Evaluation of Scholarly Sources

Fetti, Domenico. "Portrait of a Scholar" First Half of the 17th Century.
Open Public Domain

In this post, I will be presenting two scholarly sources and answering presented questions for each source in order to determine credibility, purpose, and relation towards a current controversy within my selected major/discipline.

Source I: Prenatal Whole Genome Sequencing: Just because we can, should we?

What is its purpose?
The first source comes from the JSTOR database and presents the argument on whether it is ethical to use such genome mapping in child development; even though we have the capability of do so. The source itself focuses more on the issue of whether to inform the parents of unborn children of possible "undesired" qualities of the child.

How and Where was it Published?
This journal was published by the Hastings Center, an independent nonpartisan bioethics publishing group, and only consists of 13 pages. These pages where published between July to August of 2012 in Garrison, New York. The article was "peer reviewed" before publication.

What kind of Sources does it Cite?
The article references 33 citations through out its entire 13 pages. All citations can be found on the reference tab of the JSTOR link. All references are either from previous editions or other medical journals.

Who is the Author?
The article is written by three authors: Greer Donley- a lawyer in Washington D.C- Sara Chandros Hull- PhD.D and member of the Department of Bioethics for the National Institute of Health- and Benjamin E. Berkman- Professor of Law and Deputy Director of the Bioethics Core for the National Human Genome Institute. 

Who is its Intended Audience?
 The article targets individuals well acquainted with genomes and other medical research issues. It may also play towards individuals who support or denounce forms of abortion, as the journal discusses the issue of informing parents of their child's genetic issues before it develops into the second stage of pregnancy. 

How did I find it?
The article is the first result when typing in the phrases "Genome Sequencing" and "Neurology" into the JSTOR search tool. It is also found as the first result in Journals.

Source II: Mapping the Human Genome: Retrospective, Perspective and Prospective


What is its Purpose?
The second source come also from the JSTOR database and presents an eight page journal regarding the future of the Human Genome Project. The article entails the history of the mapping of the human genome sequence, and provides definitions and simplified explanations to the basic aspects of the project's research.

How and Where was it Published?
The article was published by the American Philosophic Society based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The eight pages where published in December of 1997.

What kind of Sources does it site?
The eight pages only reference and cite four reference citations; which are either previous journals regarding the completion of the Human Genome Project.

Who are the Authors?  
The author of this journal is Victor A. McKusick- the "Founding Father in Medical Genetics" and the Professor of Medicine for the John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland.

Who is the Intended Audience? 
The article targets individuals well acquainted with genomes and other medical research issues. As well as doctors hoping to use the Human Genome Project's results for their practice or use in diagnostics.

How did I find it? 
The article is the second result when typing in the phrases "Genome Sequencing" and "Neurology" into the JSTOR search tool. It is also found as the first result in relevant Journals.