Ethical Issues

Sociologyindex, Sociology Books 2011

The impact of biotechnology on the life, environment, food and culture is bound to be enormous, encompassing the physical and the metaphysical world. Though biotechnology will help improve the quality of life, the ethical issues are bound to raise a lot of debate and opposition.

While some political leaders of the world are able to appreciate the biotechnological developments, all the religious pigheads are hell-bent on obstructing everything that seems to take away the given powers of God.

The cultural debates raging over biotechnology are purely because of the fears and longings embedded deep within the society's psyche. The media whips up the frenzy over surrogacy, stem cell research, cloning and organ transplantation, raising unintelligent and troubling questions like, can a child have two mothers?

Because detection of genetic predispositions has become more predictable, an individual's prospects in life can be figured out at birth. The ethical questions then arise as to privacy, access to genetic information and the impact of such knowledge on the individual's life.

Biotechnology has made it possible to detect and even treat, diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, sickle-cell anemia, Tay-Sachs disease, diabetes, and cystic fibrosis. But concerns were raised that genetic engineering could give rise to infectious organisms. Because of this stringent guidelines have been drawn up by the government with the help of leading scientists to regulate research in biotechnology. Experience of research has shown that the chances of constructing a disease-producing organism by accident are very remote. The fact that such pathogens require an extremely complex set of distinct characteristics, and are effective only when all are present, is not convincing enough for the paranoid lot. What is required is vigilance not paranoia.

It is important that we define ethics afresh before we talk about ethical issues.

Scientists have addressed the concerns and safe issues about biotechnology and genetic engineering. A special committee of the National Academy of Sciences specifically reviewed the issues on the introduction into the environment of organisms genetically engineered using recombinant DNA technology.

They concluded that "there is no evidence that unique hazards exist either in the use of R-DNA technique or in the transfer of genes between unrelated organisms," and that "the risks associated with the introduction of R-DNA engineered organisms are the same kind as those associated with the introduction of unmodified organisms." They also concluded that rDNA techniques constitute a powerful and safe new means for the modification of organisms for the benefit of animals and humans. They also stated that there is adequate scientific knowledge to guide the safe and prudent use of such organisms outside research laboratories.

Critics are against diagnosing a genetic disorder before any treatment is available because it creates anxiety and frustration. Geneticists have isolated several disease-causing gene mutations and have even studied them in great detail without developing a treatment. Though scientists will eventually develop successful therapies, criticism is will remain.

Some General Benefits

Genetic counseling can provide advice on heritable diseases, and genetic screening of workers in possible risk industries is being considered. DNA probes are providing breakthroughs in early diagnosis of disease.

Biotechnological advances can even be used to track down criminals in assault cases based on the uniqueness of their DNA.

Improved preconceptual analysis of the parents' genotypes can provide couples with a broader range of options for family planning.

Some General Criticism

Critics of the HGP maintain that social and political mechanisms to regulate the ultimate outcomes are insufficient.

Critics argue that there never will be one definitive human sequence, because of the genetic variation between individuals,  This creates uncertainty about the appropriate definition of "normal," making the discussion of public policy issues difficult.

Many argue that controlling the manipulation of human genetic materials will not be easy.

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