What role religion and ethics in GM and biotechnology?

 


From http://www.issuesinperspective.com/images/sci_religion.jpg

 

¥Important ethical and moral issues must be considered when discussing and applying biotechnology. Although religion and ethics clearly arenÕt the same thing, looking at ethical questions from the perspective of religious institutions can serve as a starting point for discussion.

 

¥As with most complex ethical issues, those around GMO and biotechnology are not only not black and white, but involve many shades of gray.

 

What is natural?

¥Think about it. How would you define ÔnaturalÕ? If you take one gene and put it into another organism (GMO), is this natural? Both the gene youÕre moving and the organism youÕre moving it into are of nature. Genes move around in nature all the time. Farmers selectively modified crops by selecting the most drought-resistant strains or highest-yielding strains ever since the beginning of agriculture.

 

¥Many feel that aspects of biotechnology tamper with ÔGodÕs plan,Õ while others are fearful of unknown potential consequences of biotechnology.

 

Religion and GMO

¥As with any issue, itÕs difficult to say ÔThis is what Christians (or any other religion for that matter) believeÕ because there are so many diverse beliefs within any one religion, but major groups representing religions have taken stands on GMO and related issues. Even within one ÔstandÕ, diverse views emerge.

 

From http://www.markfoster.net/jccc/religious_symbols.jpg

 

¥As just one example: Certain aspects of biotechnology are against the teachings of the Catholic Church. Because Catholics believe that life begins at fertilization, they are against the harvesting of human embryonic stem cells, because this technique results in the destruction of the embryo.

 

¥On the other hand, the Vatican has come out in favor of GMO food as a way to help feed the poor.

 

¥Much discussion also centers around human cloning, which can be used in two different ways: there is reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning is used to make a clone of another person while therapeutic cloning is the basis for regenerating damaged or lost tissues through the use of embryonic stem cells. Some in one group, say US Senate conservatives, have come out against the former, but for the latter.

 

¥There are many arguments both for and against human modification and cloning, based on everything ranging from philosophical ideas to religious values. Some people choose to distinguish human modification and cloning from non-human modification and cloning while others consider them equally.

 

¥In an effort to control research and ensure that ethical concerns remain a priority, restrictions and bans on research have been put in place by governmental agencies around the world.

 

Further information

Outline of specific ethical controversies related to types of biotechnology www.bio.org/er/ethics.asp

 

Naturalness and the genetic modification of animals

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov:80/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=12837612

 

Links discussing restrictions on biotechnology

Regulation by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): www.usda.gov/agencies/biotech/laws.html

 

Human cloning discussion http://www.arhp.org/patienteducation/onlinebrochures/cloning/index.cfm?ID=282

http://www.genetics-and-society.org/technologies/cloning/reproarguments.html

 

Different religions on GMO and biotechnology

The Vatican and GMO food:

http://213.92.16.98/ESW_articolo/0,2393,42098,00.html

Judaism and Methodism:

http://environment.harvard.edu/religion/religion/judaism/projects/eco_kosher.html

Islam and cloning:

http://www.islamset.com/healnews/cloning/view.html