ethics in genetic

8/3/2019 Ethics in Genetic

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Ethics in medical science refers to the values thatguide practices for delivering treatments that helppatients without affected another being.

Genetics is the latest branch of science that

promises solutions for countless genetic diseases. This branch of science goes deep into the question

of what causes these diseases and tries to cure themcompletely and remove the root cause.


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Transgenic plants are genetically engineeredplants.

They are an approach to breeding that utilizesrecombinant DNA methods to make plants thathave entirely new characteristics.

Transgenic plants are in a class of geneticallymodified organisms (GMOs).

They contain genes that have been transferred over(transgenes) from different species.

They were made pest-resistant, also createddamage to several other insects.

Transgenic plants might become superweeds(difficult to control).


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Ethical and safety concerns have been raised aroundthe use of genetically modified food. A major safetyconcern relates to the human health implications ofeating genetically modified food, in particular whethertoxic or allergic reactions could occur.

Gene flow into related non-transgenic crops, off targeteffects on beneficial organisms and the impacton biodiversity are important environmental issues.

Ethical concerns involve religious issues, corporate

control of the food supply, intellectual property rightsand the level of labeling needed on geneticallymodified products.


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There are some risks associated with transgenicplants, mostly because of the possible impact onecosystems.

Some of the worries are whether transgenic plantscan pass their genes onto local wild species,whether the transgenic plants are able to grow and

thrive outside of the cultivated areas, and whetherbringing the transgene in can bring about anadvantage to the hybrids or plants in the wild.

Genetically modified organisms might be

hazardous to health or cause ecological harm tothe environment.


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Cloning an organism involves replicating the DNAof that organism in a new organism that, as aresult, has the same exact features and

characteristics. Human Cloning would mean recreating the person

that is being cloned. With the successful cloning ofDolly The Sheep, Human Cloning, long the staple

of science fiction, is on the verge of becoming areality.


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cloning for therapeutic purposes to produce new organs for organ transplants.

Since the cloned organ, produced from a body cell of theperson needing the transplant, would have the same genetic

code, there would be less risk of the body rejecting the new,transplanted organ.

Cloning would allow infertile couples to have their owngenetic offspring or otherwise normal couples to order

designer babies. It could also be used to bring back to life your dead

ancestors. So if you want to give birth to your great-great-grandmother, you can. Just as long you managed to

preserve some samples of her body cells.


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successfully cloned have showed many healthproblems and none have lived to a ripe old age sofar.

many moral problems would arise with treatingdefective human embryos or new-born,handicapped babies in the very same manner.

There is also no way of predicting what theintelligence level and capabilities of a human clonewould be. What would be the psychological andsocietal implications for it as an individual? What

kind of a life or future would it have?


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Stem Cells can be described as the repair kits of ourbody. They are unspecialized cells that are found inthe bodies of all multi-cellular creatures andwhich have the potential to develop into

specialized cells. Embryonic Stem Cells are found in blastocysts.

When a fertilized egg has undergone cell divisionfor 5 days it forms a hollow ball of cells. This

developing embryo is known as a blastocyst. TheEmbryonic Stem Cells are derived from this. Itshould be noted that only an egg that has been

fertilized through the In Vitro Fertilization processis used.


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Since Embryonic Stem Cells have the potential to developinto a variety of specialized cells, they are very important inmedical research. Scientists involved in Embryonic Stem

Cell research are currently trying to understand theconditions under which specific specialized cells areproduced. By knowing how to bring about or control theseconditions, they can then produce required specialized cellson demand.

These specialized cells can possibly be used in regenerativetreatment for spinal cord injuries or to cure many diseaseslike Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Diabetes, cancer, heart disease,etc.


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The eggs used are ones that have been willingly donated forresearch purposes and which, as per the agreement withthe donor, are never to be transplanted into a uterus to

develop into a human being. After the embryonic stem cells are extracted, there is no

further development of the blastocyst. This poses a moralproblem for many people and many religious organizations.

Is it okay to let an embryo

a developing life

die in orderto potentially cure diseases and alleviate suffering in thosealready living?


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That the donated embryos, since they are never to betransplanted into a uterus, will die anyway is a point that manyseem to overlook.

Is it okay to let living people go on suffering when stem cellresearch could possibly bring about a cure?

The Pro-life people feel that the end does not justify the means.In other words, a blastocysta hollow ball of cells that is not

technically a person

should not be sacrificed for the sake ofresearch. Life is too precious. Human life, it should be noted. Or specificallysomehuman life.

Many of these same individuals will not turn a hair aboutresearch carried out on live animals and neither will they

refuse to eat meat. They will wholeheartedly support invadingother countries and using the latest weaponries and bannedchemicals for slaughtering their populations.

It seems to be a very curious kind of morality.


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The use of genetic engineering for creation of life forms issimilar to playing God and taking control of creation anddestruction of life on earth.

The ability of genetic engineering to cure diseases and

health conditions is a great benefit, the possibilities of itmisuse are plenty.

Saying no to genetic engineering would be like refusing tolog on to the internet because we afraid our email accountmight get hacked.

The simple solution is to use the technology with greatcaution.

Technology is never inherently good or bad, it is theintentions of the people who use it.

ethics in genetic

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