Ethical considerations in genetically modified organisms and enzyme use

Enzyme Ethics

The author of this report has been asked to offer and extend an opinion and analysis about the use of enzymes when it comes to the production of food, the breeding of animals and the growing of other plants like trees and such. Of course, there is a fairly advanced movement that is against genetically modified organisms (GMO's) on any level. However, to dismiss the practice entirely would probably be a mistake. While there should be ethical and legal limits placed on the enzyme creation and manipulation industry, the safe and fruitful advantages that can be rendered should be embraced and fully realized.

In general, the author of this response would assert that genetic modifying in general as it relates to animals, food crops and other plants is not a bad thing. However, there are always consequences to actions and those need to be assessed both in advance of a science advance being pushed out for public consumption as well as after the fact to insure that there was not anything missed or any unintended consequences. An example that the author of this report is Monsanto. They have a pretty lucrative business venture in the form of producing and selling the non-selective herbicide Roundup as well as seeds that resist the same. To be clearer, Roundup is called a non-selected herbicide because it basically kills all grass and weeds that it comes in contact with. However, Monsanto also produces seeds that are bred and produced to resist reactions to Roundup thus making it easier for weeds around food crops to be killed without affecting the crop that is in that given field. Beyond that, Monsanto specifically forbids farmers from harvesting and using seeds that come from prior plants. As part of any of their purchasing agreements, they ban this practice and will sue anyone who violates that clause. Even if the practice Monsanto is engaging in is legal (it is), it is a little unseemly to allow seeds to go to waste. It is also perhaps questionable to willingly allow food crops to come in contact with Roundup given that the food produced will eventually be consumed by humans. Indeed, many pesticides are known or feared to be carcinogens (MIT, 2015).

However, there certainly examples of GMO's and enzyme harnessing that go to good use. As explained by the DuPont website, tinkering with the enzymes can make food healthier, less quick to spoil and so forth. It can also improve production efficiency and add texture (DuPont, 2015). Even so, there are some things being done in the genetic and enzyme sphere that are a little disconcerting or that at least should be reviewed further before using and harnessing on a grand scale. For example, Action Bioscience mentions that American chestnut trees that are resistant to a particular form of blight and disease are being bred to replace trees that are dying off due to that same blight. Further, golden rice is rice that is infused with vitamin A However, there is other genetic tinkering that involves splicing of genes and even melding species and this can be a very slippery slope. There need to be strict legal controls, at least until research can be done, before more aggressive research is done. The author of this report could see obvious ethical implications with people having children in the form of "designer babies" and other nasty things that are really beyond the pale when it comes to what should and should not be realized as part of science. Eliminating disease and so forth is a noble pursuit but elective and preferential uses are probably a bad idea as a whole (Action Bioscience, 2015).