Ethical issues relating to modern genetics

1
Ethical issues relating to modern genetics

• G Gene Therapy
• A GM Food
• B Human Cloning

2
Somatic Cell Gene Therapy VS Germ-line Gene
Therapy
3
Against

• Germ-line gene therapy regularly creates and
  destroys embryos as a part of their research.
• It may be for the sake of developing for pursuing
  genetic enhancement, eugenics
• Germ-line modifications pose risks to future
  generations, as well

4
For

• If a potential disease is identified in a gamete,
  then one can avoid the disease by simply
  discarding that gamete.
• It may be the only way to treat certain problems.
• It is more efficient to cure a genetic disease
  with a single treatment that will prevent its
  appearance in future generations, than to treat
  the disease each time it appears, generation
  after generation.

5
GM Food
6
Against

• It can increase the number of resistant
  micro-organisms through the transfer of markers
  from GM foods . Thus, there are potentially
  serious adverse effects on human health.

7
For

• No. of crop harvest may increase
• Solve the problem of starvation
• Solve the problem of nutrient deficient in soil
• Reduce the allergy-causing properties in some
  foods.
• Crops can endure to grow under adverse conditions
  and get rid of their original predators

8
Human Cloning
9
Against

• It has the potential to introduce psychosocial
  harms to individuals.
• It would not be a solution to terminal illness or
  mortality. The fact remains that the person does
  die and cannot be replaced.
• Cloning may allow the persistence of certain
  genotypes and derived phenotypic traits, but it
  does not provide individual immortality or
  replication.

10
Against

• Concerns about individual privacy and identity
• Family and social relationships remain uncharted.
  
• Physicians might play a part in deciding which
  persons are or are not worthy of cloning.
  Cloning must not be used for eugenic or
  discriminatory practices.

11
For

• It may allow greater insight into the ageing
  process. Such work may also increase our
  understanding of cell commitment, the origin of
  the cancer process, and whether it can be
  reversed.
• For example, the development of appropriate stem
  cell cultures for repairing human organs could
  also provide insights into how to induce
  regeneration of damaged human tissues.

12
Conclusion

• While the cloning of human beings and the use
  of germ line gene therapy should be forbidden,
  developments in medicine, science and technology
  involving genetic experimentation in humans must
  be carefully followed not only by the
  professional but also the general public.

13
Bear one thing in mind

• We can do something does not mean we should!!!

14
The End

• Presented
• by
• 6A
• Lee Yee Yan (23)
• Leung Lai Kan (24)