Ethical Issues - Biotechnology

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Ethical Issues

• Ethics includes rules of conduct by which a community regulates its behaviour and decides as to which activity is lawful and which is not. Therefore, bioethics includes rules of conduct that may be used to regulate our activities in relation to the biological world.
• The main bioethical concerns pertaining to biotechnology are briefly mentioned as follows
• Introduction of a transgene from one species into another species violates the integrity of species.
• Biotechnology may pose unforeseen risks to the environment , including risk to biodiversity.
• Transfer of human genes into animals ( and vice - versa ) dilutes the con cept of ' humanness.
• When animals are used for production of pharmaceutical proteins , they are virtually reduced to the status of a ' factory '
• Use of animals in biotechnology causes great suffering to them
• Biotechnology is disrespectful to living beings, and only exploits them for the benefit of human beings.
• Therefore , the Indian Government has set up organisations such as GEAC (Genetic Engineering Approval Committee), which will make decisions regarding the validity of GM research and the safety of introducing GM - organisms for public services.

• Certain companies are being granted patents for products and technologies that make use of the genetic materials, plants and other biological resources that have long been identified , developed and used by farmers and common persons of a particular region / country
• There are numerous varieties of rice in India alone.
• The diversity of rice in India is one of the richest in the world.
• Basmati rice is distinct for its unique aroma and flavour and 27 documented varieties of Basmati are grown in India.
• There is reference to Basmati in ancient books , as it has been grown for centuries.
• In 1997 , an American company got patent rights on Basmati rice through the US Patent and Trademark Office.
• This allowed the company to sell a ' new ' variety of Basmati , in the US and abroad.
• This ' new ' variety of Basmati had actually been derived from Indian farmer's varieties.
• Indian Basmati was crossed with semi - dwarf varieties and claimed as an invention or a novelty.
• The patent extends to functional equivalents, implying that other people selling Basmati rice could be restricted by the patent.

• Several attempts have also been made to patent uses, products and processes based on Indian traditional herbal medicines, e.g. , turmeric neem.
• If we are not vigilant other countries / individuals may encash on our rich legacy.
• Mostly the developed nations are rich financially but poor in biodiversity and traditional knowledge.
• In contrast the developing and the underdeveloped world is rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge related to bioresources.Traditional knowledge related to bioresources can be exploited to develop modern applications.
• Some nations are developing laws to prevent such unauthorised exploitation of their bio resources and traditional knowledge.
• The GM crops are fast becoming a part of agriculture throughout the world because of their contribution to the increased crop productivity and to global food, feed and fiber security, besides their use in health - care and industry.
• The effect of GM crops on non - target and beneficial insects / microbes.
• Transgenes may escape through pollen to related plant species (gene pollution) and may lead to the development of super weeds.
• The GM crops may change the fundamental vegetable nature of plants as the genes from animals ( e.g. , fish or mouse ) are being introduced into crop plants.
• The safety of GM food for human and animal consumption, ( e.g. , GM food may cause allergenicity ).
• The effect of GM crops on biodiversity and environment.
• The transgenes may move from plants to gut microflora of humans and animals and cause antibiotic resistance.
• The GM crops may lead to the change in the evolutionary pattern.
• Scientists cannot rule out the possibility of mutation or other biological damage.
• The release of genetically engineered plants and animals in the environment could disturb the existing ecological balance.
• The use of recombinant microorganisms for various commercial purposes can ac cidentally create new infectious agents.
• The main fear associated with the genetically engineered microorganisms is that they could escape from the laboratory into the environment with unpredictable fatal conse quences AIDS virus is supposed to be the outcome of such a research.

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