Genetic Engineering

Kinds of genetic manipulation• Breeding

• Pre-implantation selection of embryos

• Direct gene manipulation

– recombinant DNA technology– genetic modification/manipulation (GM)– gene splicing

Somatic vs. Germline Engineering

• Somatic genetic engineering

– Gene therapy– Affects adult cells– Not inheritable

• Germline genetic engineering– Changing genes in eggs, sperm or early embryos– Affects unborn baby– Inheritable

Negative vs. Positive Engineering• Negative engineering (cures and treatment)

– Cystic fibrosis– Diabetes– Autism– Spinabifida– Etc.

• Positive engineering (enhancement)– Intelligence– Health– Strength– Appearance– Longevity

Non-human Genetic Engineering

Benefits:

Medical: engineering beneficial bacteria/virusesengineering better animal test subjectsbetter vaccines

Agricultural: plants/animals with better disease resistance

plants/animals that grow bigger, faster or more efficiently

Other: animals that are faster, fish that are prettier, roses that smell sweeter, etc.

Non-human genetic engineering (cont.)

Concerns:

Messing with naturePermanently changing genomesLoss of diversityFear of unexpected consequences

Human genetic engineering

Benefits

• Selecting against genetic diseases and disorders

• Making people healthier, stronger, smarter, more attractive, etc.

• Giving parents choices

Human genetic engineeringConcerns:

Same as for non-human genetic engineering plus:

Altering the history of the human raceReducing human diversityPlaying GodChoosing among possible peopleTreating people as means, not endsTreating children as commoditiesSlippery slopeDivision of society into “haves” and “have nots”– The “naturals” and the “GenRich”

Cloning

• Creating an exact genetic replica

• Natural cloning– Asexual reproduction– Identical twins

• Identical genes identical organism

Artificial cloning

• 1952: first cloned vertebrate -- frog

• 1986: first cloned mammal – mouse (from embryonic cells)

• 1996: first cloned mammal from an adult cell -- Dolly the Sheep

• Since 1996: cow, cat, dog, horse, water buffalo, camel

Human reproductive cloning

Creating a baby that is genetically identical to an adult human

• Benefits:

– Treatment for infertility– Creating a child for the medical benefit of another,

e.g. a bone marrow donor for a sick sibling– Parental choice?

Human reproductive cloning

Objections:

1) Safety concerns

2) Human individuality and autonomy

3) Complex family relationships

4) Undermining human diversity

5) Human dignity (using a person as a means)

ReadingsRequired:

G. Hardin, “The Tragedy of the Commons,” Science 162 (1968), pp. 1243-1248, available at: http://dieoff.org/page95.htm

Guha, Ramachandra, “Radical American Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation: A Third World Critique” in Environmental Ethics, Vol. 11, No.1 (Spring 1989), pp. 71-83 , available at: http://research.rem.sfu.ca/downloads/REM-656/Guha_1989.pdf

Optional:

Goodpaster, Kenneth, “On Being Morally Considerable”, in Environmental Philosophy, pp. 49-65, available on reserve at the Philosophy Office