Gene technology Risks And Benefits Flashcards
(16 cards)
GEMs dev to produce protein BENEFITS
More economic and wider production of medically important proteins
E.g insulin
GM Plants BENEFITS
Cheaper food for richer countries
Possible reductions in use of pesticides
Reduction of food shortages in poorer countries
GM Plants RISKS
Risk of ‘genetic pollution” with spread of new genes from the modified crop to wild species - superweeds
Ecological concern that GM Plants may out-compete wild plants
Concerns about allergic reactions following consumption
GEMs dev to produce protein RISKS
Some MO live normally in human gut
GEMs could escape from lab and create new strain of ‘superbug’
GM Animals For Food BENEFITS
Increased productivity of animals such as fish or cattle by transferring gene for growth hormone into their genome
GM Animals for Food RISKS
Concern that foreign protein produced by transferred genes may act as antigens & increase likelihood of allergies
Gene Therapy Benefits
Effective treatment of genetic diseases
Relieving suffering and increasing life expectancy
Gene Therapy RISKS
Introducing genes into human genome may disrupt functioning of other genes
Human Genome Research BENEFITS
Facilitate biomedical research
Human Genome Research RISKS
Concerned info used to produce ‘designer babies’
Concern individuals genomic info might become available to insurance companies
Genetic Screening BENEFITS
Better understanding of risk of passing on a genetic disorder
Fetus may be tested for disorder before birth - prenatal diagnostic testing
Genetic Screening RISKS
Incr risk of stress from knowledge of being a carrier / developing a disorder later in life
Termination of pregnancy may not be acceptable
Gene Knockout Technology BENEFITS
Better understanding of how genes function
Genes might be implicated in a genetic disorder or might migrate to cause cancer
Gene Knockout Tech RISKS
Large numbers of mice used in biomedical research - many of which in pain
View that animals have rights and unacceptable to use them in this way
Safety Precautions to Reduce Risk
•use of bacterial strains ill-adapted to human physiology
-grow slowly in normal wild-type intestinal bacteria so outcompeted and eliminated
-minimum trmp tolerance above human body temp so they dont multiply
•Use of strains w ‘suicide genes’ - activated if conditions move outside certain pH or temp limits
•Use of containment mechanisms - e.g highly efficient air filters along w reg monitoring of atm in purpose built labs
Ethical Concerns
Sceptical of ownership of powerful tech by a handful of MNCs that may be more interested in profits than in long term welfare of humans and environment
Need for legislation - UK gene tech strictly researched in area of germ-line gene therapy in humans is banned
