What are the ethical issues of artificial selection?

Answer 1

Many people feel the use of genetic engineering in food and farming is wrong, that it goes against nature or their spiritual beliefs. Others think it's wrong because it allows big companies to gain more control of the food chain.

The fact is that genetic engineering allows scientists to take a gene from one species and insert it into a completely different species with which it could never naturally breed. Thus it is possible vegetarian, halaal, kosher and other rights may be infringed. We should consider whether we should have the right to experiment with the blueprint of life and commercialise living organisms.

• Consider the series micro-organism-plant-animal-human. Should we draw a line limiting genetic manipulation at some point? If so where, and on what grounds?
• Which potential benefits, if any (e.g. therapeutic medicines), might be thought to justify animal genetic manipulation, which would not? What criteria might we apply?
• In what sense does genetic modification by biochemical methods differ ethically from age-old selective breeding practices? Are we exceeding ethical limits even in selective breeding?
• What constitutes proper and improper human use of animals? Should animals ever be used in research? Do animals have "rights", as we think of "human rights"?
• Should animal organs, e.g a pig's heart genetically modified to counteract tissue rejection, be transplanted into humans to overcome the large and inevitable shortfall in donor organs?
• Should we eat foodstuffs which had been genetically manipulated using human genes? Why, or why not? How does this affect religious and other groups with strong dietary laws?
• Should anyone be able to patent a genetically modified animal or plant? If not, how else could a company protect the results of a huge research programme?
• Is the profit motive too dominant a driving force in research in biotechnology? What other criteria are important? Are we reducing animals, and nature in general, to the status of just commodities?
• What other system of funding might you apply?
• How great are the potential risks involved in releasing genetically modified organisms into the biosphere without knowing all the possible consequences?
• Is genetic engineering to make a staple crop more resist in marginal conditions (e.g. drought, cold) a potential boon for Third World agriculture, or another danger of increased dependence on rich "developed" countries?

Some Wider Questions about Genetic Engineering

• How should we handle an emotive issue about which opinions are apt to be polarised at a very fundamental level? How do you assess a "gut reaction" ethically?
• It is an "expert technology", but how do we make the "experts" accountable to society?
• How should the public be represented in what goes on?
• How do we handle issues of information and misinformation, the media and lobbying?
• How far should commercial secrecy be allowed, and how far should a firm be obliged to publish?
• What are our motives in genetic engineering? - commercial, humanitarian, curiosity, professional kudos, national interests, to improve mankind, ...?

Are there better medical or biotechnical things to be doing with our research money than genetic engineering?

Answer 2

Selective breeding in human beings is considered ethically wrong for various reasons. This will interfere with the unique natural tendencies and is also considered to be a form of discrimination against some people.

Answer 3

Some of the ethical and moral issues involved in genetic engineering include questions about whether such an interruption of natural processes of child birth is right. Religious thought wonders if this in not an intrusion into an area that should be left entirely to a higher power.

Answer 4

Many people feel the use of selective breeding in food and farming is wrong but that it goes against nature or their spiritual beliefs. Others think it is wrong because it allows big companies to take more control of the food chain.

Answer 5

Who gets to decide which trait is deemed 'favourable' and another 'unfavourable'? Do we, as humans, have the right to interfere with nature and natural selection? We have to be able to deal with the consequences and the possible damages that could occur to either an entire species or even just a single organism. We have a responsibility to the future.

Answer 6

Luis is a Mexican with taco and buritos there will be no variety

Answer 7

you are all a bunch of tossers who need a life

Answer 8

there is no ethical issues in artificial breeding

Answer 9

i dont kow

#imma_boss