BIO1050 - Todd
Week 9 – Guts
Listen to the podcast episode
and answer the following questions.
1.
Beaumont got St. Martin to return for further experimentation by promising him more and more money. This financial incentive was enough to convince him to agree to be a test subject again even though he seemed to really hate it. In modern times, do you think it is ethical to financially compensate study subjects? Do you think there is a point where the amount that is offered would be unethical? (2 pts)
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Reflecting on ethics, I find it to be a necessary but complex issue. The story of Beaumont and St. Martin clearly illustrates how financial incentives can be both a motivator and a source of ethical dilemmas. While I believe it's important to compensate participants for their time and contribution to science, there undoubtedly comes a point where the amount
offered could be considered unethical. When the incentive starts to overshadow the risks involved or pressures individuals into participation, we've crossed that line. Studies must maintain a balance where participants are fairly compensated without being coerced or placed in harm's way for the sake of research.
2.
Dr. John Cryan was studying how mice behavior changed when they were given lactobacillus
bacteria in their diet.
a.
What did Dr. Cryan see happen in the mice that were fed lactobacillus? (1 pt)
-
In Dr. Cryan's experiment, the mice that were fed lactobacillus showed a significant behavior change compared to those who were not. These mice exhibited less stress and anxiety when placed in a mild water stress test, continuing to seek an escape route far longer than the control mice.
b.
Why did he think this behavioral change was happening? (1 pt)
-
Dr. Cryan believed this behavioral change was due to the interaction between the gut microbiota and the brain. He hypothesized that the bacteria could influence the brain's chemistry, perhaps by affecting neurotransmitter levels or through other mechanisms that impact mood and behavior.
c.
How did he test his hypothesis? (1 pt)
-
To test his hypothesis, Dr. Cryan and his team examined the levels of stress hormones and the presence of certain neurotransmitters in the mice. They also conducted an experiment where the vagus nerve, a primary communication pathway between the gut and the brain, was severed in some mice. The mice with the severed nerve did not show the same behavioral changes, supporting the idea that gut-brain communication was key to the observed effects.
d.
What are your thoughts on animal experimentation? This episode discusses the use of mice in the lactobacillus
studies as well as fistulated cows. Do you think
