Questions About Controversy

In this post, I will draft a series of questions that will help me reframe my controversy for Project 3. The controversy I have chosen to focus on was elaborated on in Project 1. It focuses on the ethical and safety implications of using gene-editing technology on human embryos.

Varlan, Horia, "Question mark made of puzzle pieces." 10/23/08 via Flickr. Attribution License.

WHO is involved in the controversy?

1. Outside of the scientific experts and researchers, what notable people are getting involved in this controversy?
2. What types of organizations are publicly making their opinions heard, either through public speech acts or public policies?
3. Is this controversy gaining any political traction, or is it confined to the scientific community?

WHAT is up for debate?

1. Are the ethical issues associated with this debate confined to testing on human embryos?
2. Do opponents of this testing oppose the CRISPR technology as well as the subjects?
3. Have similar studies occurred recently that have sparked this sort of debate?

WHEN did this controversy unfold?

1. How long after this technology was discovered did this study and the accompanying controversy emerge?
2. Has the controversy died down at all since the study was published earlier this year?
3. How long did it take for this study to gain the attention that it did?

WHERE did this controversy unfold?

1. What is the background of the university at which this study took place?
2. What is the cultural context in China surrounding this debate?
3. Does the culture of the US differ significantly from that of China when it comes to this controversy?

HOW did this controversy unfold over the media?

1. Did this study remain confined to the scientific community at first, or did it immediately become a part of mainstream media?
2. What types of media sources publicized this study so that people outside of the scholarly community were notified of the controversy?
3. How has popular media affected the scope of this controversy?