Ethical issues in drug research - GMOs

A-Ethical issues in drug researchA1. Who fund the research?A2. What are the diseases being researched

for?A3. Who benefit from the drugs being made?A4. Who have access to drug treatment?

Patients regardless of their income?A5. Do drug companies own the cure and have

right to sell it however way and at whatever price they wants?

A6. Or should drug companies make the life-saving cures available to everyone who needs them?

B- Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

B1. Bases A,T,G, C in DNA are universal

B2. One organism (let’s say A) can read the DNA code and make the protein of another organism (let’s say B) as long as that coding DNA is in the former’s (that is A’s) genome.

C-How are GMOs created?

C1. Using a technique called DNA recombinant technology

C2. A short segment of DNA carrying desire traits (e.g. antibiotic resistance) are inserted into a vector (= a carrier DNA) they’re recombined

C-How are GMOs created (Cont.)?

C3. Recombinant vector then inserted into bacterial cells

C4. Only bacterial cells with recombinant vector survive treatment of antibiotic

D- Use of some GMOs

Coho salmon

D1. Genes that code for growth hormone is inserted into some animal genome D2. Benefit: produce bigger, faster-growing animals to increase human food supply

D- Use of some GMOs (Cont.)

http://www.natureworksllc.com/ Cargill Dow Chemical Company:

D3.Production of biodegradable plastic partially from GMOs cornD4. The plastic is PLA: Poly- lactic acid

D- Use of some GMOs (cont.)

D5.Human insulin gene are inserted into E.coli genome

D6. E.coli becomes a living factory for human insulin production

E. Why is E.coli chosen to produce insulin for human?

E1. Already in human intestine

E2. Less likely to cause allergic reactions/diseases

• Have you eaten today?• Was GMOs a part of

your breakfast/lunch?• Do you have any say in

the food you bought from local grocery store?

F- Concern about GMOs

F1. Consumption of genetically modified products not only put human at risk of acquiring various viruses that carried by GMOs

F2. Allow drug-resistant genes to pass freely among GMOs, especially among bateria increase spread of diseases

F3. Unforeseen consequences of rapid change in species (i.e. human-induced evolution) that would have taken millions years to develop.

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The world according to Monsanto