Spring 2026 · Utah Valley University
Ethical Issues in Biology
BIOL 4260-01 · Dr. Carl Hjelmen · Spring 2026
Mon / Wed / Fri
Upper Division · 3 Credits
15 Weeks
Discussion & Seminar Format
Course Schedule
Subject to change — check Canvas for updates
In-person discussion
Case study
Async / no in-person
Major deadline
Holiday / break
1
M Jan. 5
W Jan. 7
F Jan. 9
Intro & Syllabus
What is "ethics" in biology?
No in-person class Async
Week 1 Reflection (what issues interest you?) — due Jan. 9
2
M Jan. 12
W Jan. 14
F Jan. 16
No in-person class Async
No in-person class Async
Discussion: GATTACA Discussion
Sign up to lead discussion — due Jan. 14
Guided reflection on GATTACA — due Jan. 16
Term Paper Book Selection — due Jan. 16
3
M Jan. 19
W Jan. 21
F Jan. 23
MLK Jr. Day No Class
Frameworks for Ethical Analysis
Discussion: Frameworks & Expectations Discussion
Term Paper Proposal — due Jan. 23
4
M Jan. 26
W Jan. 28
F Jan. 30
Eugenics
No in-person — work on Annotated Bibliography Async
No in-person — work on Annotated Bibliography Async
Précis — due Jan. 31
5
M Feb. 2
W Feb. 4
F Feb. 6
Human Subjects & Consent
Case Study: HeLa Cells Case Study
Discussion: Research, Medical Innovation & Consent Discussion
Reflection — due Feb. 6
Annotated Bibliography — due Feb. 13
6
M Feb. 9
W Feb. 11
F Feb. 13
Genomic Privacy & Data Ownership
Case Study: Golden State Killer Case Study
Discussion: Should Law Enforcement Use Public DNA Databases? Discussion
Reflection — due Feb. 13
7
M Feb. 16
W Feb. 18
F Feb. 20
Holiday No Class
Ethics of Ancestry Testing
Discussion: Data Privacy & Security Discussion
Reflection — due Feb. 20
8
M Feb. 23
W Feb. 25
F Feb. 27
Biotechnology Patents & Data Availability
Case Study: Race for the Human Genome Sequence Case Study
Discussion: Should Genes & Sequences Be Patentable? Discussion
Reflection — due Feb. 27
9
M Mar. 2
W Mar. 4
F Mar. 6
Human Variation & Representation in Medicine
Case Study: Hearing Patients Case Study
Discussion: Accounting for Human Variation in Medicine Discussion
Reflection — due Mar. 6
—
M Mar. 9
W Mar. 11
F Mar. 13
Spring Break — No Class
10
M Mar. 16
W Mar. 18
F Mar. 20
CRISPR, Gene Editing & Human Enhancement
Case Study: He Jiankui Gene-Edited Babies Case Study
Discussion: Human Genome Modification Discussion
Reflection — due Mar. 20
11
M Mar. 23
W Mar. 25
F Mar. 27
Bioinformatics & Algorithmic Bias
Case Study: Polygenic Risk Scores Case Study
Discussion: GWAS & Population Studies Discussion
Reflection — due Mar. 27
12
M Mar. 30
W Apr. 1
F Apr. 3
Applications of AI in Bioinformatics & Medicine
Applications of AI in Bioinformatics & Medicine cont.
Discussion: Ethical Applications of AI Discussion
📋 Rough Draft of Paper — due Mar. 30
Reflection — due Apr. 3
13
M Apr. 6
W Apr. 8
F Apr. 10
Biodiversity Genomics & Conservation Ethics
Case Study: Earth Biogenome Project, Parachute Science Case Study
Discussion: Should We Sequence Everything? Discussion
Peer Review of Paper — due Apr. 6
Reflection — due Apr. 10
14
M Apr. 13
W Apr. 15
F Apr. 17
Where Do We Go From Here?
Lightning Presentations
Lightning Presentations
Lightning Presentations due
15
M Apr. 20
Lightning Presentations cont.
📋 Final Paper — due Apr. 20