Ethics in Biotechnology Angela Copeland Martin Proctor Kelly Van der Sande Leadership and Ethics Professor Kent Rhodes July 27, 2005 MBAM 685.13.

Ethics in Biotechnology

Angela Copeland

Martin Proctor

Kelly Van der Sande

Leadership and Ethics

Professor Kent Rhodes

July 27, 2005

MBAM 685.13

Ethics in Biotechnology

• Some Hot Topics- Gene Therapy

- Genetically Modified Food

• Stem Cell Research- Dilemma

- Introduction to Stem Cells

- Global Stem Cell Views

- Religious Issues

- Hosmers Model

Some Hot Topics: Gene Therapy

• 2,800 Genetic Disorders:

- Huntington, cystis fibrosis, hemophilia

• 2 Types Gene Therapy:

- Somatic gene therapy

- Germline gene therapy

Some Hot Topics: Gene Therapy

Some Hot Topics: Gene Therapy

• Legislation:

- FDA : No approved products at this moment

- EU : Regulatory directives, national interpretation

• Ethical Considerations:

- Playing God ? Perfecting Genes ?

- Somatic vs. Germline gene therapy

- Money, Money, Money !

- Racism, Eugenics

• “food product containing some quantity of any genetically

modified organism (GMO) as an ingredient”

• Direct & Indirect Benefits

• ‘Golden Rice’ , Flavr Savr ™ Tomato

Some Hot Topics: Genetically Modified Food

Some Hot Topics: Genetically Modified Food

• Legislation:

- FDA : Voluntary Consultation

- EU : Some blanket bans, national interpretation

• Ethical Considerations:

- Unnatural ? Dangerous for humans & environment

- Industrialization, Corporate Control

- Interfering with Nature ?

- Animal genes in plants & vice versa

Ethics in Biotechnology

• Some Hot Topics- Gene Therapy

- Genetically Modified Food

• Stem Cell Research- Dilemma

- Introduction to Stem Cells

- Global Stem Cell Views

- Religious Issues

- Hosmers Model

Stem Cell Research: Dilemma

• Biotechnology: Stem Cells

• Dilemma: – Protecting the unborn child– Vs.– Cure diseases and save many lives

Stem Cell Research: Introduction to Stem Cells

• Embryonic Stem Cells– Transforms into any type of cell– In a Petri dish

• Umbilical Cord (“Child”) Stem Cells– From placenta / umbilical cord– “Stem Cell Bank”

• Adult Stem Cells– More specialized stem cells– Difficult to locate, slower

growth rate, higher rejection rate

Stem Cell Research: Global Stem Cell views

• US: Various levels of allowance

• UK: Specific uses allowed

• Countries that provide gov’t funding for research: US,

UK, South Korea, China, Australia, Israel, Singapore,

Argentina, Uruguay, Sweden

• Countries that allow research without government

funding: Switzerland, Finland, Greece, Brazil,

Netherlands

• Legal set up = major religion

• Cathololic Church– NO WAY UNDER ANY SITUATION

– The soul is one with the body

• Anglican Church– Yes up till 14 days or split

– Not an individual till that moment

Stem Cell Research: Religious Issues

• Islam– Not ensoled untill 40/120 days

– Embryos not in their own environment – will die

– A duty to try and save life

• Judaism– Religious law should protect life

– Embryo will die so use it, can break commandments

in order to save life

Stem Cell Research: Religious Issues

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

• Benefits ?

- Patients

- Governments

- Pharmaceutical companies

- Research

• Harmed ?

- Fetus

- Other Projects

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

• Rights fully exercised ?

- Patients

- Scientists

- Doctors

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

• Rights denied ?

- Religious Groups

- None Religious Pro-Life Groups

- Fetus

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

Ethical Problem ?

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

• Economic Outcomes ?

- Healthcare savings

- Less money for other projects?

- For whom?

- Re-enter workforce

- Greying population

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

• Legal Requirements ?

- Research (42 countries)

- U.K. (cloning embryos)

- Medical Research (U.K., Belgium, Singapore &

Japan)

- Future considerations!

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

• Ethical Duties ?

- Relieve suffering of patients

- Education

- Funding medical research

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

• Team Consensus ?

- Not a human being (14 days)

- Education

- Increase funding medical research

- Legal framework

- Wide availabillity

- Stem cell bank Personal bank

Stem Cell Research: Hosmer’s Model

Ethics in Biotechnology

Angela Copeland

Martin Proctor

Kelly Van der Sande

Leadership and Ethics

Professor Kent Rhodes

July 27, 2005

MBAM 685.13