Gene technology and ethics

Why do we have ethical considerations when working with gene technology?

To protect human rights, human health and safety, animal welfare and the protection of the environment

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What are DNA libraries?

Collections of genetically modified microorganisms used to store a living record of the DNA of other organisms

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What can GM microorganisms be used for?

A tool in research for developing new medical treatments and industrial processes and even gene technology itself

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What is an issue with GM microorganisms?

They are not widely used in their applications due to obvious health and safety reasons and also the concern of biological warfare

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What are the ethical considerations of GM microorganisms?

There are limited ethical concerns with them expect for the manipulation of pathogens in biological warfare

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Describe some genetic modifications soya beans have undergone

A gene got inserted into them which created the Bt protein which is toxic to many pests, some have been GMed to be weedkiller resistant so the fields can be sprayed with weedkiller and not affect the soya bean plants, enabling a higher yield

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Pro's and con's of pest resistance

Pro's- reduce amount of pesticide spraying, protecting environment & helping poor farmers, increasing yield, Con's- non-pest insects and insect eating predators could be affected, insect pests may become resistant

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Disease resistance

Pro's- reduces crop losses and increases yield, Con's- Might spread to wild populations and cause problems, e.g. superweeds

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Herbicide resistance

Pro's- reduce competing weeds and increase yield, Con's- Biodiversity could be reduced if herbicides overused, fear of superweeds

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Extended shelf life

Pro's- Reduces food waste, Con's- reduces commercial value and demand for the crop

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Growing conditions

Pro's- Wider range of growing conditions, can survive in adverse environments (flood resistance or drought resistance), No cons

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Nutritional value

Pro's- Nutritional value of crops increased, e.g. enhanced level of vitamins, Con's- some people may be allergic to new GM plants

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Medical uses

Pro's- used to produce human medicines and vaccines, No cons

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What is patenting and why is it an issue with GM crops?

When someone discovers something new they can apply for a legal patent which means noone else can use it without payment, this hinders poorer farmers who can not afford the GM seed, who probably need them most, e.g adverse conditions, added vitamins

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Name some ways scientists are trying to insert new genes into animals

The use of microinjections (gold particles covered in DNA), modified viruses

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Give 2 examples of GM animals

Swine fever-resistant pigs- pigs inserted with a gene from african wild pigs in the early embryo giving them immunity, Faster growing salmon- Atlantic salmon given gene from faster-growing chinook salmon, causing them to produce growth hormones more

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What is pharming?

The use of GM animals for the production of human medicines

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What are the 2 aspects of pharming?

Creating animal models- the addition or removal of genes so the animals develop certain diseases, acting as models for new therapies, Creating human proteins- the use of animals to produce a medically required protein which can be harvested

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Give some ethical questions relating to GM animals?

Should animals be used as models of certain diseases? Is it right to put human genes into an animal? Is it right to experiment with animals with the uncertainty of it causing harm? Is welfare compromised in the process

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What is somatic cell gene therapy?

Replacing the faulty or mutant allele of a person with the healthy allele in the affected (somatic) body cells, viral vectors often used

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Name some successful treatments of somatic cell gene therapy

Leukaemia, immune diseases, haemophilia

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What is an issue with somatic cell gene therapy?

It is only a temporary solution, the gene will be passed on every time it divides but somatic cells have a limited life and are replaced by stem cells in time which will have the faulty allele once more

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What is germ line gene therapy?

Inserting healthy allele into germ cells, usually the egg cells or into an embryo immediately after fertilisation (IVF), the individual would be born healthy with the normal allele in place and they would be able to pass it onto their offspring

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What is an issue with germ line gene therapy?

It has been successfully done in animals, however it is illegal to do it with a human embryo due various medical and ethical concerns, there is an unknown impact on the individual in the future, also the individual doesn't consent

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Gene technology and ethics

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