Transcript Issues and Ethics

Chapter 19
Issues and Ethics
Identifying an Issue
• Issue: a subject or problem
that has more than one point
of view
• Somatic Cells: cells that
compose tissues, organs, and
parts of the body
Identifying an Issue cont.
• Germ Cells: makes up the
reproductive systems and
organisms
Major Issues in
Biotechnology
Changing the genetic material of an
organism using artificial means
Planting genetically modified
plants
Raising genetically modified
animals
Major Issues in
Biotechnology cont.
• Consuming foods from
genetically modified plants and
animals
• Using substances that alter or
enhance the normal processes
of plants and animals
Major Issues
• Maintaining genetic diversity in
wild plants and animals
• Taking drugs produced through
genetic modification
• Injecting foreign genes into the
human body to promote good
health
Actions Plans
• Properly identify the problem or
issue
• Good information is needed to
properly deal with an issue
• Identify possible solutions to the
issue
Action Plans cont.
• Identify the consequences of
using possible solutions
• Focus on the one best solution
• Implement the solution
Ethics and Biotech
• Ethics: a set of principles that
guide human actions
• Bioethics: the area of ethics that
deals with the life sciences
• Religion: a system of beliefs and
practices that an individual chooses
to follow
Ethics in Science
• Divided into three areas:
–Scientific misconduct
–Questionable research
practices
–Other misconduct
Religion and Biotech
• Influence biotech 2 different ways:
–Religion set moral rules that will
influence the way a person
perceives what is good or bad
–Common fact that God created
life
Ethics and the Future of
Biotech
• Developments are limited by
advancements in science and by
ethical rules.
• Some of the progress are
considered morally
unacceptable exp. Cloning
Bill Clinton Says…..
“Banning human
cloning reflects our
humanity. At its worst,
this could lead to
misguided and
malevolent attempts to
select certain traits,
even to create certain
kinds of children – to
make our children
objects rather that
cherished individuals.”
The Human Genome
Project
• Identify all genes in human DNA
(80,000 to 100,000)
• Determine the sequences of the
chemical base pairs
• Maintain databases of the information
• Develop methods of data analysis
• Study ethical issues associate with
human genome information and uses
ELSI
• ELSI is the acronym for Ethical,
Legal, and Social Issues Program
of the Human Genome Project.
• ELSI focuses on four areas:
–Privacy and confidentiality of
genetic information.
ELSI
–Safe and effective introduction of
genetic information in the
clinical setting.
–Fairness in the use of genetic
information.
–Professional and public
education.
The End