Bioethics debate: research vs risk
Debate whether growing and studying dangerous bacteria is worth the risk it carries to researchers and the public.
Written CER on risky pathogen research: position with specific safeguards, evidence about benefit and containment risk, reasoning, and rebuttal.
- 1Do thisDebate whether growing and studying dangerous bacteria is worth the risk it carries to researchers and the public.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: Written CER on risky pathogen research: position with specific safeguards, evidence about benefit and containment risk, reasoning, and rebuttal.
- 4Submit it here
- 1CMSD website. Go to clevelandmetroschools.org and click the Clever button.
- 2Clever. Clever opens. Sign in if it asks.
- 3Microsoft (district) login. Use your district Microsoft account (the one for school).
- 4Schoology. Open Schoology, then your class, then Assignments, and find the file named below.
The file to submit is named: Genetics of Disease (Medical Interventions) › Aseptic technique, culturing, selection, resistance genes, and data reliability. › CEROpen Schoology
- CER:
- Claim, Evidence, Reasoning — make a claim, back it with evidence, explain your reasoning.
- SOP:
- Standard Operating Procedure — the exact steps to follow (especially in a lab).
- Tracker:
- Your PLTW progress log where you record completed evidence.
- myPLTW:
- The PLTW course site where you do the online activities — you open it through Schoology.
Minute-by-minute · 80-minute block
💡 Big idea: How do scientists and society decide when the potential benefits of dangerous research justify the risks it creates?
- 0-10 minRead scenario; define biosafety level and dual-use research in notebook
- 10-25 minDraft CER: claim (proceed or not, and with what safeguards), reason, evidence from the scenario
- 25-40 minPartner exchange: find someone who weights the risk differently; record their strongest counterpoint
- 40-55 minWrite rebuttal; revise safeguard requirement if the counterpoint identified a real gap
- 55-68 minPost CER to the discussion board
- 68-80 minRead two classmates' CERs; leave a one-sentence response to each
- • In 2014, the CDC accidentally released live anthrax from a high-security lab; in 2015, smallpox vials were found in an unsecured FDA storage room.
- • These incidents show that the question is not hypothetical: lab containment failures happen, and the consequences can be catastrophic.
- • Today's debate asks where the line is between necessary risk and irresponsible danger.
- • Exit goal: a posted CER with a specific safeguard requirement, evidence about risk and benefit, and a rebuttal.
- 1Read the scenario: studying superbugs helps treatment but requires growing risky cultures.
- 2Write your Claim: should this research proceed, and with what safeguards?
- 3Add a Reason and Evidence weighing benefit against containment risk.
- 4Trade with a partner who weighs the risk differently and note their point.
- 5Write a Rebuttal answering it.
- 6Post your CER and read two classmates' positions on safeguards.
- • You will be able to argue a position on risky pathogen research.
- • You will be able to weigh research benefit against safety risk.
- • You will be able to rebut an opposing view.
- • Biosafety levels (BSL-1 through BSL-4) define required containment procedures for different classes of pathogens.
- • Dual-use research of concern (DURC) refers to research that could be misused to threaten public health or national security.
- • Benefit-risk analysis in research ethics weighs scientific and medical gain against probability and magnitude of harm.
Your PLTW work today
Aseptic technique, culturing, selection, resistance genes, and data reliability. · Bioethics debate: research vs risk
Day 1 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Open the culturing ethics debate activity in myPLTW for Activity 1.2.3 Attack of the Superbugs and review the CER rubric.
Post your CER on the ethics of antibiotic prescribing policy and reply to at least two classmates.
Lesson 1.2 portfolio should be submitted; this debate opens the culturing week.
CER post visible in the course discussion board.
All PLTW activities are completed inside the PLTW course environment — this page only gives direction. Submit producibles on Schoology.
Today's PLTW tracker
Check things off as you work, then submit. This tells Mr. Mendoza how you're doing so he can help the class. It does not replace turning in your producible on Schoology.
Use the code Mr. Mendoza gave you, not your name. Saved on this device.
Aseptic technique, culturing, selection, resistance genes, and data reliability. · Bioethics debate: research vs risk
Open the culturing ethics debate activity in myPLTW for Activity 1.2.3 Attack of the Superbugs and review the CER rubric.
Lesson 1.2 portfolio should be submitted; this debate opens the culturing week.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Debate whether growing and studying dangerous bacteria is worth the risk it carries to researchers and the public.
- Read the scenario: studying superbugs helps treatment but requires growing risky cultures.
- Write your Claim: should this research proceed, and with what safeguards?
- Add a Reason and Evidence weighing benefit against containment risk.
- Trade with a partner who weighs the risk differently and note their point.
- Write a Rebuttal answering it.
- Post your CER and read two classmates' positions on safeguards.
CER: Written CER on risky pathogen research: position with specific safeguards, evidence about benefit and containment risk, reasoning, and rebuttal.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the scenario: studying superbugs helps treatment but requires growing risky cultures. | _______ |
| Write your Claim: should this research proceed, and with what safeguards? | _______ |
| Add a Reason and Evidence weighing benefit against containment risk. | _______ |
| Trade with a partner who weighs the risk differently and note their point. | _______ |
| Write a Rebuttal answering it. | _______ |
| Post your CER and read two classmates' positions on safeguards. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- You will be able to argue a position on risky pathogen research.
- You will be able to weigh research benefit against safety risk.
- You will be able to rebut an opposing view.
Teacher-posted resources
Classroom documents for this lesson. Ones marked “Open the file” open right here; the rest are posted in Schoology. Use the label on each card to choose the right move.
Use this if you were absent, got stuck, or need another pass before you submit the lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Culturing, aseptic technique, superbugs by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-1_How-to-Fight-Infection/00_Unit-Overview. Score 126. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
Open this when the class reaches this activity and use it to complete the required lesson artifact.
Placement rationale
Matched Culturing, aseptic technique, superbugs by path:Medical-Interventions/Unit-1_How-to-Fight-Infection/1.2_Antibiotic-Treatment. Score 126. Visibility: student-schoology (student-facing resource; link through Schoology rather than local path).
How to get there: open the CMSD website, click Clever, sign in with your Microsoft (district) account, then open Schoology from Clever.
Lab & supplies
WebXam practice
Cumulative WebXam review
A quick mixed-review pulling questions from earlier units plus today, so the WebXam material stays fresh.
Where this leads — careers
What today's skills lead to. These are real health-science careers this course builds toward. Tap one to see, on the US Department of Labor's O*NET site, what the job actually involves, what it pays, and how fast it is growing.
What to do if you were absent
If you are away, post a full CER on whether risky pathogen research should proceed and reply to one classmate with a rebuttal.
Then submit your CER on Schoology.
Class still runs. Complete the online activity above (it's self-guided). Need the concept taught without a teacher? Use this authoritative explainer:
CDC Antibiotic Resistance- CompleteEvery required part of the artifact is present, nothing left blank.
- AccurateThe science and the data are correct and match the evidence.
- Scientific reasoningYou explain your claim with evidence and reasoning (CER), not just an answer.
- Professional communicationClear, organized, labeled, and written the way a clinician or scientist would.
- SubmittedTurned in the right way (Schoology for routine work) and confirmed.
Drop your Thu, Oct 1, 2026 · Bioethics debate: research vs risk here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project