Ethics of testing
Debate whether all biological samples should be tested for everything possible, and defend your stance.
Written CER (3-5 sentences) arguing whether investigators should test a sample exhaustively or only according to a hypothesis, with sample limitation cited in the reasoning.
- 1Do thisDebate whether all biological samples should be tested for everything possible, and defend your stance.
- 2Use this resource
- 3Submit thisCER: Written CER (3-5 sentences) arguing whether investigators should test a sample exhaustively or only according to a hypothesis, with sample limitation cited in the reasoning.
- 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: Principles of Biomedical Technology (Principles of Biomedical Science) › Unit 1.1 to 1.2: Experimental design in evidence testing; transition to autopsy evidence and biomolecules. › CEROpen Schoology
Read to prepare for today
Vetted sources picked for today's question. Skim these before you take a position or start the work, so your argument and evidence are grounded.
- 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: Scientific testing requires a hypothesis to guide which tests are worth running on a limited sample.
- 0:00Hook: scenario of a limited forensic sample with too many requested tests; what do you cut?
- 0:08Introduce false positive probability concept; brief class discussion
- 0:18Read the ethics prompt; list one benefit and one harm of exhaustive testing
- 0:30Small-group debate: test exhaustively vs. test only the hypothesis; cite sample limitation
- 0:52Individual CER writing: position, evidence, reasoning
- 1:10Share two CERs; connect to Wednesday's lab design choices
- • Imagine a blood sample the size of a pinhead. You can run maybe three tests on it before it is gone. Which three do you pick?
- • Today's ethical question is one that forensic scientists and doctors face every day: should you test for everything just because you can?
- • There is a real cost to over-testing. You can use up a sample that cannot be replaced. And every test has a small probability of returning a false positive, which could send an investigation in the wrong direction.
- • Pick a side and defend it. You will use this reasoning when we design our actual tests on Wednesday.
- 1Read the prompt: Should investigators run every test a sample allows?
- 2List one benefit and one harm of over-testing a limited sample.
- 3Choose a side: test exhaustively vs. test only the hypothesis.
- 4Argue your claim in your group, citing sample limitation as a constraint.
- 5Post a written CER with your position and supporting reasoning.
- • I can weigh costs and benefits of testing scope.
- • I can defend a position with reasoning.
- • Forensic and biomedical samples are often irreplaceable; running unnecessary tests can exhaust a sample and destroy its evidentiary value.
- • A hypothesis constrains which tests are meaningful so that results are interpretable rather than a scatter of unrelated data.
- • Every test carries a probability of false positives; more tests on the same sample increases the chance of a misleading result.
Your PLTW work today
Unit 1.1 to 1.2: Experimental design in evidence testing; transition to autopsy evidence and biomolecules. · Ethics of testing
Day 1 of this lesson. Open this exact section in myPLTW (reached through Schoology), then do the work below.
Do this: Log in to myPLTW and open the Lesson 1.1 Investigating the Scene evidence-testing section. Read the unit overview and toxicology introduction before Tuesday.
Mark the evidence-testing unit overview task complete in myPLTW.
You finished Lesson 1.1 scene work last week. Today starts the evidence and biomolecule phase of Lesson 1.1. The overview reading should be done by the end of today.
myPLTW screenshot showing the Lesson 1.1 evidence-testing overview task marked complete.
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.
Unit 1.1 to 1.2: Experimental design in evidence testing; transition to autopsy evidence and biomolecules. · Ethics of testing
Log in to myPLTW and open the Lesson 1.1 Investigating the Scene evidence-testing section. Read the unit overview and toxicology introduction before Tuesday.
You finished Lesson 1.1 scene work last week. Today starts the evidence and biomolecule phase of Lesson 1.1. The overview reading should be done by the end of today.
This is how Mr. Mendoza sees the class keeping pace with PLTW. Be honest, it only helps if it is accurate.
🎯 Debate whether all biological samples should be tested for everything possible, and defend your stance.
- Read the prompt: Should investigators run every test a sample allows?
- List one benefit and one harm of over-testing a limited sample.
- Choose a side: test exhaustively vs. test only the hypothesis.
- Argue your claim in your group, citing sample limitation as a constraint.
- Post a written CER with your position and supporting reasoning.
CER: Written CER (3-5 sentences) arguing whether investigators should test a sample exhaustively or only according to a hypothesis, with sample limitation cited in the reasoning.
Submit on SchoologyUpload by 11:29 PM for full credit.
| Task | Who |
|---|---|
| Read the prompt: Should investigators run every test a sample allows? | _______ |
| List one benefit and one harm of over-testing a limited sample. | _______ |
| Choose a side: test exhaustively vs. test only the hypothesis. | _______ |
| Argue your claim in your group, citing sample limitation as a constraint. | _______ |
| Post a written CER with your position and supporting reasoning. | _______ |
Working solo? Put your own name in "Who" for every row.
- I can weigh costs and benefits of testing scope.
- I can defend a position with reasoning.
Resources & readings
Hand-picked materials for this lesson. Class file items open the document directly; the rest are vetted readings and interactives from other biomedical programs.
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
Watch the recorded testing-ethics prompt and post a written CER on whether exhaustive sample testing is justified.
John Carroll Philosophy for ChildrenThen 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:
Khan Academy: macromolecules- 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 Tue, Sep 8, 2026 · Ethics of testing here. Use a clear file name (your initials + project). Routine work still goes to Schoology (via the CMSD portal).
Upload a project