Gene technology raises ethical questions as well as scientific ones. Ethics is about deciding what is right, not just what is possible.Is it natural?
Some people object to moving genes between species, seeing it as unnatural or as "playing God". Others point out that selective breeding has changed crops and animals for thousands of years.Animal welfare
Producing GM and knockout animals uses many animals, and some suffer health problems. Supporters argue that the medical benefits, such as proteins from pharming or knowledge from disease models, justify this if suffering is minimised.Changing humans
• Germ line changes would be passed to future generations, who cannot consent.
• Using the technology to choose non-medical traits could lead to "designer babies" and to discrimination against people with disabilities.
• Patients in gene therapy trials must give informed consent, understanding that experimental treatments can have serious side effects.Fairness and ownership
• Gene therapies can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds per patient, raising questions about who gets them.
• Companies can take out patents on GM seeds, so farmers may have to buy new seed each year, which is hard for poorer farmers.Making decisions
Ethical frameworks help: a rights-based approach asks whether an action breaks someone's rights; a utilitarian approach asks whether it produces the greatest good for the greatest number. The precautionary principle says that if a technology might cause serious harm, it should not be used until it has been shown to be safe.
Some people object to moving genes between species, seeing it as unnatural or as "playing God". Others point out that selective breeding has changed crops and animals for thousands of years.Animal welfare
Producing GM and knockout animals uses many animals, and some suffer health problems. Supporters argue that the medical benefits, such as proteins from pharming or knowledge from disease models, justify this if suffering is minimised.Changing humans
• Germ line changes would be passed to future generations, who cannot consent.
• Using the technology to choose non-medical traits could lead to "designer babies" and to discrimination against people with disabilities.
• Patients in gene therapy trials must give informed consent, understanding that experimental treatments can have serious side effects.Fairness and ownership
• Gene therapies can cost hundreds of thousands of pounds per patient, raising questions about who gets them.
• Companies can take out patents on GM seeds, so farmers may have to buy new seed each year, which is hard for poorer farmers.Making decisions
Ethical frameworks help: a rights-based approach asks whether an action breaks someone's rights; a utilitarian approach asks whether it produces the greatest good for the greatest number. The precautionary principle says that if a technology might cause serious harm, it should not be used until it has been shown to be safe.