THE MORAL ISSUE OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

DEFINITION: GENETICS A field of study that is concerned with heredity and how particular qualities are passed on from parents to offspring. ENGINEERING The art and science that is concerned with the practical application of scientific knowledge, as in the design, construction, and operation of rocks, bridges, harbors, buildings, etc. GENETIC ENGINEERING The introduction of human design into the formation of new genetic combinations in order to produce the desired results. It means the direct intervention in the genetic make-up of a living being, the replacement of genes or the addition of new genes to the genetic code of an organism. It involves the whole process of altering genes in order to achieve either a radically, or a completely new human being.

EXAMPLE: 1) Taking the gene that programs poison in the tail of a scorpion, and combining it with a cabbage. These genetically modified cabbages kill caterpillars because they have learned to grow scorpion poison (insecticide) in their sap. 2) Insertion of human genes into the sheep so that they secrete alpha-1 antitrypsin in their milk - a useful substance in treating some cases of lung disease.

ADVOCATES OF GENETIC ENGINEERING CONTENDS: - it is more human than the biological process - it is willed and scientifically designed by man for therapeutic and eugenic reasons - the biological process is left to chance, accident, and to the blind forces of nature

I. GENETIC TESTING/SCREENING - test on blood and other tissues for purposes of detecting genetic disorders - it includes: a) finding possible genetic diseases in unborn babies b) finding out if people carry a gene for a disease and

might pass it on to their children c) screening embryos for disease d) testing for genetic diseases in adults before they cause symptoms e) confirming a dx in a person who has disease symptoms

BIOETHICAL ISSUES: 1) Genetic discrimination - people with genetic flaws, not all of which show up as dysfunctions, may be denied life insurance, health insurance, and access to schooling or to jobs. 2) Differential treatment - employers could hire only those people whose genes indicate they are resistant to the health hazards of the work place, which is a cheaper alternative to making the work place safe for all. 3) Individuals who may be found to be carriers of recessive disorders or any genetically-related disorders may opt for sterilization or other forms of contraception to prevent transmission of the genes 4) Medical examination for chromosomal analysis is highly recommended before marriage especially for suspected carriers 5) Eugenics - social or political pressure may be applied to people to make childbearing decisions based on the basis of genetic information. Mating between those with valued

genes may be encouraged while mating between two people with dangerous recessive traits may be prohibited. Women carrying fetuses with genetic abnormalities may be encouraged to abort.

II. PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS Amniocentesis - transabdominal aspiration of fluid from the amniotic sac for diagnostic purposes (detection of chromosomal abnormalities) Fetoscope - visualizes various fetal parts to detect anatomical abnormalities BIOETHICAL ISSUE: If the diagnosis reveals that the fetus is afflicted with any anatomical and chromosomal abnormalities, the parents may use these data to decide whether or not to abort the fetus.

III. IN VITRO FERTILIZATION/EMBRYO TRANSFER - a process by which an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the uterus - the fertilized egg (zygote) is then transferred to the patient's uterus - the number of embryos to be transferred depends on the

number available and the woman's preference - the embryos judged to be the best are the ones transferred

BIOETHICAL ISSUES: 1) Is it morally legitimate to procreate without sex or to make babies without making love? 2) Should same-sex couples and single parents access to assisted reproductive technologies be restricted? 3) Should there be a limit to the number of embryos to be transferred? IV. SURROGATE MOTHERHOOD - often referred to as the womb for hire, rent a womb or uterus for rent business - fertilized ovum is implanted into the uterus of another woman who will carry the baby to term either as a favor or for a fee - a woman can produce normal ova but pregnancy would endanger her health BIOETHICAL ISSUE: Whether surrogacy is a compassionate solution to the heartbreak of infertility or it is no more than an exploitive high-tech form of baby farming?

V. SPERM AND ZYGOTE BANKING SPERM BANKING

It is the freezing and preservation of sperm at low temperature, technically known as cryopreservation. ZYGOTE BANKING It is the cryopreservation of fertilized egg. -women who shun sexual relations with men or do not want to have husbands due to some traumatic experiences can conceive children through artificial insemination or embryo transfer by using services of zygote banking and/or sperm banking.

BIOETHICAL ISSUE: It is morally licit for a woman who does not want to marry to avail services of sperm banking/zygote banking to conceive?

VI. SEX SELECTION - also known as sex control, sex determination, sex predetermination and sex preselection - refers to the means by which the sex of an offspring can be chosen METHODS 1) Removal of blastocyst from the mother, determining its sex and then re-implanting it in the uterus if it is of the desired sex 2) Amniocentesis - if the sex of the fetus is contrary to

what the parents prefer, they have an option to abort.

BIOETHICAL ISSUE: 1) Is abortion justified by reason of controlling sex-linked and sex-influenced diseases including hemophilia? 2) Is abortion morally legitimate to reduce birthrate?

VII. SEX CHANGE OPERATIONS - male to female sex change operation - female to male sex change operation - the true biological sex isn't changed

BIOETHICAL ISSUE: 1) Is sex change morally legitimate? 2) Does gender reassignment given to a person undergoing sex change operation morally legitimate?

VIII. CLONING - the creation of an organism that is an exact genetic copy of another - so far, there has been no documented report of a successful human cloning BIOETHICAL ISSUE: 1) Life cannot be created artificially but from the union of man and woman. 2) Many believe that a fertilized ovum is a full human

person. When its nucleus is removed during cloning, that person is, in effect, murdered.