineer at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He did not take part in the new research. A spider corpse itself probably would not make an ideal robot, he says. Unlike "hard robots," he suspects, it won't perform consistently — and its body will break down over time. But engineers can definitely take lessons from spiders. "There's a lot to be learned from biology and nature," Bashir says.
Yap is no mad scientist, despite the whole reanimating dead spiders thing. She wonders whether it's OK to play Frankenstein, even with spiders. When it comes to this type of research, she says, no one really talks about what's moral — as in what's right or wrong.
Bashir agrees and says scientists need to figure out the morality of this sort of bioengineering before they get too good at it. Otherwise, he asks, "How far do you go?"
Using the RAD method, we can analyze the ethical and moral implications of using dead animals, like spiders, in scientific research:
1. Recognize the issue: The issue at hand is whether it is ethical or moral to use dead animals, specifically spiders, in scientific research.
2. Analyze the arguments:
- Proponents of using dead animals in research would argue that it allows scientists to make valuable discoveries and advancements in various fields. In this case, by reanimating dead spiders, engineers were able to learn about their hydraulic systems and use them to create grippers. This research could potentially have applications in designing more efficient robots. Supporters might claim that the benefits derived from this research outweigh any ethical concerns.
- On the other hand, opponents may argue that using dead animals in scientific research is inherently unethical and disrespectful towards the animals. They might contend that animals, even after death, deserve respect and should not be used merely as tools or objects for study. Additionally, they may argue that using dead animals in research can desensitize scientists to the value and worth of animal life, potentially leading to other ethical lapses.
3. Decide on a position:
Based on the given information, personal beliefs, and values, individuals may form their own opinions on the ethical and moral implications of using dead animals, like spiders, in scientific research. It is important to consider both the potential benefits of the research and the ethical concerns regarding the treatment of animal remains.
4. Support the position:
To support a position, one could argue that while the engineering research utilizing dead spiders may offer valuable insights and advancements, there should be ethical considerations in place. This might include obtaining consent or specimens from ethical sources, treating the remains respectfully, minimizing any potential harm or distress to the animals during the research, and ensuring that the research is conducted with the highest standards of animal welfare and compliance with ethical guidelines.
Additionally, one might argue for the promotion of alternative methods, such as computer simulations or non-invasive studies, that can achieve similar scientific goals without the use of deceased animals. This approach ensures advancements while minimizing the ethical concerns associated with using dead animals in research.
In conclusion, the ethical and moral considerations surrounding the use of dead animals, like spiders, in scientific research require careful analysis and balancing of potential benefits and ethical concerns. By promoting responsible practices and considering alternative methods, it is possible to conduct valuable research while respecting animal remains and minimizing harm to animals.
now just give me a simple answer
The ethical and moral implications of using dead animals, such as spiders, in scientific research are subjective and can vary depending on personal beliefs and values. Some may argue that the potential benefits and advancements justify the use of dead animals, while others may find it unethical and disrespectful to treat animal remains in such a manner. Ultimately, it is a matter of personal perspective and the implementation of ethical considerations and guidelines during the research process.
now just do it in The RAD method
Recognize: The issue is whether it is ethical or moral to use dead animals, specifically spiders, in scientific research.
Analyzing:
- Supporters argue that using dead animals allows for valuable discoveries and advancements. In this case, reanimating dead spiders helped engineers learn about their hydraulic systems and design grippers. They believe that the benefits outweigh any ethical concerns.
- Opponents argue that using dead animals is unethical and disrespectful. They believe that animals, even in death, deserve respect and should not be used as mere objects for study.
Decide: Whether it is ethical or moral to use dead animals in scientific research depends on individual beliefs and values.
Support: To support a position, it is important to consider both the potential benefits of the research and the ethical concerns regarding the treatment of animal remains. Ethical considerations, such as obtaining consent, respectful treatment of remains, and adherence to animal welfare guidelines, should be in place during research. Promoting alternative methods that minimize harm to animals, such as computer simulations, can also be advocated.
In conclusion, the use of dead animals in scientific research is a subjective matter, with potential benefits and ethical concerns to be considered. Responsible practices and alternative methods can help balance the pursuit of advancements with respecting animal remains and minimizing harm.