Ethics

Question 1

Biotechnological in agriculture PRO

Answer 1

• higher productivity + quality of food
• more efficient land use
• more ecological farming (no insecticides)
• solution to problem of famine in world
• longer shelf life
• rehabilitation of damaged land

Question 2

Biotechnological in agriculture NO

Answer 2

-genes can end up in unexpected places/mutate w/ harmful effect
-“sleeper” genes accidentally switched on, active genes could become “silent”
-interaction w/ wild + native populations: negative impact on birds, insects, soil
-GM products in food chain
-transfer of antibiotic resistance + allergenic genes
-loss farmers’ control over material;
>dependence on big corporations

Question 3

Reprogenetics PRO

Answer 3

• parents have right to choose
• moral obligation to give children best life possible
• will lead to improvement of hole species

Question 4

Reprogenetics NO

Answer 4

• technology is not safe yet
• bioethical codes condemn experiments w/ human beings
• “super humans” may look down on normal people
• “imperfect” human beings would be discriminated against
• rich people would be at an advantage
• human gene pool might be damaged
• people may be thought of as products
• human begins should not play god

Question 5

Sex selection PRO

Answer 5

• parents have right to choose
• in some cultures male offspring are important to provide support for old age
• theory that having sisters enhances adults’ quality of life

Question 6

Sex selection NO

Answer 6

• preferences in patriarchal cultures lead to demographic imbalance
• members of unwanted sex may be discriminated against
• child may not be loved if sth. goes wrong + it is not of desired sex
• parents fulfill only their own wishes
• human beings are not allowed to play god

Question 7

Human cloning PRO

Answer 7

• medical reasons: resource of bone marrow/replaceable organs
• infertile couples may have children

Question 8

Human cloning NO

Answer 8

• cloning is inherently evil, intrusion into human life
• person who wants to clone himself is self-centered
• using human being as resource for “spare parts” is unethical
• children may be thought of as products
• dictators may become immortal

Question 9

Genetics

Answer 9

= field of study dealing w/ way living organisms inherit features from their ancestors

• genetic information is Carried by DNA which is copied + inherited across generations
• genes=segments of DNA which provide information that organism needs so that it can built/do something

Question 10

Genetic engineering

Answer 10

=putting new piece of DNA into cell can produce new trait

-GMO: biological + medical research, gene therapy, agriculture

Question 11

Designer babies

Answer 11

=baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected to ensure presence/absence of certain characteristics (sex)