Ethics of genetics..............?

Question

just like to now what your opinion on this is

Answer 1

We have been messing with the genetics of crops and animal by selective breeding for years. This new step is a bit worrying but I am hopeful that we won't kill ourselves....YET!

xxR

Answer 2

I presume you mean "genetic modification of organisms", rather than "genetics" which is simply the study of genes.

My personal opinion on this is that it's on balance a positive thing. If we can engineer crops that are resistant to disease and pests, then we can reduce the use of pesticides and other chemicals. This has great potential for reducing pollution and increasing the amount of food that can be grown in poor countries.

Of course, there are negative sides too. We need to be sure that we're not negatively affecting the environment in other ways, by allowing GMO crops to cross-fertilise with wild plants. And the use of the "terminator gene" to prevent farmers from reusing produce as seeds for the next year is pretty unethical.

But every technology has an upside and a downside. We just need to be sure that we have the right balance on this one.

Answer 3

This a controversial topic because now we are developing the science and it can be used to cure and prevent many, many illnesses such as diabetes, cancers, ms etc.With the rapid development of this science it can be believed that suffering of many can be prevented. But as with everything it carries a negative side. Will we all be able to afford these treatments or will it be an expensive cure for the wealthy alone? It is in my opinion, that it is unethical to allow people to suffer once you have a cure but there are people in africa and other poor nations who cannot even afford basic medical care.
Another concern is designer babies - parents will be able to choose the eye, skin colour, body weight predisposition, health, intelligence etc.of their children which eerily reminds me of the movie Gattica. Will these designer children be the new 'uberrace' Hitler so passionately wanted? What about
the role of genetic testing in insurance and the workplace - now your employe can request a medical but what about genetic screening? If Insurance companies can use it they could refuse insurance to people on the basis that they have a gene predisposing them to cancer. My opinion is split because in some ways this is a great step forward in medicine and you cannot hold back the tide of advancement BUT we need to insure that strict rules and laws are in place to control the use of genetic sciences and to prevent discrimination.

"Each individual is entitled to lead a life in which genetic characteristics will not be the basis of unjust discrimination or unfair or inhuman treatment." Human Genetics Commission 2002

Answer 4

I don't really mind if they fiddle with the crops. I don't think they should try and sell expensive varieties to the Third World when normal plants would do the job with good agriculture techniques. They should be tested by people who can afford it - supply and demand. Wait until people want to pay for the technology!

As for humans, I think that DNA can change during your lifetime anyway. I'm not sure whether this has been explained very completely to laypeople. I'm doing research into it, because it could make a difference (perhaps not officially, but for individuals wanting answers) to DNA testing for court cases or for people diagnosed with diseases that seem politically based. It's got something to do with transposons and retrotransposons. And there is no photo that I know of of an HIV virus.

Also, I don't believe in abortion and I think doctors take too many liberties with other people's bodies and use their political contacts to claim more certainty over treatments than is probable.

Answer 5

Do you mean should we study genetics for breeding in humans as we do in horses. I see nothing wrong in this but the correct genetics are not always contained in compatible people