Bioethics considers the moral issues that arise from biotechnology and medicine. It examines questions like whether we should genetically engineer human-chimpanzee hybrids or use genetic engineering to produce human organs in animals. Many organizations are involved in bioethics debates and the goal is to understand the costs and benefits of different decisions while considering conflicting values. Bioethical questions are common in fields like medicine, agriculture, environmental science, and forensics as new technologies develop.

1. Unit 1, Lesson 3
AOHS
Biotechnology
Ethics in Biotechnology
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2. Bioethics is the study of ethical issues in biology
• Bioethics considers the moral and social aspects of
biotechnology and medicine

3. Ethics considers what choices we should make
If we could use genetic engineering to create a human-
chimpanzee hybrid, should we?

4. Should we
allow:
Genetically modified
organisms (GMOs) to be
used for human food?
Mandatory DNA sampling
of everyone who is
arrested?
Genetic engineering of
animals to produce
human organs?
Society is confronted with numerous issues in bioethics

5. Biotechnology takes ethics very seriously
• The government makes rules for ethical research
• The public is often concerned about new
technologies
The stereotype of “mad scientists” creating monsters

6. Three criteria are central to bioethics
RESPECT
GOODNESS
JUSTICE

7. Not everyone agrees about what is “right” or “good”
Is it really right to eat
animals? Which ones?

8. The goal of bioethics is to understand the costs and
benefits of decisions as well as the values and conflicts
• What are the costs (bad
impacts) of a decision?
What are the benefits
(good impacts)?
• What values are being
given priority (“winning”)
over other values?

9. • Academic and political
groups
• Legal and religious
organizations
• Government agencies
Many different organizations are involved in bioethics

10. Bioethical questions are common in medicine
• Health care professionals deal with bioethics
questions almost every day.
• Examples:
o Is it acceptable for a parent to deny treatment to a
child on the basis of religious beliefs?
o If a teenager has a sexually transmitted disease,
should his or her parents be informed if they
are the ones paying for the treatment?
o Should we allow people to not be vaccinated
even though it puts others at risk?

11. Agricultural biotechnology depends on what
governments and consumers view as ethical
What are the main costs and
benefits of using GMO crops?

12. Environmental applications of biotechnology face
ethical questions
• Should we use cloning to save an endangered species?
• If rDNA bacteria can clean up an oil spill but will alter the
natural ecosystem, should we use them?
• If a genetically modified soybean produces better biofuel,
should we use it?

13. Bioethical questions are increasing in forensic science
• Is taking DNA from someone an
unreasonable search?
• What about taking DNA from
something they handled, like a
soda can?
• Who should be required to be in
the government DNA database?
o Convicts?
o People who get arrested?
o Everyone?

14. Basic research usually requires approval by an
ethics board
Do you think there are any risks in requiring experiments to
get advance approval? What are the costs and benefits?
• Research involving
living people or
animals must be
approved in
advance by an
ethics board. A committee reviewing research
proposals

15. Ethical questions are important in many different
fields of biotechnology
How does ethics impact biotechnology?
How do you think bioethics will impact your life?
What is the goal of studying bioethics?