Implications of science: ethical, social, economic and environmental: Practice Questions

In the context of modern biotechnology, which technique is primarily used to alter the genetic makeup of an organism by inserting a specific gene from another species?

A farmer decides to grow a variety of corn that has been genetically modified to produce a toxin that kills specific pests. While this reduces the need for chemical pesticides, which of the following represents a significant ecological ethical concern regarding this biotechnology?

When considering Pharmacogenomics (using a person's genome to choose the best medication), ethical concerns regarding 'Genetic Discrimination' often arise. In a society without robust legal protections, which of the following best describes an actuarial ethical risk of this biotechnology?

In the context of Biotechnology, which of the following refers to the technique used to produce multiple identical copies of a specific gene or organism?

In the field of Synthetic Biology, scientists are now able to create entirely new genetic sequences that do not exist in nature. From an ethical standpoint, which of the following represents the 'Playing God' argument often cited by critics of this technology?

In the context of Biotechnology, what is the specific term for the ethical framework that promotes the fair and equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens of biotechnological advancements across different social groups?

Identify the primary ethical concern regarding biopiracy when pharmaceutical companies utilize the traditional knowledge of indigenous populations to develop new biotechnological drugs.

Evaluate the ethical implications of gene patenting on the scientific commons, specifically focusing on how it might hinder follow-on research and the affordability of diagnostic tests.

Biotechnology has revolutionized modern medicine and agriculture. However, it also raises significant ethical questions. Answer the following questions based on the principles of Biotechnology and Ethics.

a) Define what is meant by biotechnology in your own words.
b) State one potential benefit of using Genetically Modified (GM) crops in agriculture.
c) Briefly explain one ethical concern regarding the use of cloning in animals.

The development of Golden Rice, a variety of rice engineered to biosynthesize beta-carotene (a precursor of Vitamin A), was intended to reduce malnutrition in developing countries. However, its implementation has been met with both praise and ethical resistance.

a) Explain the biotechnological mechanism used to insert the beta-carotene pathway into the rice genome. (2 points)
b) Evaluate the ethical conflict between the principle of beneficence (aiming to improve health) and the principle of justice regarding the intellectual property rights and dependencies of local farmers on biotechnology firms. (3 points)