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  • This house would publish the technology, rather than destroy it

    Infoslide

    You are a biologist at a university who spent their entire life researching gene editing, but has been skeptical about how often and where it should be used. You suddenly discover a technology which allows the editing of genes to an unprecedented degree. It would allow to modify any existing creature in any way we can imagine and to revive any previously extinct animal. Your wife, whom you have 2 children with, strongly opposes any form of gene modification, but has stayed with you because of your critical stance of when it should be used. You are certain that this technology will not be recreated by someone else.

    Amsterdam Open 2024 · Novice Brake · 2024-11-30

  • This house would implement the Human method

    Infoslide

    Currently, within psychology, patients are given a diagnosis (e.g. Autism or depression) based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM. Subsequent treatment is based on this diagnosis. The "Human method" is a practice in psychology where patients are not given a diagnosis. Rather, the therapist looks at the patients pre-dispositions, background and behaviour to determine what the best treatment is.

    Amsterdam Open 2024 · Round 4 · 2024-11-30

  • This house would take the cure rather than go to the school for mutants.

    Infoslide

    You are an average teenager living in the near future. You have just discovered that you are a mutant: a human being with a genetic mutation called the X-gene, which causes superhuman powers that manifest at puberty. Your superhuman powers have just manifested – though, because they are new to you, you do not know how to control them yet. Mutants are an oppressed minority who are hated, feared, and despised by humanity. A group of older mutants has found you and offered to take you to a school for young mutants, where they promise you will be safe from harm and taught to control your powers. If you go with them, you will have to hide your powers from your family or risk being disowned. Alternatively, you saw on the news that a cure has been discovered to rid mutants of their powers. This cure is being offered for free to any mutant who wishes to take it.

    The Earlsfort Open 2024 · Novice Final · 2024-11-19

  • This house opposes the premium placed on Evidence-Based Medicine in developing countries

    Infoslide

    Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) is the process by which clinical decisions (i.e., diagnosis, treatment, etc.) are made. In the micro-level, doctors search through published literature on the best approach to diseases, and develop their own medical repertoire. For example, searching for the best dosage for anti-high blood drugs, and looking for journal articles on the topic. In the macro-level, medical societies designate committees for diseases that formulate consensus clinical practice guidelines, which are based on multiple clinical studies, randomized trials, and meta-analyses globally, all aiming to consolidate data and evidence around specific recommendations. For example, the criteria for diagnosing lupus was first created in 1997, then refined in 2012, then again in 2019, and now the Asia-Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR), has released guidelines for lupus tailored for Asia-Pacific only last 2021.

    National Debate Championship Hermosa 2024 · Octofinals · 2024-11-13

  • This house would heavily restrict the public distribution and accessibility of all Organoid Intelligence tech (e.g. Neuroplatform, etc)

    Infoslide

    In June 2024, tech company FinalSpark unveiled Neuroplatform, its bioprocessor tech made using real human brain cells. Neuroplatform is the first commercially-available development in "Organoid Intelligence", an emerging field aiming to create biological computers from human brain tissue for applications in machine learning, AI, neuroscience, etc. Academic consumers (researchers) may gain access to Neuroplatform and run experiments using its human brain processors by paying around $500 per month.

    National Debate Championship Hermosa 2024 · Round 3 · 2024-11-13

  • This house would allow medical decisions about children to be made by health professionals without consent from their legal guardian.

    Infoslide

    Under the current legal framework, consent from a legal guardian is required for medical decisions involving minors. Healthcare professionals need approval before administering treatment to a child.

    LSARIC Inter University Debating Championship 2024 · Semifinals · 2024-11-10

  • This House, as the scientist, would further their research to develop this as a medical procedure that will allow individuals to alter their morality.

    Infoslide

    **A small fold of tissue called the cingulate gyrus in the medial part of the brain is involved in processing emotions and behavior regulation. You are a scientist who has discovered that stimulation of this region with electric impulses can alter the decision making process to control aggressive behaviour, emotional responses, and in essence the human morality. **

    Athena: The Fundraiser Debate · Novice Finals · 2024-11-08

  • THB it is not in Algernon's interests to take the drug

    Infoslide

    There exists an experimental drug that can double your IQ. The effects are temporary and will last at least a year, though it's unclear at what point after that they will fade away. Animals used in the testing process did not experience negative side effects. Algernon is a woman with a well below-average IQ whose daily material needs are met. She is given the chance to be the first human to try the drug.

    Yale Intervarsity 2024 · Open Finals · 2024-11-02

  • This house believes that the scientific community should extensively promote public knowledge about epigenetics

    Infoslide

    Epigenetics is the study of reversible behavioural and environmental influences (eg smoking, diet, sunlight, etc) on how DNA functions. These changes do not alter DNA itself, but its use by cells to create proteins. Many such changes can be passed down between generations, including those influencing the risks of developing terminal conditions such as cancer as well as many other characteristics. The precise extent of this heritability is a matter of scientific debate, but is thought to be significant.

    Zurich Open 2024 · Round 3 · 2024-11-02

  • This house would take the blue pill rather than take the red pill.

    Infoslide

    There are two pills; one blue, the other red. The blue pill gives you a false memory of the best week of your life without really experiencing it. The red pill gives you the best week of your life, but you'll forget it all after.

    Emirate Word War VI · Round 5 · 2024-11-01

  • This house prefers a world where everyone is born with 'Device X'.

    Infoslide

    Device X is an implant that will be in your brain hippocampus. This device will give you the power to completely delete memories that you don't want to retain at anytime only by your own choice. Once deleted that memory cannot be restored again. This device cannot be removed at any point of time in your life.

    Seri Iskandar Debate Open 2024 · Grand Final · 2024-10-21

  • This house supports the widespread sale and use of the memory machine

    Infoslide

    A technology has been created which allows people to self select and delete certain memories. The technology has limits, it is not able to delete traumatic memories and also does not replace the memory with another, it simply deletes them.

    Durham Schools 2024 · Semifinals · 2024-10-20

  • This house supports the widespread and accessible availability of iForgor

    Infoslide

    iForgor is a technology that allows you to forget any person. If you forget them, memories or experiences associated with them do not disappear, but the role of that person in that memory disappears. For instance, if Andre and Emily are best friends and Andre uses iForgor, Andre will forget that they ever knew Emily, and if they meet will not recognise Emily. Andre will still remember anything they did together, likely with some confusion. The memory cannot be brought back, nor can you be convinced that the other person was in your memory - it would feel like a mere fiction. It is used unilaterally, and it must be with the user’s consent. In this world, everyone refers to it as iForgor, and the finalists should do the same.

    Hart House Inter-Varsity 2024 · Grand Final · 2024-10-18

  • This House supports Dr Gregory House being suspended from practicing medicine

    Infoslide

    _House_ (TV Series) Dr Gregory House is the world's leading diagnostic physician. He currently suffers from an opioid addiction and is known for his erratic behaviour and unconventional methods. (_In-Universe_ rules apply)

    UQ Fictional IV 2024 · Round 3 · 2024-10-12