The moral and ethical issues associated with recombinant DNA technology Essay Example

The moral and ethical issues associated with recombinant DNA technology Essay Example The moral and ethical issues associated with recombinant DNA technology Essay The moral and ethical issues associated with recombinant DNA technology Essay Gene therapy: Can be used to cure genetic diseases an example of a proven case would be the bubble boy disease commonly known as ADA. (The body has no immunity, and the baby has to be put in a bubble to stop germs infecting) This disease inherited from the parents is caused by the missing or damaged enzyme adenosine deaminase, normally treated with injections of the enzyme. As the injections dont completely restore the immune system. This was the first use of gene therapy in the USA, a copy of the normal genes for ADA enzymes were inserted into an inactive virus that was put in to the patients immune system (Tcells) These grew in a colony then they were put in to the patient like an ordinary blood transfusion(4) and the girl lived, as this was a successful cure. Not many people will argue to curing genetically prone people, but it could get out of hand in theory any desired gene could be instead into an human egg(1) so how far do we go is the question, can we choose what are babes should look like? Are just some of the questions that are asked. Using technology like this has already help cure diseases like cystic fibrosis and can help many more. Genetically altered bacteria: you can develop bacteria to do certain task s not possible such as put them on to a oil spill were they can digest the oil and reduce pollution(2). As well as this u can get rock eating bacteria used by industrial chemist. They use bacteria to produce copper, 10% of copper is produced in this way in the US. The bacteria feed off chalcopyrite(7 ) a copper ore. Transgenic animals: an experiment in the USA which implanted an alien gene in a monkey(3) for the first time gave a step close to finding more cures for humans. The experiment was devised to create Transgenic monkeys which perfectly mimic human diseases, so that cures can be found(3) now test can be done on these monkeys rather than mice as they will show more human like activities. But there are many objections to thesis types of experiments from people like the RSPCA emphasis should be placed on the reducing and replacing primate use with humane alternatives rather than developing new uses for these animals. We believe this is a step too far. Morally and ethically the RSCPA are saying that its wrong. But Transgenic animals can be used in other ways such as producing insulin, interferon and other hormones that some people lack. This is done by inserting the gene for human interferon (a protein that helps to destroy viruses) in to an egg. The cow has all the gene in all of her cells and produces human interferon which is secreted in her milk.(1) Molecular farming: is the growth of transgenic plants that contain health care products, such as vaccines and pharmasuticles(5) to me this is a great idea especially for developing countries were healthcare products are not available or too expensive. I think that this is morally and ethically right. But if allowed it could fall into evil hands and people could develop poisons and other harmful chemicals and this could lead to biological warfare.