Ethics of Biotechnology

[Assigned Reading]

From Ecology of Eden

In Chapter 25 of Ecology of Eden, titled The Tree of Life, it discusses genetic engineering and biotechnology in relation to the environment. Eisenberg says that genetic engineering is not something that is new or should be feared, there are plenty of cases where nature already performs these mutations, such as conjugation of cells and viruses that can be spread through parasites. Do you think this comparison of previous natural examples justifies human kind’s intentional/selective use of bio-engineering? If so, are we then being compared to parasites?

Bio-engineering is the process by which humans selectively mutate genes in order to produce a mutated species that will serve some benefit for human use or science. The ethics of biotechnology are questionable, however, Eisenberg says that biotechnology is not necessarily bad as long as we conduct these experiments using proper ethics. Ethics include making sure no species have to live a life of suffering, or mutations that can wipe out a species entirely and displace the ecosystem.

-Zach Swanson

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