Issues and Decisions
THE BIOETHICS OF JURASSIC PARK where genetic engineering is heading.
In the movie Jurassic Park, written by
Michael Crichton, the public is introduced to
the world of biotechnology and genetic
engineering. Dinosaurs once again roam
Earth because of new scientific develop-
ments and the efforts of a few dedicated sci-
entists. The story of Jurassic Park is an
extension of the technology that already
exists in molecular biology. In his writing,
Crichton crosses the line from what is possi-
ble to what is only imaginable. He creates a
great science-fiction story while raising
many ethical questions.
Developments in Molecular Biology
The science in Jurassic Park is based on
developments in molecular biology. These
developments occurred in the last few
decades.
Currently, scientists can manipulate DNA,
the genetic material, in ways such as the fol-
lowing:
Small pieces of DNA can be extracted
from fossilized organisms.
DNA fragments can be transferred
between organisms.
Small DNA fragments can be pieced
together using computers to determine
the sequence of an entire gene.
Some animals have been cloned,
creating exact copies of them.
Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
A working draft of the human genome
sequence has been produced.
All these achievements would be necessary if
scientists were going to produce live animals
from their extinct ancestors as Crichton sug-
gests in Jurassic Park. In fact, viewers of Jurassic
Park are left wondering where the boundaries
between fiction and fact exist. Already,
biotechnology has cloned mice and sheep,
inserted human DNA in pigs, and made trout
with special colors that are easier to catch.
The applications of genetic engineering are
being debated by both scientists and the
general public. A lot of people worry about
1
Michael Crichtons story has made people
think about and debate the ethical consider-
ations of genetic engineering.
The Story of Jurassic Park In Crichtons
story, scientists recreated dinosaurs from
preserved pieces of DNA. Dinosaur DNA
was obtained by the removal of blood-
sucking insects from amber, which is
fossilized tree sap. Long ago, the insects
presumably fed on dinosaur blood and then
were trapped in tree sap. The sap fossilized
and formed amber, which was collected by
scientists millions of years later. Scientists
extracted the insects from the sap, removed
the dinosaur blood from the stomachs of the
insects, and separated the DNA.
Then, thousands of DNA fragments were
spliced together with the help of giant com-
puters. The DNA fragments were compared
to frog DNA to be sure the fragments were
in the proper sequence and to fill in any
gaps in the DNA sequences. Intact dinosaur
DNA was inserted into alligator eggs and
allowed to develop. The baby dinosaurs
hatched and were cared for until they were
released into the park.
In the story, some scientists were concerned
about the unforeseen consequences of genet-
ic engineering. The scientists tried to control
the dinosaurs by changing the genetic code
of the dinosaurs. To keep the dinosaurs from
reproducing in the park, scientists altered the
dinosaur DNA so that only females were
produced. The DNA was also altered so that
the new dinosaurs could not make lysine, a
crucial amino acid. Scientists thought that
the dinosaurs would die after a few days
without a daily supplement of lysine. This
alteration was designed to keep the
dinosaurs from surviving outside the bound-
aries of the park.
Even with the DNA modifications, plans for
the park went astray. The dinosaurs began
to reproduce because of a gene they
received from the frogs DNA. Frogs can
Biotechnology Manual 83
change sexes under some environmental
conditions, such as when there are no male
frogs around. Most of the movie showed
the destruction of the park as the natural
instincts of the dinosaurs took over and the
experiment got out of control.
ETHICAL ISSUES Ethics is the study of
morals and moral choiceswhether
particular actions are good or bad and
whether the actions can be justified. A
decision is ethically justified if it promotes
good for others and avoids harm, if it helps
preserve someones fundamental self-worth
and dignity, or if it is just. Ethics provides a
code of conduct that governs all the
members of a particular group.
In science, just because something is possible
does not mean that it is desirable or permissi-
ble. Scientists must ask themselves two ethi-
cal questions before they start an experiment.
First, Is this the right thing to do? and sec-
ond, Can the decision be justified? Unless
scientists can answer yes to these questions,
they should not start the experiment.
Jurassic Park raises many ethical questions
that scientists must face. Should scientists
try to create genetically altered organisms?
How can people be protected from the
unforeseen consequences of genetic engi-
neering? Do the risks outweigh the bene-
fits?
The standards of a society reflect its impor-
tant values. Although recreating dinosaurs
still remains well beyond the capabilities of
science, nothing that was portrayed in
Jurassic Park is banned by public laws. It is
up to ordinary people and scientists to
decide the future course of science.

REVIEW On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following questions.

1. List some ways that DNA can be manipulated.
2. In Jurassic Park, what precautions did scientists take to control the
dinosaurs they were developing?
3. What are some guidelines that can be used to determine if an
action is ethical?

CONSIDER THIS On a separate sheet of paper, answer the following

questions.
1. If the technology ever exists, do you think that people should
attempt to recreate extinct species such as dinosaurs? What would
be the benefits? What would be the dangers?
2. Do you think it is fair to recreate extinct animals, such as

Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

dinosaurs, which would have to adapt to todays surroundings:
environment, bacteria, predators, and food sources?
3. What kinds of limits should be set on genetic engineering experi-
ments? Who do you think should oversee the experiments?

84 Biotechnology Manual