Genetic engineering is a topic of intense debate at the moment. Even though often associated with concepts like designer babies and a dystopian future, genetic modifications are already present and utilized in our arguably not-so-dystopian reality, as seen in GMO (genetically modified organisms) crops and disease treatments. This essay evaluates the value genetic engineering brings and the ethical implications it raises, presenting genetic modifications as a valuable tool with great potential.
Shi Yui Nga
July 28, 2025
Waste of medicines, a vital resource for human health, has multiple and far-reaching consequences. While global pharmaceutical production continues to expand in line with advances in medical technology and health awareness, waste of unused and expired medicines is becoming increasingly serious: in the United States of America, approximately $5 billion worth of unexpired medicines are discarded annually, of which $700 million has the potential for recycling, while in developing countries, such as Ethiopia, 92.05 per cent of medicines wasted are due to expiry dates, which results in significant economic losses.
Changshuo Zhu
July 28, 2025
In the current society, the creation of new lives gains significant attention since it's often linked to a population's growth potential and future development. Currently, for many countries, decreasing birth rates have become an essential concern with the increasing size of the aging population. Among all the root causes of this challenge, infertility has been a significant issue that has resulted in lower birth rates globally and has motivated the creation of various scientific techniques that aim to create new lives. In vitro gametogenesis (IVG) was proposed and developed to produce babies in an unconventional way. With this technology, pluripotent stem cells induced from somatic cells sourced from all parts of the human body can be used to construct embryos, eggs, and sperm. In theory, the application of this method can address a variety of societal needs, as giving birth to a baby no longer relies on the human reproduction system. Couples and individuals of all genders and ages will have the ability to have a child by simply harvesting a piece of their body tissue. Even though some people advocate for IVG because of its potential to address societal challenges, the ethical concerns, technical risks, and regulatory challenges involved outweigh the positives.
Annie Zoe Gao
July 28, 2025
Imagine being subjected to pain without consent, and suffering for the sake of research that is of no benefit to you. This is the reality millions of animals endure each year when they are used as test subjects in cosmetic, medicine, scientific and other industries. Amongst the ongoing discourse around animal testing, which holds a variety of interesting viewpoints, a pressing question surfaces again and again: should it be banned? While some argue that it is essential for human progress, the ethical and scientific problems of animal testing cannot be ignored. Animal testing should be banned because it is cruel, causes unnecessary pain, produces unreliable results, and is economically inefficient—especially when there are effective alternative methods available.
Xinlan Hu
June 06, 2025
After the trailer for Twins Himahima, an anime project with AI involved in 95% of its production process, was released, the anime received massive attention along with criticism, claiming that the anime has low quality and its only intention was to make money. Soon to be released in April this year, Twins Himahima demonstrates how AI can be used in animation while also revealing many potential underlying issues (Otaku, 2024).
Yuxin Xiang
June 06, 2025
The People’s Republic of China (PRC), now viewed in the western world as an autocratic economic powerhouse, owes a large part of its reputation today to Deng Xiaoping (1904-1997), otherwise known as the “Architect of Modern China.” Entering the world stage as a PRC leader in 1978, Deng’s rise to power signaled a new change for China’s economic state. Throughout his career, Deng more than doubled China’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in his tenure, quickly rising from $149.54 billion in 1979 to $347.77 billion by 1989.1 As a result, China experienced an explosion in economic growth, living standards, and connection to the world economy.
Chun Hei Chan
April 18, 2025
(for college and high school students)
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