Write a Cancer Review paper covering the recommended topic related to current cancer research.
Cancer Review Recommended Topic:
Research ethics and the challenge of whole-genome sequencing
McGuire AL, Caulfield T, Cho MK. Research ethics and the challenge of wholegenome sequencing. Nat Rev Genet. 2008 Feb;9(2):152-6.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Cancer Review: Research Ethics and the Challenge of Whole-Genome Sequencing
Introduction
In the era of precision medicine, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has emerged as a powerful tool for understanding the genetic underpinnings of cancer and tailoring treatment strategies to individual patients. However, the ethical implications of conducting research involving WGS, particularly in the context of cancer genetics, present complex challenges that must be carefully addressed to ensure the protection of participants’ rights and privacy.
Literature Review
McGuire, Caulfield, and Cho (2008) delved into the ethical considerations surrounding WGS in their review published in Nature Reviews Genetics. The authors discussed the potential risks and benefits of WGS, including issues related to informed consent, data sharing, privacy protection, and the return of results to research participants. The review highlighted the need for robust ethical frameworks to guide the responsible conduct of research involving WGS in cancer studies.
Gaps in Knowledge
Despite advancements in genomic technologies and bioinformatics, several gaps in knowledge persist regarding the ethical challenges of WGS in cancer research. Key areas requiring further exploration include the development of standardized guidelines for obtaining informed consent for WGS studies, strategies for ensuring data security and privacy in large-scale genomic databases, and mechanisms for effectively communicating and interpreting complex genetic information with research participants.
Research Question
Research Question: How can we enhance the ethical frameworks surrounding the use of whole-genome sequencing in cancer research to balance scientific advancement with participant protection?
Significance and Implications
Addressing the proposed research question is crucial for advancing cancer research while upholding ethical standards and safeguarding the rights of research participants. By developing comprehensive guidelines and best practices for conducting WGS studies in oncology, we can foster trust between researchers and participants, promote transparency in data sharing practices, and mitigate potential risks associated with genomic data breaches. Furthermore, a focus on ethical considerations in WGS research can lead to more equitable access to cutting-edge genomic technologies and ensure that the benefits of precision medicine are equitably distributed across diverse populations.
In conclusion, the integration of WGS in cancer research presents both unprecedented opportunities and ethical challenges that require careful navigation. By critically examining existing ethical frameworks, identifying gaps in current practices, and proposing solutions to enhance participant protection and data security, we can foster a culture of responsible genomics research that maximizes scientific discovery while upholding ethical principles and respect for individual autonomy.
