1. Genetic Engineering

2. Kinds of genetic manipulation
Breeding
Pre-implantation selection of embryos
Direct gene manipulation
recombinant DNA technology
genetic modification/manipulation (GM)
gene splicing

3. Somatic vs. Germline Engineering
Somatic genetic engineering
Gene therapy
Affects adult cells
Not inheritable
Germline genetic engineering
Changing genes in eggs, sperm or early embryos
Affects unborn baby
Inheritable

4. Negative vs. Positive Engineering
Negative engineering (cures and treatment)
Cystic fibrosis
Diabetes
Autism
Spinabifida
Etc.
Positive engineering (enhancement)
Intelligence
Health
Strength
Appearance
Longevity

5. Non-human Genetic Engineering
Benefits: Medical: engineering beneficial bacteria/viruses engineering better animal test subjects better vaccines Agricultural: plants/animals with better disease resistance plants/animals that grow bigger, faster or more efficiently Other: animals that are faster, fish that are prettier, roses that smell sweeter, etc.

6. Non-human genetic engineering (cont.)
Concerns:
Messing with nature
Permanently changing genomes
Loss of diversity
Fear of unexpected consequences

7. Human genetic engineering
Benefits
Selecting against genetic diseases and disorders
Making people healthier, stronger, smarter, more attractive, etc.
Giving parents choices

8. Human genetic engineering
Concerns:
Same as for non-human genetic engineering plus:
Altering the history of the human race
Reducing human diversity
Playing God
Choosing among possible people
Treating people as means, not ends
Treating children as commodities
Slippery slope
Division of society into “haves” and “have nots”
The “naturals” and the “GenRich”

9. Cloning Creating an exact genetic replica Natural cloning
Asexual reproduction
Identical twins
Identical genes identical organism

10. Artificial cloning 1952: first cloned vertebrate -- frog
1986: first cloned mammal – mouse (from embryonic cells)
1996: first cloned mammal from an adult cell -- Dolly the Sheep
Since 1996: cow, cat, dog, horse, water buffalo, camel

11. Human reproductive cloning
Creating a baby that is genetically identical to an adult human
Benefits:
Treatment for infertility
Creating a child for the medical benefit of another, e.g. a bone marrow donor for a sick sibling
Parental choice?

12. Human reproductive cloning
Objections: 1) Safety concerns 2) Human individuality and autonomy 3) Complex family relationships 4) Undermining human diversity 5) Human dignity (using a person as a means)

13. Readings
Required: G. Hardin, “The Tragedy of the Commons,” Science 162 (1968), pp , available at: Guha, Ramachandra, “Radical American Environmentalism and Wilderness Preservation: A Third World Critique” in Environmental Ethics, Vol. 11, No.1 (Spring 1989), pp , available at: Optional: Goodpaster, Kenneth, “On Being Morally Considerable”, in Environmental Philosophy, pp , available on reserve at the Philosophy Office