Genetically Modified Organisms: Ethical Issues

Ans.  Transgenic organisms are organisms that contain foreign genes from other species or synthetic sources, while cisgenic organisms are organisms that contain genes from the same species or closely related species.

Ans. GMOs can enhance food security by improving the quality and quantity of crops and reducing the use of chemicals. They can also benefit human health by offering new and effective ways to treat diseases. Moreover, they can provide new and sustainable solutions for industries and environmental problems.

Ans. Biotechnology has made a huge difference in medicine. Scientists create and use GMOs in labs to make new medicines and treatments such as antibodies, vaccines, enzymes, and many other things. For example, genetically modified bacteria have changed the way insulin is made to help people with diabetes

Ans.  Antibiotic resistance genes are genes that can make bacteria resistant to antibiotics, which can be used as markers for genetic modification. However, these genes may transfer to other bacteria and make them resistant to antibiotics, which can pose a threat to human health and the environment.

Ans. Biopiracy is the appropriation or exploitation of the genetic resources or traditional knowledge of the indigenous or local communities without their consent or compensation, which is unethical because it violates their rights and interests.

Ans. Herbicide-tolerant crops are crops that can withstand the application of certain herbicides, which can kill weeds without harming the crops. The benefits of using herbicide-tolerant crops are that they can reduce the labor and cost of weed control, increase the yield and quality of the crops, and reduce the soil erosion and water pollution caused by tillage. 

The drawbacks of using herbicide-tolerant crops are that they may increase the use and dependence of herbicides, which can have negative effects on human health and the environment, such as toxicity, contamination, or resistance. They may also reduce the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by the weeds, such as habitats and food for other organisms, or pollination and pest control.

Ans. Gene therapy is a technique that involves introducing or correcting genes in the cells of a patient, which can treat genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, or sickle cell anemia. The applications of using gene therapy are that it can target the root cause of the disease, provide a long-term or permanent cure, and avoid the side effects or limitations of conventional treatments, such as drugs or surgery. 

The challenges of using gene therapy are that it is still experimental, expensive, and risky, and faces technical, ethical, and regulatory hurdles, such as the delivery, integration, expression, and safety of the genes, the consent, privacy, and rights of the patients, and the approval, monitoring, and oversight of the trials and products.

Ans. Cloned animals are animals that are genetically identical to their parent animal, which can be used for organ transplantation, which is a technique that involves transferring organs from donors to recipients, which can save lives. The advantages of using cloned animals for organ transplantation are that they can provide a steady and sufficient supply of organs, avoid the organ shortage and waiting list, and reduce the risk of rejection and immunosuppression, which are the main problems of using human organs. 

The disadvantages of using cloned animals for organ transplantation are that they may raise ethical, social, and environmental issues, such as the welfare, rights, and dignity of the animals, the safety, quality, and compatibility of the organs, and the impact, regulation, and acceptance of the technology.

Ans. Creating transgenic animals with human-like traits raises ethical concerns about animal welfare, human dignity, and societal implications. These concerns can be addressed through the principles of respect, beneficence, justice, and precaution. Respect involves acknowledging animal and human interests and obtaining consent for research activities. Beneficence involves maximizing benefits and minimizing harm, ensuring product safety and efficacy. Justice involves fair distribution of benefits and burdens, protecting vulnerable groups. Precaution involves anticipating and preventing potential risks and uncertainties.

Ans. CRISPR-Cas9 is a tool that can target and edit specific DNA sequences, which can be used to modify or delete genes in an organism.