Genetic Engineering: GermLine Therapy Improving Nature or Uncorking the Genie

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Genetic EngineeringGerm-Line TherapyImproving
Nature or Uncorking the Genie?
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Introduction

• Genetic engineering is the artificial
  manipulation, modification and recombination of
  DNA or other nucleic acid molecules in order to
  modify an organism or population of organism.

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Introduction (continued)

• Genetic engineering may begin to provide the
  basis for making helpful genetic changes
• Thus far, both somatic cell and germ-line therapy
  research has produced random and ineffective,
  even potentially harmful results, in animal
  testing.

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Statistics

• Genetic disorders are the
• 2nd leading cause of death among 1 4 year olds
  in the U.S.
• 3rd leading cause of death in 15 17 year olds.
• It is estimated that 25 30 of admissions to
  U.S. acute-care hospitals for persons under 18
  are for genetic conditions
• about 1 percent of adult admissions are for
  genetically related conditions.

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Forms of Genetic Engineering

• Genetic Screening
• Somatic-Cell Therapy
• Germ-Line Therapy
• Eugenics

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Genetic Screening

• Discloses the presence of human diseases. A
  genetic counselor can then calculate the
  probability that a child of gene-carrying parents
  will have the disease. Also, some genetic
  diseases can be detected in childhood or in early
  adulthood.

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Somatic-Cell Therapy

• Inserting a healthy gene into a specific tissue
  of an individual, in order to treat a disease
  resulting from a genetic defect. Since the
  treatment is localized to a specific part of the
  body, it is similar to other medical procedures
  which treat disease.

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Eugenics

• A science that deals with the improvement of
  hereditary qualities of a race or breed by
  selecting desirable genes.

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Germ-Line Therapy

• Has the potential to ultimately change the human
  gene pool and drastically reduce the expression
  of genetic defects. Since the replacement of the
  faulty gene occurs in an egg or sperm, germ line
  therapy alters the genetic makeup of the future
  offspring.

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Additional Information

• www.genewatch.org

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Summary

• The procedure of germ-line therapy consists of a
  normal copy of a particular gene obtained from
  a donor, which is then added to one-cell human
  embryos, after the sperm had penetrated the eggs
  but before the genetic material had combined.
• The procedure would have to occur in a very
  narrow window when the human organism is
  extremely simple, composed of undifferentiated
  cells.

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Summary (contd)

• If the transfer is successful, these added genes
  are then adopted by the embryo, becoming a part
  of every new embryonic cell.
• Thus, when the human reproduces, some of its
  progeny receive the added genes, and so on
  throughout generations

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Whats happening today?

• Germ line therapy and research is being
  implemented on animals for agricultural and
  testing purposes, however while it has proved
  beneficial in some instances many random and
  harmful genetic defects and diseases have been
  produced also.
• Human germ line is technically feasible but with
  random and ineffective results produced in
  animals, todays methods are unsafe to employ on
  humans.

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Professional Issues

• Should the government regulate genetic
  engineering?
• The beneficial relation between universities and
  industrial corporations?
• distortion of research priorities
• compromising role of scientists as impartial
  advisers in public decisions
• What would be the technical implications of
  genetic engineering becoming commercially
  available?

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Legal/policy Issues

• Should everyone have availability to genetic
  services regardless of financial ability?
• What kind of laws would govern germ-line therapy,
  and who would impose them?

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Legal/policy Issues (cont.)

• Should taxpayers be the funding resource for
  genetic engineering research and application? If
  so, how much say should the public have in its
  policy?
• How should funds be divided between medical
  treatment and preventative medicine?

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Ethical Issues

• How much of an obligation and stewardship role of
  responsibility and care do we have for future
  generations?
• How does abortion of prospective children who
  have been diagnosed with genetic diseases come
  into play?
• When and under what conditions would germ-line
  therapy be warranted?

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Ethical Issues

• How do you consider the autonomy of future
  generations since it isnt possible to attain
  their consent?
• Germ-line therapy opens up the door to
  eugenicswhat is the human genetic ideal?
• If we begin genetic enhancement, who will be
  enhanced and what will happen to those who do not
  receive enhancement?

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Stakeholders

• those suffering from genetic diseases, their
  families and loved ones
• employers/employees and insurance
  companies/clients
• parents
• children
• all future generations

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Possible actions

• Option 1Ban germ-line therapy and its
  continuation of research and experimentation
• Option 2Allow germ-line therapy research and
  experimentation to continue without any
  limitations.
• Option 3Allow germ-line therapy research and
  experimentation to continue but only with extreme
  care and caution.

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Option 1

• Consequences
• Little possibility is left for curing genetic
  diseases
• there could be no possible benefits for those
  seeking treatment for otherwise incurable
  diseases.
• Eugenics is no longer an issue
• Fairness
• Stops the testing on animals
• The autonomy of future generations will not be
  violated

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Option 1

• Common Good
• No unequal distribution between social and
  economic classes
• The funding behind it will not be taken from
  other worthy causes
• Virtues
• Promotes acceptance of people with defects
• Not playing God
• Less virtuous

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Option 2

• Consequences
• Could eliminate destructive and costly genetic
  diseases.
• Could lead to eugenics
• The ultimate race
• People could abuse it
• Testing leads to abortion of embryonic cells
• Ineffectiveness of the procedure
• Fairness
• The burden of being born with certain genetic
  diseases will be eliminated

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Option 2

• Common Good
• Practical measure against high costs of treating
  diseases
• An obligation to help raise the standard of
  living for future generations.
• Virtues
• Playing God
• Least virtuous

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Option 3

• Consequences
• May cure destructive and costly genetic diseases.
• Limits the possibilities of abuse
• Fairness
• Doesnt infringe upon on individuals rights

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Option 3

• Common Good
• Benefit of knowledge gained from the research
• Promoting thought and allowing for reasonable
  analysis of the subject
• Virtue
• Advocates responsible decision making
• Most virtuous

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Ethical Approaches

• Utilitarianism Insufficient research and
  experimentation to determine which option would
  produce the most happiness in the world,
  encourage research because potentially could be
  very beneficial
• Rule-Utilitarianism Again dependent upon the
  moral rule according to the greatest sum of total
  utilities
• Categorical Imperative Lean toward banning
  further germ line application to humans because
  infringes upon future generations autonomy
  (their capacity to make decisions)

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Conclusion

• We believe that Option 3, to continue to do
  research and experimentation with extreme care
  and caution, would be the best choice for the
  time being.

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Conclusion (cont.)

• Before employing germ-line therapy, the following
  questions would have to be answered positively
• Are there no other effective means of treatment
  available?
• Is the procedure effective?
• Can altered DNA be inserted into the chromosome
  where it is needed?
• Will it replicate there?
• Will it turn on to function properly in the cell?
  
• Is the procedure safe?

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A Closer Look

• http//matweb.hcuge.ch/endo/lectures_9th_PGC/ethic
  al_aspects_of_gene_therapy.htm
• http//www.unesco.org/courier/1999_09/uk/dossier/t
  xt01.htm
• http//library.thinkquest.org/C004367/be10.shtml?t
  qskip11tqtime0424
• http//library.thinkquest.org/J003090/index2.htm