Discuss an issue related to genetic technologies. Explain any ethical, social or legal concerns about the issue and how this can affect society.
Ethical IssuesTransgenic biotechnology presents an exciting range of possibilities, from feeding the hungry to preventing and treating diseases; however, these promises are not without potential peril. Some of the issues that need to be considered are the following:
Social ConcernsIf the blending of animal and human DNA results, intentionally or not, in chimeric entities possessing degrees of intelligence or sentience never before seen in nonhuman animals, should these entities be given rights and special protections?
What, if any, social and legal controls or reviews should be placed on such research?
What unintended personal, social, and cultural consequences could result?
Who will have access to these technologies and how will scarce resources—such as medical advances and novel treatments—be allocated?
Extrinsic ConcernsWhat, if any, health risks are associated with transgenics and genetically modified foods?
Are there long-term effects on the environment when transgenic or genetically modified organized are released in the field?
Should research be limited and, if so, how should the limits be decided? How should the limits be enforced nationally and internationally?
Intrinsic ConcernsAre there fundamental issues with creating new species?
Are species boundaries “hard” or should they be viewed as a continuum? What, if any, consequences are there of blurring species boundaries?
Are chimeras and transgenics more likely to suffer than “traditional” organisms?
Will transgenic interventions in humans create physical or behavioral traits that may or may not be readily distinguished from what is usually perceived to be “human”?
What, if any, research in genetic engineering should be considered morally impermissible and banned (e.g., research undertaken for purely offensive military purposes)?
Will these interventions redefine what it means to be “normal”?
Quick Reply
