Ethics in Biotechnology

1
Ethics in Biotechnology
2
Why Ethics in Biotechnology

• New technology
• Plurality of moral convictions
• Divergent economic, political, and social
  objectives
• Growing sensitivity of the public
• Doubts of the public about internal control
  mechanism of scientific institutions and the
  scientific community to adequately consider moral
  implications of research and its consequences
• Complexity of ethical issues involved

3
Morale and Ethics?
Morale? ? Latin mores? custom, habit ...
indicates the distinction between what is good
and what is evil in the everyday life Ethics?
? Greek ethos? tradition, habit ... the
philosophical study of the principles at the
basis of morale
Etymology of the two words speaks one's
mind both ethics and morale are the result of
the society's evolution towards "standard"
behaviours. Operational definition of
morale ... those standards everyone wants
everyone to follow, even if everyone elses
following them means having to follow them
oneself.? (M. Davis)
4
Morale and Ethics

• Morals
• Encompass all forms of human behaviour and
  action that is implicitly or explicitly aligned
  with values and norms
• Ethics
• is the methodological reflection on morals and
  law, i.e. identification and consideration of
  values and norms with which we align our action

5
Morale Ethics

• THREE BASIS OF RESTRAINT

6
Bioethics
Bioethics A discipline dealing with the ethical
implications of biological research and
applications
7
The Bioethical Challenge

• Is Biotechnology Morally Acceptable?

8
Two Kinds of Ethical Arguments Used to Evaluate
Concerns Over Biotechnology

• Extrinsic objections say the possible
  consequences of some biotech applications are
  objectionable, but others may be acceptable
• GMOs are wrong because risks outweigh benefits.
• Intrinsic objections say the process of
  biotechnology is objectionable in itself
• GMOs are wrong , no matter how great the
  benefits.

9
1. Extrinsic objections

• A. Unsafe for consumers
• Frankenfoods

10
2. Extrinsic objections

• B. Unsafe for environments
• superweeds
• Herbicide resistance - canola gene flows into
  weedy relatives
• Bt toxin kills monarch butterfly larvae

11
Extrinsic objections

• C. Unfair to small farmers
• Rich get richer,
• poor get poorer
• Vandana Shiva
• Monocultures of the Mind

she has established Navdanya, a movement for
biodiversity conservation and farmers' rights
12
The Business of Science Challenge

• Does the business of biotechnology corrupt the
  purpose and integrity of the process of the
  science?
• Or can business and scientific partnerships be
  beneficial
• for society?

13
The Business of Science

• Critics
• Focusing on profits contradicts the purpose of
  science - to enhance or improve the quality of
  life
• Biotechnology commodifies life and leads to
  reductionist science
• Advocates
• The spiraling costs of R D required to bring a
  product to market justifies the closer ties of
  science and business
• This relationship has been beneficial to society
  and has contributed to the public good

14
Ethical arguments against GM foods

• 1. Extrinsic objections
• 2. Intrinsic objections
• GM foods are wrong no matter how great the
  benefits may be.

15
Intrinsic objectionsGM foods are
wrong because its wrong to

• 1. Play God
• 2. Invent world changing technology
• 3. Cross species boundaries
• 4. Reproduce by nonsexual means
• 5. Disrupt integrity, beauty, balance of nature
• 6. Harm sentient beings

16
Intrinsic objections

• 1. We should not play God

17
Intrinsic objections

• 1. Dont play God
• Counter-examples
• High tech medicine
• God wants us to genetically engineer food

18
Intrinsic objections

• 2. We should not change the world through new
  technology

19
Intrinsic objections

• 2. No world-changing technology
• Counter-example
• Agriculture

20
Intrinsic objections

• 3. We should not cross natural species
  boundaries

21
Intrinsic objections

• 3. Dont cross species
• Counter-examples
• Mules
• Hybrid wheat

22
Intrinsic objections

• 4. We should not use nonsexual means to
  reproduce

23
Intrinsic objections

• 4. Dont reproduce nonsexually
• Counter-examples
• GIFT and in vitro
• Plant cuttings

24
Intrinsic objections to ag biotech

• 5. We should not disrupt the integrity, beauty
  and balance of creation

25
Intrinsic objections to ag biotech

• 5. Dont disrupt nature
• Problems
• An extrinsic objection
• Is / ought problem

26
Intrinsic objections

• 6. We should not harm sentient beings

27
Intrinsic objections

• 6. Dont harm sentient beings
• Problems
• An extrinsic objection
• Meat-eaters accept harm to animals

28
Conclusion Intrinsic objections are not
sound

• 1. Playing God
• 2. Invent world changing
• technology
• 3. Cross species boundaries
• 4. Reproduce nonsexually
• 5. Disrupt integrity and beauty
• of nature
• 6. Harm sentient beings

29
Extrinsic objections

• Unsafe for consumers?
• Food allergens, toxins
• Unsafe for environment?
• Unintended effects on nontarget organisms
• Gene flow, development of resistant weeds
• Unfair to small farmers?
• Rich get richer, poor get poorer

30
Extrinsic objections

• Are valid concerns
• Demand scientific and political attention

31
Extrinsic objections

• Support Regulatory oversight
• on case-by-case basis
• Do not support
• a ban on all GM crops

32
Ethical arguments FOR GM foods

• Potential to improve
• Diets in developing countries
• Efficiency of food production
• Safety and purity of food
• Agricultural sustainability
• Diversity of agro-ecosystems

33
Enhanced nutrition

• Vitamin A Rice
• Iron Enhanced Rice
• Amino Acid Balance

34
Insect resistance

• Bt corn
• Insect resistance from Bacillus thuringiensis
• Non-toxic to humans
• Target insect corn borer
• 40 U.S. Corn crop Bt
• Potential to reduce insecticide use

35
Disease resistance

• Potatoes
• Squash
• Tomatoes
• Corn
• Rice
• Canola
• Soybeans
• Grapes
• Cantaloupes
• Cucumbers

36
Genetic engineering in microbes enzymes

• Recombinant Chymosin
• Enzyme used for cheese making
• Originally from calf stomach
• Bovine gene expressed in GRAS microbes
• FDA approved 1990
• Now used in 70 of U.S. cheese

37
Recombinant amino acids

• Aspartame
• Artificial sweetener
• Made from aspartic acid and phenylalanine
• Used in 5,000 products
• Monosodium glutamate

38
Recombinant alpha amylase

• Used to make HFCS
• Gras status in 1995
• 10 U.S. corn crop processed into syrups

39
The Challenge of Consumer Choice

• Does society have an ethical obligation to
  maximize consumer knowledge and choice?

40
Consumer Choice The Issue of Labeling

• Advocates of consumer labeling criticize efforts
  NOT to label food containing genetically modified
  organisms. They argue If biotech foods are
  safe and risk free, then why are you afraid to
  let us know what we are buying?
• Consumers with food allergies, vegetarians, and
  those with religious dietary restrictions have a
  right to know
• Consumers should be able to choose the type and
  quality of food they consume, and the production
  system they want to support with their food
  dollar

41
Consumer Choice Opposition to Labeling

• Labeling is unnecessary because biotech foods
  contain genetic material from other natural
  products - nothing is added that does not already
  exist in nature
• Organic labeling standards exist. If you are
  opposed to consuming genetically modified food
  ingredients, simply buy organic!
• Labeling does not change consumer behavior
• Why must everyone pay for the cost of labeling
  that is demanded by a few?

42
Key Challenges of Agricultural Biotechnology

• Can we capture the potential benefits of
  agricultural biotechnology in a fair and
  equitable way for todays and future generations?
• Can we balance the interests of human society and
  the environment using biotechnology?
• Can biotechnology contribute to sustainable
  agricultural systems?
• How should we frame the biotechnology issue?