1 The Food of the Gods Reflection Paper Melany Beltran Developmental Biology 2 Introduction In “The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth,” H.G. Wells explores the moral implications of conducting scientific experiments through the story of two scientists, Mr. Bensington and Dr. Redwood, who accidentally create a revolutionary substance named Herakleophorbia IV, popularly known as Boomfood. Consumption of this chemical has the unusual capacity to speed up growth in organisms (Wells). The story grows, taking us deeper into the moral dilemmas these researchers face as they consider the repercussions of their findings. Dr.RedRedwood is initially motivated by scientific curiosity and the desire for notoriety. In contrast, Dr. Bensington is more interested in possible applications of Herakleophorbia IV in addressing feeding the disadvantaged and improving living conditions. Our protagonists give much thought to ethical issues, but their perspectives change as the story progresses. At first, they think about how their finding will help others. As Herakleophorbia IV’s effects become more apparent, they must face the ethical dilemmas of changing the natural order of things. Ethical Guidelines in Biological Researches The development of current ethical rules for biological research can be traced back to when Nazi human experimentation was uncovered at the Nuremberg Trials during World War II. 1947 saw the birth of the Nuremberg Code, directly fueled by the wartime atrocities (Czech, 2018). Ethical oversight gained prominence due to the Tuskegee Syphilis Study, which took place in the United States from 1932 to 1972. Evolving alongside the expansion of knowledge in biology, ethical principles now play a crucial role in scientific research. The formation of IRBs in the mid-20th century was a significant step in guaranteeing the moral treatment of research subjects. The Helsinki Declaration and the subsequent 1979 Belmont Report helped further define ethical principles and strengthen protections for research subjects. A wide range 3 of institutions are responsible for establishing and implementing these standards, like the WHO and UNESCO, which play crucial roles (D’Amato, 2020). Ethical regulation receives help from government agencies and trade groups. The persistence of ethical violations demonstrates problems with regulation and compliance. Conclusion “The Food of the Gods and How It Came to Earth” sheds light on the moral questions raised by scientific experiments. Herakleophorbia IV presents challenges for Mr. Bensington and Dr. Redwood, who were motivated by curiosity and the pursuit of development. Ethical choices in science are intricate because of numerous variables. These historical events illustrate how ethical standards have evolved in biological research, specifically in response to abhorrent occurrences like the Nuremberg Trials and Tuskegee Syphilis Study. All research efforts should undergo a rigorous ethical screening before being deemed successful. Finally, Wells’ depiction of ethical issues in his work serves as a reminder that the discussion of ethics in scientific and scholarly activity is a continuing and essential task (YouTube, 2020). It is more important than ever to defend ethical norms, protect the rights of study participants, and encourage a culture of responsible inquiry. 4 References Czech, H., Druml, C., & Weindling, P. (2018). Medical Ethics during 70 Years after the Nuremberg Code, 1947. Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 130, 159-253. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00508-018-1343-y D’Amato, M., Bodner, M., Butler, J., Gusmão, L., Linacre, A., Parson, W., … & Carracedo, A. (2020). Ethical publication of research based genetics and genomics of biological material: guidelines and recommendations. Forensic Science International: Genetics, 48, 102299. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fsigen.2020.102299 Wells H.G. The Food of gods, chapter four – The Giant Children. Chapter the Fourth – The Giant Children. (n.d.). https://americanliterature.com/author/hg-wells/book/the-foodof-the-gods/chapter-the-fourth-the-giant-children YouTube. (2020, July 26). Why research https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA1dL6NqVyw needs ethics. YouTube. 1 Giant flying wasp Melany Beltran Developmental Biology 2 The novel’s depiction of a huge flying wasp raises serious questions when seen through the perspectives of biology and physics. The enormous weta and the Goliath beetle are just two examples of giant insects seen in the real world, but neither of these creatures comes close to the proportions portrayed in the novel. To begin, we hit a wall at the square-cube law. The volume and weight of an object grow considerably quicker than its surface area when the wasp’s size grows. This behavior is biologically significant as it increases the strain on an insect’s exoskeleton as it tries to carry the animal’s weight. It will not be easy to fly because of the higher energy required for generating lift from the proportionally enormous wings required by the additional weight. The story also needs to describe the physiological modifications necessary for such an organism to survive. It is possible that the insect would have to undergo significant changes to its respiratory, circulatory, and musculoskeletal systems for it to grow to the size mentioned. These modifications must deal with oxygen diffusion, circulation, and flight dynamics. 3 References The arthropod story – understanding evolution. Understanding Evolution – The one-stop source for details on evolution. (2021, May 7). https://evolution.berkeley.edu/the-arthropodstory/ https://evolution.berkeley.edu/the-arthropod-story/an-evolutionary-constraint- small-size/Links to an external site.
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