Download Bioethics Topics BioEthics

TOPIC:
SUMMARY:
In YOUR OWN words…
ETHICS:
EVOLUTION:
OPINIONS:
A code has been discovered…
A code “above” (epi-) the genome…
DNA, the “instructions” for protein
(trait) construction aka GENES,
has been found to contain a SECOND
code…one that can
determines
be DIRECTLY
whether
or not a gene
affected
by theshould
ENVIRONMENT
be expressed
Inheritable changes in gene activity
due to environmental factors
The environment CHANGING the
phenotype…
Things
like
diet,
preventing or
stress,
etc
add
or
enabling gene
remove
“methyls/
expression.
acetyls” to histone
http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/epigenetics/
DIET impacts the health of future
offspring…at the DNA level.
CONSIDER: it is against the law
to consume alcohol while pregnant
& smoking is strongly frowned-upon
As epigenetic knowledge grows,
should prospective parents be
forbidden to eat/drink whatever they
want? Work in stressful jobs?
TOPIC: EPIGENETICS
SUMMARY: Describe, in your own words, what the topic is all about
ETHICS: Which of the 3 PoE** is (might be) most-violated by
epigenetics?
EVO: explain how epigentics could impact (human) evolution
**Respect the inherent rights of the
individual, human dignity
Maximum benefit, min cost
Justice…what is “fair”
OPINION:
1. How far should society go in modifying people’s
behavior in light of this new knowledge?
2. Now that you know, will you consider altering
your own habits in any way?
If no, explain. If yes, how?
3. What is your opinion? How do you feel about
epigenetics?
Who should be allowed access
to your genome?
What’s the GINA Bill?
Should private corporations be allowed
to OWN genes? YOUR genes??
New USB Stick Sequences DNA in Moments
Built by UK firm Nanopore, the small device--called the minION--can sequence the
genomes of viruses and bacteria in seconds. The data is relayed directly to your
computer, since it is, after all, a USB stick. The tech might be a bit simple, but it is
more than capable of testing a biopsy for cancer in moments or testing bone
fragments for the species of their owner at, say, an archaeological dig.
The MinION is capable of handling human genome in 6 hours, which is a bit longer
than that of of their competitors, who launched a desktop model that can process a
human genome in 2 hrs. And with similar prices ($900 for the MinION and $1,000 for
the Ion Proton from Ion Torrent). But while Ion Torrent has a bit of an advantage on
time and is already known in the industry, the sheer portability of the MinION could
make it a winner.
HGP 2003: 15 yrs, $3 billion
MinION 2012: 2 hrs, $900*
*Device cost…what would you be charged? $20?
Prohibits the use of genetic information in health insurance and employment.
The GINA Bill: 2008
The Act prohibits group health plans and health insurers from denying coverage to a
healthy individual or charging that person higher premiums based solely on a genetic
predisposition to developing a disease in the future.
Do you have a Y
enetic
chromosome?
The legislation also bars employers from using individuals' genetic information when
making hiring, firing, job placement, or promotion decisions. auto/life?
not included in
nformation
Senator Ted Kennedy called it the "first major new civil rights bill of
the new century.“
GINA
In 2008, on April 24 H.R. 493 passed the Senate 95-0. The bill was then sent back to
the House of Representatives and passed 414-1 on May 1; the lone dissenter was
Congressman Ron Paul. President George W. Bush signed the bill into law on May 21,
2008.
ondiscrimination
ct
GINA: doctors,
military, and law
enforcement YES
TOPIC: GENETIC PRIVACY
SUMMARY: Describe, in your own words, what the topic is all about
(key terms, dates, persons,, etc?)
ETHICS: Which of the 3 PoE** is (might be) most-violated by this
biotech?
EVO: explain how this biotech/topic could impact (human) evolution
**Respect the inherent rights of the
individual, human dignity
Maximum benefit, min cost
Justice…what is “fair”
OPINION:
1. Can you see yourself EVER “sequencing” someone without their
consent/knowledge…if it was quick, simple, & cheap? Explain.
2. How would you feel if you didn’t BUT THEY SEQUENCED YOU!?
3. Would it be “worth it” if we could rid ourselves of ALL –isms and
ONLY have GENOism?
4. What is your opinion? How do you feel about
(your) genetic privacy?
Medicines tailored specifically
to YOUR genome
…but extremely costly (more than
1000% increase over mass-produced
pharmaceuticals)
…you’d never have a “side effect”
Plant Patents: granted to someone that has
“discovered” and asexually reproduced a
distinct/new variety of plant.
Companies can alter plant genes, then patent
these changes. So if a company alters the
“size” gene in corn to make bigger ears of
corn, they would own the rights to any changes
to that “size” gene.
Human gene patents: give the owner of the
patent the right to give certain gene
sequences to people
A gene patent is a patent on a specific isolated DNA sequence.
By patenting a gene (DNA sequence), you claim ownership
over it and profit from it..
In the United States, natural biological substances themselves can be patented
(apart from any associated process or usage) if they are sufficiently "isolated" from
their naturally occurring states. Prominent historical examples of such patents
include those on adrenaline, insulin, vitamin B12, and various genes. However, a
landmark ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2013 declared naturally
occurring DNA sequences ineligible for patents
Should private corporations be able
to patent (own) DNA…from a plant
…from a person?
The patenting of genes is a controversial issue in terms of bioethics. There are
three main concerns voiced about genetic patenting;
First, some believe it is unethical to patent genetic material because it treats life
as a commodity.
Second, some say that living materials occur naturally, and therefore cannot be
patented.
Finally, there is the fear that allowing patents on genetic material will undermine
the dignity of people and other animals by subjecting their genes to ownership by
other people
TOPIC: GENE PATENTS
SUMMARY: Describe, in your own words, what the topic is all about
(key terms, dates, persons,, etc?)
ETHICS: Which of the 3 PoE** is (might be) most-violated by
gene patents?
EVO: explain how gene patents could impact (human) evolution
**Respect the inherent rights of the
individual, human dignity
Maximum benefit, min cost
Justice…what is “fair”
OPINION:
1. How many genes did you think were patented?
2. How do you feel about the fact that private companies own your genes?
Realize, just because it’s illegal in the U.S. doesn’t make it illegal in the
rest of the world.
3. Should corporations be allowed to own plant genes?
Explain.
4. What is your opinion? How do you feel about this?
ENGINEERING:
using knowledge gained through science
to solve a (human) problem
NOTE:
There is NO SUCH THING as a “Perfect Solution”…
…there are ALWAYS unintended consequences
Two kinds of CLONING:
Stem cells come from 4 sources; bone marrow, the
bloodstream, the umbilical cord of newborns, &
unborn embryos. While more controversial
embyronic stem cells have the ability to become a
wider variety of new cells.
Avoids immunorejection of transplants
as well as waiting on a donor
…savior babies? easier?
TOPIC: CLONING
SUMMARY: Describe, in your own words, what the topic is all about
(key terms, dates, persons,, etc?)
ETHICS: Which of the 3 PoE** is (might be) most-violated by
cloning?
EVO: explain how cloning could impact (human) evolution
**Respect the inherent rights of the
individual, human dignity
Maximum benefit, min cost
Justice…what is “fair”
OPINION:
1. Would you ever consider… therapeutic cloning? Reproductive?
If no, why not? If yes, under what circumstances? You get married
and discover your spouse has stem cells saved up (for cloning?).
2. In what way(s) will that affect your relationship? When you turn
18 your parents inform you that they had a clone
warehoused for you (like in the movie). What do
you do?
3. What is your opinion? How do you feel about cloning?
eneticallyodified
rganisms (Foods)
Golden Rice
More than 600,000 children die
by the age of 5 every year due to
Vitamin A deficiency
The precursor to VitA production
is the protein beta-carotene
Rice makes b-car…but only in its
leaves. By adding a daffodil gene
to the rice genome, Golden Rice
was produced, increasing b-car
production by 23 times over white
rice.
With funding from Bill & Melinda
Gates it has been field tested in the
Philippines since 2005.
To increase the efficiency of phosphate
digestion by 60% (removing it from the
environment) a gene constructed in a lab
was inserted into E. coli. These were
injected into embryos and implanted.
After 10 generations the gene was
inherited by standard Mendelian processes.
The gene of the golden orb weaver
responsible for the manufacture of
However, after public
the protein FIBROIN was successfully
gene of eating
a jellyfish responsible
for into
the enzyme
thatgoat
generates
fearsThe
regarding
spliced
goats. The
udders
its bioluminescence (producingthen
its own
light)the
wasprotein
successfully
genetically-altered
produced
along with
inserted
into the follicle cells oftheir
cats…which
now produce a coat of
pork,
all Enviropigs
milk.
that glows
when
werefurdestroyed
after
10 exposed to UV light…a gene inherited by
For
its
weight, spider
silk
isprocess
10 timeshas
stronger
thansimilar
steel, can
stretch up
its
offspring.
To
date
the
produced
results
generations, in 2012.
toin
20X
its length,
& resists
temp
extremes
(-20
to 330 C). It could be
sheep,
dogs, rabbits,
pigs,
and
monkeys
(marmosets).
used in artificial tendons/ligaments, parachutes, air bags, and is thinner
yet stronger than Kevlar…patented as “BioSteel.”
Don’t become a “random fanatic” (“truther” or conspiracy theorist)
…try as often as you can to base your decisions on peer-reviewed science.
Question someone’s motives? ABSOLUTELY!! Be critical, skeptical,
AND DEMAND EVIDENCE…but avoid a reflex reaction based on
emotion (you are usually being manipulated if this is the case). Here’s a
metaphor…
GMOs are like smelting. Smelting, the technology of working with
metals, ores, and forming things of metal has given us everything from
spaceflight to medical instruments…as well as guns and swords. Anything
can be twisted toward a destructive end but banning smelting, like banning
GMOs, is not only silly…it’s BAD SCIENCE.
TOPIC: GMOs
SUMMARY: Describe, in your own words, what the topic is all about
(key terms, dates, persons,, etc?)
ETHICS: Which of the 3 PoE** is (might be) most-violated by GMOs?
EVO: explain how GMOs could impact (human) evolution
**Respect the inherent rights of the
individual, human dignity
Maximum benefit, min cost
Justice…what is “fair”
OPINION:
1. How do you feel about labeling foods if they are GMOs?
2. Would you eat bacon from an Enviropig? What about a modified
ear of corn? Buy a glow-in-the-dark cat? EXPLAIN your answers
3. What is your opinion? How do you feel about GMOs?
Geneticists fear that one day this method could be used to create new
races of humans with extra, desired characteristics such as strength or
high intelligence.
Writing in the Journal of Human Reproduction, the researchers, led by
fertility pioneer Professor Jacques Cohen, say that this ‘is the first case
of human genome modification resulting in normal healthy children’.
Jacques Cohen is regarded as a brilliant but controversial scientist
who has pushed the boundaries of assisted reproduction
technologies.
Last year, Professor Cohen said that his expertise would allow him to
clone children –a prospect treated with horror by the mainstream
scientific community.
‘It would be an afternoon’s work for one of my students,’ he said,
adding that he had been approached by ‘at least three’ individuals
wishing to create a cloned child, but had turned down their requests.
Using knowledge of genetics to pass down specific traits (like blonde
hair & blue eyes?) to “improve” the population. The ultimate goal is
to increase “desired” traits and to decrease “undesirable traits.” *
Who decides what’s “desired”?
…the government?
…the individual?
…the wealthy?
…competing nations?
And what about Free Will vs Genetic Determinism?
*Brave New World -Huxley, 1932
Started with screening for
…genetic disorders
Involves two technologies;
IVF & PGD
IVF = in vitro fertilization (rather than
in utero) aka “test-tube babies”, the
first of which was Louise Brown
born in 1978 (more than 100,000 alive today)
PGD = preimplantation genetic diagnosis
…DNA is sequenced not long after fert.
Has now spread to include…
…gender selection
…(monogenic) trait selection
…as well as screening for
“undesirable*” disorders
*Down’s Syndrome, Turner’s, Klinefelter’s, cancer (BRCA)
color-blindness, myopia, obesity, alcoholism, baldness
propensity for violence, ADHD, asthma, cystic fibrosis
red hair, left-handed, tone deaf, pale skin, scrawny physique
“It’s playing God”
Maybe…but if God GAVE man the skills, the knowledge to be able
to DO something, is that not God’s Will?
And even if parents “make” an uber-athlete, or super-doctor, or
If you can
bekid
genetically
elite musician…what
if the
just doesn’tlabeled,
like sports or…?
should
you be funneled
(forced)
(FREE WILL
vs GENETIC
DETERMINISM)
into a specific segment of society
Elective procedures like these are not covered by insurance and
based on the results of that test?
costs can run into the 100s of thousands (or millions)…so the
uber- super- elite are only among the 1%
And even if America bans this, what’s to stop other nations? China?
South Korea? European nations? Japan?
TOPIC: EUGENICS
SUMMARY: Describe, in your own words, what the topic is all about
(key terms, dates, persons,, etc?)
ETHICS: Which of the 3 PoE** is (might be) most-violated by
designer babies?
EVO: explain how eugenics could impact (human) evolution
**Respect the inherent rights of the
individual, human dignity
Maximum benefit, min cost
Justice…what is “fair”
Designer Babies Perfect Josh (use Google Chrome browser)
http://science.discovery.com/videos/brink-news-designer-babies.html
OPINION:
1. What genetic factors (traits? disorders?) would you select for
(eliminate from) your child (if you could afford it)?
2. Where do you “draw the line?” What WON’T you ever do to your
future offspring?
3. List 3 GOOD things that would result from society
practicing eugenics.
4. What is your opinion? How do you feel about
living in a world with designer babies/eugenics?
(you realize, of course, even if you, or those in
in your state/nation, DON’T design…it IS
INEVITABLE…designed humans WILL exist)
PCR - ability to replicate DNA segments….MANY copies, rapidly
CRISPR - gene editing technology
GROs – genetically recoded organisms
"Scientists believe the new techniques will produce many benefits, such as finding new
ways to prevent and treat diseases, including AIDS, cancer and Alzheimer's.
"But the ability to edit DNA so easily is also raising many fears, especially about the
prospect of changing human DNA from the very start. Scientists explored how altering
sperm, eggs and embryos could yield important new insights into basic human biology
and
development,
prevent
andbe
treat
inherited
diseases,
including
"The
work carriedand
outhelp
at the
Crick will
for many
research
purposes
and will
look into the
Huntington's
disease,
cystic fibrosis
Tay-Sachs disease.
first seven days
of a fertilized
egg'sand
development
(from a single cell to around 250
"But
altering
the so-called
in this manner
long been
considered
cells),"
the institute
says.germline
The researchers
will usehas
donated,
surplus
embryosoff-limits.
from IVF
That's
because such changes can be passed down to future generations. Mistakes could
treatments.
inadvertently introduce new diseases into the human gene pool."
And at the extreme end, Rob says "another fear is that taking this step would open the
door to designer babies" — kids modified to be especially smart or attractive, for
example.
Self-Reflection
1. How much did you know about these topics before we started?
What ….percentage…. of this material was “new knowledge”?
2. What did you discover about yourself? (your morals, ethics, values)
3. These topics “tell a story.” What do they reflect
about life? …about your future?
….we find ourselves in a world where MANY of these topics
confront us ALL AT THE SAME TIME?
--(no) Genetic Privacy
--Genetic Determinism
--Genoism
--Genetically-modified humans
--IVF replaces IUF as the “acceptable method”
--PGD and CRSPR are as common as…cell phones
IN THE NOT-TOO-DISTANT FUTURE…….