Biotechnological in agriculture PRO
- higher productivity + quality of food
- more efficient land use
- more ecological farming (no insecticides)
- solution to problem of famine in world
- longer shelf life
- rehabilitation of damaged land
Biotechnological in agriculture NO
-genes can end up in unexpected places/mutate w/ harmful effect
-“sleeper” genes accidentally switched on, active genes could become “silent”
-interaction w/ wild + native populations: negative impact on birds, insects, soil
-GM products in food chain
-transfer of antibiotic resistance + allergenic genes
-loss farmers’ control over material;
>dependence on big corporations
Reprogenetics PRO
- parents have right to choose
- moral obligation to give children best life possible
- will lead to improvement of hole species
Reprogenetics NO
- technology is not safe yet
- bioethical codes condemn experiments w/ human beings
- “super humans” may look down on normal people
- “imperfect” human beings would be discriminated against
- rich people would be at an advantage
- human gene pool might be damaged
- people may be thought of as products
- human begins should not play god
Sex selection PRO
- parents have right to choose
- in some cultures male offspring are important to provide support for old age
- theory that having sisters enhances adults’ quality of life
Sex selection NO
- preferences in patriarchal cultures lead to demographic imbalance
- members of unwanted sex may be discriminated against
- child may not be loved if sth. goes wrong + it is not of desired sex
- parents fulfill only their own wishes
- human beings are not allowed to play god
Human cloning PRO
- medical reasons: resource of bone marrow/replaceable organs
- infertile couples may have children
Human cloning NO
- cloning is inherently evil, intrusion into human life
- person who wants to clone himself is self-centered
- using human being as resource for “spare parts” is unethical
- children may be thought of as products
- dictators may become immortal
Genetics
= field of study dealing w/ way living organisms inherit features from their ancestors
- genetic information is Carried by DNA which is copied + inherited across generations
- genes=segments of DNA which provide information that organism needs so that it can built/do something
Genetic engineering
=putting new piece of DNA into cell can produce new trait
-GMO: biological + medical research, gene therapy, agriculture
Designer babies
=baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected to ensure presence/absence of certain characteristics (sex)
