Biotechnology Ethics

1
Biotechnology Ethics

• Lori Peck
• Oklahoma State University
• Animal Science Junior

2
Who am I?

• 10 year 4-Her of Washita County
• Animal Science Junior at OSU
• Volunteer 4-H Leader
• Love working with kids

3
The Basics

• Should genetic engineering be pursued?
• Does it enhance or endanger the safety of the
  food supply?
• Will it contribute to meeting future needs for
  food nutritional improvements in diets?
• Could it affect species or habitats?
• Is it moral-the right thing to do?

4
Food Safety

• Genetic engineering has people thinking twice.
• Should foods be labeled?
• FDA, USDA, EPA state agencies monitor
  development testing.
• FDA only requires labels for foods containing
  allergenic proteins or if a new major ingredient
  is present.

5
Food Safety continued . . .

• Do Consumers favor labeling?
• Yes, they do!
• They want to make informed buying decisions.
• Does labeling cost more?
• Yes!
• It takes more man hours to get everything in line
  to label effectively.

6
(No Transcript)
7
Environmental Impact

• What impact does genetic engineering have on the
  environment?
• Does it help?
• Does it hurt?

8
Hurt or Help

• Hurt
• Insects may overcome resistance to pesticides.
• Increasing yields on established farms still will
  not help poor people.

• Help
• Higher yields less disturbance of land.
• Insect resistance less water pollution.
• More food produced more efficiently lower
  long-term cost.

9
Religious Ethical Issues

• People believe that humans should not alter forms
  of life.
• Forbidden food in some cultures
• Do vegetarians remain vegetarians if an animal
  gene is used in fruits?

10
Who Benefits?

• Researchers Businesses?
• To an extent but NO!
• Consumers Benefit
• Variety, availability, healthfulness, taste of
  food.
• Producers Benefit
• Higher yields, reduce total cost, pest resisting
  plants provide reliable harvest in developing
  countries.

11
The End!

• What are your views?