These are only some examples of the video lectures for the above course at the American University of Sovereign Nations (AUSN).
Enrolled students of AUSN gain credit hours through active live participation in classes. A list of required and elective courses for each degree program are provided in the degree program descriptions. In addition, they receive the AUSN Video lecture Archive Sheet to record which videos they have watched for additional knowledge. For countries that do not allow Youtube access (Channel: American University of Sovereign Nations), an original file can be shared with enrolled AUSN students. Anyone can request to try out a live AUSN class for free by writing to Dr. Darryl Macer, Provost, AUSN; Email: provost@ausovereignnations.org
AUSN as an intellectual forum for intercultural dialogue upholds the value of academic freedom for all professors and students, and the views expressed in the videos are not those of AUSN. The videos are a selection of the total video archive of AUSN that supplements the contact hours provided by in-person lectures, group skype sessions, and other supervised contact at AUSN.
The course description and expected competencies for this course are provided below. Some students use these videos to prepare for the course examinations, which in AUSN are open book/open Internet exams, where students need to prepare written answers (unless there is some condition that makes an oral exam the only possibility).
Links to example video lectures from the MBBE course
MBBE4, Prof. M. Selvanayagam, Ethics of Biotechnology
MBBE5, Prof. Bang-Ook Jun , Eradicating mosquitoes? The promise and peril of gene drive technology
MBBE6, Prof. Marlon Lofredo, Gene Editing: Defining boundaries and the limitation of the unknown
MBBE7, Prof. Soraj Hongladarom, Ethical Considerations of Gene Editing
MBBE8, Prof. Deborah Kala Perkins, The ART of Birthing Life in Integrity: From Bioethics to Politics with Assisted Reproductive Technologies;
MBBE8, Prof. Tamar Gidron,Legal concerns in gene editing: compliance with religious, cultural and social norms and values; does the law has any chance at all in a world of overflowing new technologies?
MBBE9, Prof. John Weckert, Playing God with human lives
MBBE10, Prof. Chutatip Umavijani, Buddhist Perspectives upon Disease and Human Gene Editing
MBBE11, Prof. Darryl Macer, International Approaches to Regulation of Human Genetic Modification
Course details
Course Objectives: This course aims to introduce the basics of molecular biology and discuss the ethical, legal and social (ELSI) issues.
Course Purpose: This course introduces the basics of molecular and cell biology, so that students will be able to consider the realistic implications of these techniques in biotechnology. It then will consider the associated ethical, legal and regulatory issues.
Topics that are covered:
1. Cell structure and function; Cell interaction and communication; Molecular regulation of cell cycle; Basics of Molecular Biology
2.Recombinant DNA technology; Regulation of nucleic acid and protein synthesis
3. Application of recombinant DNA technology to solve environmental problems.
4. Application of recombinant DNA technology to solve medical problems
5. Application of recombinant DNA technology to solve food problems
6. The benefits and risks of recombinant DNA technology
7. Bioethics and DNA recombinant applications; Legal regulation of cell and molecular biology technologies
8. The Impact of GMOs and Environmental Assessment
9. Emerging Biotechnologies
10. Stem cell therapies
11. Molecular Entomology
Competencies:
1. Recommend appropriate application of recombinant DNA technology to solve environment, health and food problems
2. Integrate knowledge, principles and argumentation in rational discussion
3. Engage in quality thinking, reflective processes and creative thinking
4. Build hypotheses to answer a specific scientific question, design an experiment using an appropriate technique/assay to answer the question, and predict results of their experiment.
5. Understand ELSI issues of Genetics and Molecular Biology