Question

List a few major bioethical concerns related to transgenic organisms.

Answer 1

Major bioethical concerns include:

1. The use of animals in biotechnology may cause them pain or suffering.
2. Animals used to produce pharmaceutical products may be treated merely as production units or “factories.”
3. Transferring genes between species may be viewed as affecting the integrity of species.
4. Transferring human genes into animals, or animal genes into humans, raises concerns about the meaning and boundaries of “humanness.”
5. Genetic modification may have unpredictable effects on ecosystems and biodiversity.
6. Transgenes may escape into wild relatives, or a transgenic crop may persist as an unwanted weed.
7. Potential health effects, including allergies or other unforeseen risks, need careful assessment.

Ethical review, biosafety testing and responsible regulation are necessary to ensure that benefits do not come at an unacceptable cost to living beings or the environment.