Ethics of Biotechnology

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1. ETHICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY AARTI SINGH MSC. FINAL BOTANY

2. CONTENT What is Ethics ? What is Genetic engineering ? What is Ethics not ? Why E thics matters ? Ethical arguments about biotechnology Extrinsic Arguments against Biotechnology Intrinsic Arguments about biotechnology Ethical aspects of biotechnology Genetically modified food Potential Benefits of GM food Biotechnology and the Environment Ethics with respect to environment Pharmaceutical product ethics Ethics concerning animal request Ethical aspects of using GM in medicines and research Some examples of genetic engineering Fast growing salmon Pros and Cons of modified salmon Golden Rice Pros and cons of golden rice Precautionary Principle Conclusion Reference

3. WHAT IS ETHICS ? The act of defining what is morally right or wrong Convincing argument

4. What is genetic engineering ? Genetic Engineering = Creating organisms with novel genetic sequences. Reiss and Straughan

5. What is ethics not ? Personal beliefs What polls and surveys reveal The law Religious beliefs

6. What ethics is? Justified principles and values Convincing argument Values that have appeal outside your own group or nation Character and virtues that produce trust

7. Why ethics matters ? Ethics leads the law Ethics is what people care about when it comes to medicine and biotechnology! Duty to protect patients and public health Economic incentives are not enough and may well be mistrusted Those who pursue health have a higher moral standard to meet

8. Ethical arguments about Biotechnology Intrinsic : Biotechnology is good/bad in itself Extrinsic : Biotechnology is good/bad because of: its consequences the motivations behind: advocacy of biotech or opposition to biotech

9. Extrinsic arguments about Biotechnology Biotechnology is good/bad because of its consequences . 3-ways to evaluate consequences : Do no harm (avoid bad consequences). Maximize good consequences and minimize bad ones for all affected. Justice: Fair distribution of good and bad consequences among all affected .

10. Intrinsic Arguments against Biotechnology : Premise: Genetic engineering is unnatural. Conclusion: Therefore, genetic engineering is intrinsically wrong. Is this a good argument ?

11. Autonomy Beneficence Nonmaleficence Justice The moral commitments of taking risk:

12. Ethical Aspects of biotechnology :

13. Ethical and legal introduction : No consensus over the risk of a product or activity Trade dispute Right or wrong Restrictions : Implicit exception Explicit exception

14. Genetically modified foods : Biotechnology now allows the production of plants with novel traits. Such as – Shelf-life Increased nutrient content Drought resistance

15. Potential Benefits of GM foods: Remove allergy genes - Allergenic genes in peanuts Enhance nutritional value - Golden rice Produce healthier foods - Eliminating caffeine Induce herbicide resistance- Roundup ready crops Induction of pest resistance- Bt.corn

16. Ethical Aspects of GM food : Unnaturalness Environmental Risks Health Risk

17. Biotechnology and the Environment Prevention of infectious-vector transmitted diseases Removal of greenhouse gases Removal/degradation of waste products Reduced impact of pesticides, insecticides, etc.

18. Ethics with aspect to the environment and biotechnology : Eccentric – Study of an ecosystem with prevailing concerns Bio centric - Ethics concerned with an individual organism Anthropocentric – ethics views engaged on humans

19. Pharmaceutical products ethics: Pharmaceutical products like Insulin, was initially derived from pigs and cows which arose concern like: ANIMAL WELFARE RELIGIOUS PROBLEM

20. Ethics concerning animal request Animal right concerns Intrinsic Concerns Extrinsic Values

21. Ethical Aspects of using GM in medicines and research Medical emergencies Ethics of Technology choices Consent from Trial participants

22. Some examples of Genetic Engineering : Fast growing salmon Golden rice

23. Commercial value- Fast-growing salmon

24. Pros and cons of modified salmon: Pros Cons They are like ordinary salmon. They can help improve health. They can help lower food cost. They can help alleviate hunger. They can out compete wild type salmon. They may promote allergic reactions. They can cause health problem. They can create a monopoly in the market .

25. Nutrition enhance Golden rice

26. Pros and cons of Golden rice : Pros Cons Aids in combating malnutrition. Decrease the risk of cancer and other diseases. Still being improved. Reduce pesticide use. Not amazing benefits. A lack of research. Most nutrients lost doing cooking. Privatized business could lead to corruption.

27. Committees: GEAC – (Genetic engineering appraisal committee) NBAC- (National bioethics Advisory committee) ACPA- (American crop protection Association) BIO- (Biotechnology Industry Organization )

28. The Precautionary Principle When an activity raises threats of harm to the environment or human health, precautionary measures should be taken even if some cause and effect relationships are not fully established scientifically.” Wingspread Statement On The Precautionary Principle, Jan. 1998

29. Conclusion Focusing on whether or not “we could ” Instead of whether or not “we should” Weighing the Pros versus the Cons Acknowledging the tremendous responsibilities that must be faced with the information that we have acquired .

30. Reference BABAS. 1999. Ethical aspects of Agricultural Biotechnology. Report of the EFB Task Group on Public Perceptions of Biotechnology. Cambridge Biomedical Consultants, The Hague. Batalion , N. 2000. Harmful effects of genetically modified foods. http:// www.cqs.com/50harm.htm . [27 March 2001] Commission of the European Communities, Communicational from the Comm ission on the precautionary principle . Brussels, 2000 (COM(2000) 1 ). Leon R. Kass and The Ethics of Human Cloning. Washington, DC: AEI Press, James Q. Wilson 1998. Glenn McGee The Perfect Baby: A Pragmatic Approach to Genetics. Lanham, MD: Rowman & littlefield 1997

31. Thank you