The Moral Issue of Genetic Engineering PDF

**The Moral issue of Genetic engineering:** **Protagoras -** antedated the wisdom of genetic engineering, therapeutic inventions in contemporary biotechnology. -Man accrd. To him is the center of all values and meanings. Without man there is no science, Philosophy, religion etc. -Man is the measu...

**The Moral issue of Genetic engineering:** **Protagoras -** antedated the wisdom of genetic engineering, therapeutic inventions in contemporary biotechnology. -Man accrd. To him is the center of all values and meanings. Without man there is no science, Philosophy, religion etc. -Man is the measure of his/her own beliefs, work, knowledge and everything related to him, including things that are not, that they are not His teaching is now known as \"the man-measure principle\" This teaching is crucial as it makes man responsible not only her/his success but also their failures. They are accountable for their awn ignorance, shortcomings, complacency, resignation, and cynicism. Humans, then should not leave their health conditions and destiny to fate or to chance. Their life is their own task and responsibility to take care of, its their own project to work on and to finish. **►Advancement in science, and medicine** in particular has benefited man by raising quality of life, however it also raised many bioethical problems and one of them is the moral issue of [genetic engineering.] **► Genetic engineering (GE)** - direct intervention in the genetic make-up of a living being, the replacement of genes or addition of new genes to the genetic \"code\" or \"blueprint\" of an organism. **Gene** comes from word ***genea*** - breed, kind **Genesis** - descent or origin **Genetics** is the science that deals with the interaction of the genes in producing similarities and differences between Individuals related by descent. **Engineering-** (design) art and science concerned with design. **Genetic engineering -** is the introduction of human design, order, or arrangement into the formation of new genetic combinations in order to produce desired results. **GE-**involves the whole process of altering genes (the building block of life) in order to achieve either partially or completely a new human being. Chromosomes, DNA, and Genes - all living beings is composed of cells and each cells has nucleus that contain chromosomes. The 46. 44 chromosomes carries characteristics and 2 determines an individual\'s sex. Parents and their children have the same genes but they do not have the same physical characteristics. Genes are made of deoxyribonucleic acid or DNA - THE HEREDITARY SUBSTANCE OF LIVING CELLS. It is in the DNA that scientist has developed a technique that made it possible for them to recombine DNAs. This is called human intervention in the biological process. **Genetic engineering includes:** **1 Genetic testing -** refers to chromosomal analyses to detect genetic diseases. This is used for eugenic purposes that is to prevent birth of babies w/ genetic disorders. However abortion is still murder so what is recommended is to have chromosomal analyses before marriage. 2**) Prenatal diagnosis** - thru amniocentesis a defective fetus can be detected. **3) Genetic screening -** same as genetic testing for the purpose of detecting abnormalities in the growing fetus. The justification for this procedure is to prevent procreating abnormal children. This is also to help prospective parents to make responsible decisions concerning childbearing. **4) Genetic control -** w/ this technique a person can now redesign genes for one\'s own end. They can cure (therapy), slice (surgery). and splice (recombine and repair). Recombinant DNA can have beneficial effect for the future of humankind. **5 In vitro fertilization (IVF) -** fertilization in a test tube **6. Embryo** transfer usually by a donor **7. Sperm and zygote banking-** Sperm from the male zygote from female are preserve (cryopreservation) for future use. **8. Sex selection -** also known as sex control, sex determination, sex predetermination, and sex pre selection. **9. Surrogacy -** means substitute, a fertilized ovum is implanted into the uterus of another woman who will carry it to term either as a favour or for a fee. \"womb for hire\" or \"rent a womb\" or \"uterus for rent\" **10. Sex change operation:** from female to male From male to female **11.Cloning -** duplication a technological process whereby a duplicate of an organism is produced by replacing the nucleus of an unfertilized ovum w/ the nucleus of the organism\'s somatic cell. This is the most intense intervention of all. **The goal of IVF in the medical field are:** A To observe and evaluate the process of fertilization. b\. To test effectiveness of anti fertility agents c\. To evaluate the fertilization of ova of patients w/ infertility problems d\. To better understand the mechanism needed for genetic studies e\. To advance understanding of normal and abnormal cell growth differentiation. **Justification for sex selection:** 1\. Control of diseases that are sex linked ex. Haemophilia affecting males but inherited from mothers. 2\. Contemplated reduction of birth rate 3\. Accumulation of scientific knowledge about human reproduction 4\. Preventive abortion **The change is only external -** a female has the external organ of a male and vice versa but both cannot fully function as such, a new woman cannot conceive nor a new man father a child. **Transsexual-** an individual who is neither a male or female but has a strong psychological desire to belong to the opposite sex. **Hermaphrodite -** has both male and female external organs at birth, biologically belonging to one of the two sexes, however, he/she cannot both father and bear a child. But they can undergo operation so that they can live and function according to his/her chromosomal sex. Organic transplant replacing diseased organs. ► Types: **1. Autograft** - transplant within the same individual **2 Homograft** - transplant from one individual to another of the same species. **3. Heterograft** - transplant of organs between individuals of different species. 4. **Isograft** - transplant between two genetically identical persons. **Justifications of Cloning** 1. It is a great way to perpetuate geniuses 2. It can improve the human race 3. It can prevent genetic disease in selected posterity 4 It can provide a genotype of deceased parent etc. 5\. It can provide a form of immortality for donors 6\. It can determine sex of future children 7\. It can increase scientific knowledge about human reproduction 8\. It can exchange body parts and enhance social communication 9. If can provide or reproduce soldiers and servant classes of people. **Application of ethical theories** Natural law ethics- a strictly therapeutic intervention w/ an objective to heal various maladies is considered desirable. -prenatal diagnosis w purpose of aborting the fetus is morally wrong. -cloning, freezing of embryos, post mortem insemination, cryopreservation- constitute an oftense against the respect due to human beings by manipulating them. situation ethics- gives stress to the advantages and favourable advantages of genetic engineering utilitarian ethics- if it give benefits, comfort and happiness at the least cost of pain or unhappiness, the genetic engineering is ok. Kantian ethics- if resorting to genetic engineering one can avoid harm and seek the good of one\'s offspring, **The Moral Issues of Behavior Control and Claim to Health Care** Abnormal and violent behaviour due to insanity, epilepsy, schizophrenia and other forms of mental disorders has been the problem of medical science since the beginning. In relation to this an experimental operations was performed on the brain 1st to animals then later to humans. They were an attempt to identify the loci of emotions and mental disorders of men which has given rise to what we call \"behaviour alteration technology\" - the control or alteration of human behaviour by deliberate use of technology. **Claim to health care:** Does anyone has a claim-right to health care? ***Claim right*** means to demand one\'s right to heath care. **Right -** an individual\'s moral right w/c is derived from the principle of moral theory and not merely from laws or practices of society. The issues of the claim to moral right to health care * The concept of individual\'s inherent dignity* * Medical individualism* * Social commitment* The individual\'s inherent dignity: everyone in society morally speaking, ought to be entitled to health care irrespective his/her social status. ***Kant and Ross\'s*** supports this idea in their principle. In a manner of speaking, therefore, heeding and recognizing everyone\'s claim-right to medical care would be the most authentic expression of the Christian virtues of love and charity. ***Medical individualism:*** should access to care be recognized as a right? advocates of medical individualism argue that to recognize everyone\'s right to health care would violate the rights of physician and other medical practitioners. **The reasons for the rejection to claim- right:** - The right to one\'s own life w/c is the basis of all other rights, w/c means a right to pursue their own values, so physicians can also choose conditions under w/c to render services. - The physicians are also entitled to earn a living. **Social commitment:** - The physician\'s right is not absolute they may be restricted when serious social purposes are at stake. - Physician\'s medical training is not for personal fulfillment but for \"service to humanity\" The service aspect of medical training makes medicine the most humane and Christian profession **Humane** for its compassion and concern for the weak and the ill. **Christian** for its selflessness and self-denial for the sake of people\'s health and survival. **Allocation of scarce resources:** How to allocate scarce resources has always been a problem be it in medicine or other areas. The main concern in this situation is decision making that involves the welfare of certain people in particular situation **Ways of allocating scarce resources** - Criteria for inclusion (selection of candidates) - Criteria for comparison (selection of recipients) - Random selection - Lottery **Criteria for inclusion (selection of candidates)** **a. Constituency-** membership in the community **b. progress of science-** can a new knowledge be gained from the case **c. Success**- is the treatment likely to be effective. **The Morality of Family Planning:** **The family** - is considered the haven of tranquillity, happiness, and joy. that can provide lasting inspiration and sustaining hope for its members. **Family planning -** plays a very significant role not only in setting up a good and stable family but also in preserving harmony and happiness In the home. **[Republic Act \#10354]** or **The Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012.** Family planning refers to a program that enables couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number and spacing of their children and to have the information and means to do so, and to have access to safe, affordable, effective, non abortificient methods of planning pregnancy. **Family Planning-** is the rational, voluntary, and moral management of all the processes of family life including human procreation. ***Purposes of F.P.*** - Human dignity - Economic stability - Health and happiness - Treatment of infertility - Family life and sex education - Premarital guidance and marriage counselling - Pre and postnatal care **Right to reproductive health care** Also includes sexual health which means the enhancement of life and personal relations they should have access to a full range of methods that contribute to reproductive health and well being **Right to determine one\'s own ideal family** Parents should bring forth to the world only those children whom they can raise in a truly humane way. To be able to do so the state and other organizations including parents of would be couples should provide them with necessary information regarding all aspects of family life, Including reproductive health and responsible parenthood **Right to chose family planning preferences** Couples have a right to choose what is in accordance with their religious convictions and cultural beliefs taking into consideration the right of others and their responsibility **Right to Ethical reproductive health services.** Couples may avail themselves of ethical, and medically health care services that are essential in the promotion of people\'s right to health. For as long as rights and responsibilities of couples are observed it is ethical except resorting to abortion and use of abortifacient methods. **Family planning methods.** There are several methods already discussed and as a Catholic please be reminded that the use of abortifacient is always wrong as it causes abortion and sex without conception is ok as long as you are preventing the union of sperm and egg and not the birth of an already conceived life. **Justification for the benefits of Family Planning:** - A mother will have sufficient time to recover her strength before becoming pregnant again. - Sufficient time can be allotted to the proper upbringing or a growing child. - Will enable the parents to have adequate time for each family member and for each other. - Couples will have a lasting self-fulfilment and well-being that derives from well planned family. **Parental responsibility** refers to the parents\' accountability for the upbringing. nurturing, educating, etc of their children. This is the most important type of responsibility in human society. **Parental failure** is both a sin of commission/ omission against God and humanity **MORALITY OF HUMAN SEXUALITY** The significant and vital role that sex play in an individual\'s desire to be human, remained undisclosed to some extent. Is sex and sexuality the same? Is human sexuality meaningful or meaningless? Does it affirm or negate freedom and responsibility? What is sexual revolution **[The meaning of Sexuality to the individual]** 1\. completes the person 2\. makes us aware of our feelings, our desire, of who we are 3\. we become conscious of ourselves and discover ourselves through one\'s sexual meaning 4\. they become conscious of their life situations, their imperfections, their limitations. 5\. it makes one realize the need for some measure of fulfillment that only another person can give