Dr. Franklin's Island by Ann Halam

I read aloud from the book Dr. Franklin’s Island written by Ann Halam as a reflection to genetic engineering. My students were asked to reflect upon the reading and do a quick write expressing their thoughts about the possibility of scientist mixing animal genes with human genes in the future as is portrayed in the book. They were asked if they thought that this was bioethical and would they consider it for their on own children. The students volunteered to read their responses and had many interesting ideas about this topic. Some students thought this would really happen and that in the future parents might choose to have a horn or wings for their children. Most students seem to think the mixing of human and animal genes was not ethical and should not be allowed. The majority of students definitely would not vote for laws to allow this.