BIOTECHNOLOGY ETHICS

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BIOTECHNOLOGY ETHICS

• Biotechnology II

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COMPETENCY 16.00

• Discuss ethical and practical issues surrounding
  biotechnology.

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OBJECTIVE 16.01

• Analyze regulatory organizations and issues
  concerning genetically modified organisms. (ie
  release in agricultural production)

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Government Oversight
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Regulatory Agencies

• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Responsible for oversight on nearly all
  genetically modified organisms
• Sets most policy regarding genetically modified
  organisms.

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Regulatory Agencies

• 2. Food Drug Administration (FDA)
• US regulatory agency responsible for ensuring the
  safety of genetically modified foods.
• Genetically modified foods DO NOT need to be
  labeled in the US- as long as they are not
  SIGNIFICANTLY different than traditional foods.
• Agrimedicines produced in GMOs (through the
  process of pharming) fall under the same
  regulations as traditional medicines.

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Regulatory Agencies

• 3. Animal Plant Health Inspection Service
  (APHIS)
• Responsible for ensuring the safety of
  introducing a new genetically modified organism
  to the environment and existing populations.
• Specifically monitor all field trials for
  genetically modified organisms.

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Regulatory Agencies

• 4. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• Plays varying roles in monitoring the use of
  genetically modified organisms.
• Monitors the use of GMOs in pest management and
  environmental science.

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Regulatory Agencies

• 5. European Union
• forms legislation governing the regulation of
  genetically modified foods and biotechnology
  techniques in western Europe

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Regulatory Issues

• 1. Unexpected results from the release of
  genetically modified organisms have been
  extremely rare.
• A recent study indicated that monarch butterflies
  were being killed by pollen from Bt corn. The
  study upon reexamination was proven FALSE.

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Regulatory Issues

• 2. In 2004, 56 genetically engineered products
  were approved for human consumption in the United
  States.
• The number has been increasing each year, though
  Bt corn and Bt soybeans are by far the most
  common.

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Regulatory Issues

• 3. The successful development of a genetically
  modified organism usually takes between 6-12
  years and costs between 50-300 million dollars.

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Regulatory Issues

• 4. Bans on GMO foods in many foreign countries
  (particularly in Europe and Africa).
• African nations have even declined or destroyed
  food aid during crises rather than allow
  consumption of GMOs.
• Though economics could be a sub context, food
  safety is the primary concern.

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Specific GMO Regulations

• 1. In the US, GMO foods must only be labeled if
  they are NOT SUBSTANTIALLY EQUIVILANT to normal
  products.
• 2. Any GMO can be certified organic in North
  Carolina and many other states.

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OBJECTIVE 16.02

• Examine ethical issues concerning the use of
  genetic manipulation to improve the agricultural
  productivity of living organisms.

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Defining Ethics

• 1. Ethics are a theory or system of moral values
  and principles that govern interactions in
  society.
• Vary between cultures and religious groups -
  often conflicting in the US.
• Many times ethical decisions are not absolutely
  right or wrong, but somewhere in the middle.

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Defining Ethics

• 2. Ethic is the discipline dealing with what is
  good and bad and with moral duty and obligation.

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Ethical Examples

• 1. The use of embryonic stem cells in research.
• Positives- because of the ability of stem cells
  to differentiate, research could result in
  tremendous medical breakthroughs.
• Producing spare organs, skin for grafts, and
  other biological products for medical treatments.
• Negatives- requires the destruction of developing
  human embryos for the collection of genetic
  information.

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Ethical Examples

• 2. The process of cloning.
• Occurs naturally in many varieties of plants
  through processes like layering, rhizomes and
  division.
• Usually (the exception is identical twins)
  requires human intervention in animals.
• Often damages embryos, resulting in the death of
  developing baby- highly objectionable in animals
  and humans.

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Ethical Examples

• 3. MOST BIOTECHNOLOGY TECHNIQUES PRODUCTS DO
  NOT POSE AN ETHICAL DILLEMNA FOR A MAJORITY OF
  PEOPLE IN DEVELOPED NATIONS.
• Ethical objections remain the most common
  objection for the use of biotechnology in
  agriculture especially for uninformed.
• Despite concerns over food safety, increasing use
  of biotechnology has occurred as a result of
  demands for increased production.

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3. MOST BIOTECHNOLOGY TECHNIQUES PRODUCTS
continued

• Objections are centered more around the human
  element as to who makes decisions that life is
  expendable in one case and not in another.
• Misuse is at the center of ethical objections.
• Objections to products focus on the uncertainty
  as to what long-term effects the use of
  genetically modified materials might have in the
  absence of long-term records.
• Will genetically modified foods have a chronic
  effect on the animals that consume them?
• Will Bt crops create super pests that adapt
  over a period of time?
• Will Bt products lose their effectiveness over
  time?