Ethical, Religious, Legal, Public & Policy Concerns

Transcription

1 Synthetic Biology and Cellular Clll Machines Ethical, Religious, Legal, Public & Policy Concerns April R. Dworetz, MD, MPH Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Emory University School of Medicine Maryam Doroudi PhD Candidate, Biology Georgia Institute of Technology We have no conflicts to report 1

2 Why Are We Having This Discussion? Moral concerns are intertwined with science To help researchers understand Ethical considerations Religious viewpoints Public perceptions (vs. factual realities) To help researchers succeed 2

3 Ethical Considerations of Synthetic Biology Intrinsic moral dilemmas Playing G d or Hubris Devaluing life Destroying the human relationship with nature 3

4 Ethical Considerations of Synthetic Biology Consequences for human welfare Unintended dconsequences Dual use problem 1: misuse of synbio by bad nonstate actor or rogue states Dual use problem 2: government development of defensive bio weapons used for offense 4

5 Case 1: Genetically engineering algae for biofuel Exxon Mobil and Synthetic Genomics (Craig Venter) Developing genetically engineered algae Engineering algae to produce biofuels Need area the size of San Francisco Advantages are clear (Benefits) Discuss the ethical concerns (risks of harm) associated with this enterprise 5

6 Case 1: Genetically engineering algae for biofuel Corporate producers Effect on biodiversity Human relationship with nature Biosecurity: physical or biological containment Predicting harm is difficult at best 6

7 Ethical Considerations Preserving biodiversity it Public concern that science will threaten biodiversity due to past experience Real potential threats to biodiversity Three theoretical negative effects of self replicating biological machines Are these concerns minimal or is there a high risk of such contamination? 7

8 Kudzu 8

9 Three Great Stages of Evolution 1Darwinian Evolution (passive) 2Civilization (controlling the evolutionary environment) 3Directed Evolution: Design 9

10 Ethical Considerations Humankind s relationship with nature The design and manufacture oflife will blur the artifact (or machine) /organism distinction This leads to the: Devaluing of life Encouraging the belief that all life is of merely instrumental value 10

11 Ethical Considerations Biosecurity: Physical or Biologic Containment Biorefineries Genes that will automatically kill their cell or machine if they areoutside of their expected environment ( Suicide genes ) Cells programmed to produce chemicals that will kill cells or machines when they are in an unexpected environment 11

12 Case 2: Development of an insulin producing cellularmachine A research lab is developing a cellular machine Releases insulin in response to surrounding glucose concentration Potentially for implantation in humans with diabetes Built with human stem cell Produces and releases insulin in response to the surrounding glucose concentration Goal: implantation and use in humans with diabetes Discuss some of the potential ethical issues related to developing/using such biological machine: 12

13 Stem cells Case 2: Development of an insulin producing cellularmachine Humanembryonicstem cells vs. humannon embryonicstemnon cells Playing G d Hubris Doing harm Does machine control of a human change the individual? Signal processing Biological Machine Actuation Transpor t 13

14 Ethical Considerations Stem Cells Human non embryonic stem cells Human embryonic stem cells Destruction of life Life begins with conception 14

15 15

16 Ethical Considerations Playing G d and Hubris Metaphysical or Theological Version Epistemic Version Humans should not create life Warning against thubris overestimating change human nature, interfere our ability to predict the consequences with nature, etc. of our interventions 16

17 Religious Viewpoints Religious Wisdom G d as Creator and human beings in the image of G d Sanctity of human life and respect for human dignity Stewardship over creation Human vulnerability Social justice 17

18 Religious Viewpoints hescs*, synthetic biology, & predictions for EBDC Judaism Hinduism Mainline Protestant Islam Buddhism Catholic Evangelical Christian *human embryonic stem cells hesc Synthetic Biology 18

19 Beneficence Duty to heal Compassion Social life and family identity Nonmaleficence Ethical Considerations Doing Harm 19

20 Ethical Considerations Causing change to individuals Does a synthetic cellular machine controlling a human being change that individual? 20

21 Case 3: Cellular machine for mass production of H1N1 vaccines The WHO predicts a huge H1N1 epidemic Research for development of H1N1 vaccines is funded A research lab at Ga. Tech develops a cellular machine to produce the synthetic H1N1 virus A spin off company made up of Ga. Tech, GEM4, and CDC scientists (all with security clearance) produce mass quantities of H1N1 virus to make the vaccine The vaccine is distributed world wide The H1N1 infection arrives, but the epidemic is averted Discuss the ethical considerations of this scenario 21

22 Bioterrorism Case 3: Cellular machine for mass production of H1N1 vaccines Dual use 1: rogue states and non government actors Dual use 2: government misuse and intergovernment competition 22

23 Case 3: Cellular machine for mass production of H1N1 vaccines Corporate producers Biodiversity Human relationship with nature Biosecurity: Physical or biological containment Predicting harm is difficult at best 23

24 Public perception v. factual reality Bioterrorism and Dual useuse Potential misuse of cellular machines raises valid biosecurity and bioterrorism concerns Dual use 1: rogue states and non government actors Dual use 2: government misuse and inter government competition Is there any significant chance that the risk of misuse outweighs the beneficial uses of the research? THE ULTIMATE ETHICAL GOAL: RESPONSIBLE STEWARDSHIP 24

25 Additional thoughts on ethics and cellular machines 25

26 Ethical Considerations Public Beneficence, Nonmaleficence, Justice and Fairness Two main groups with ethical concerns: Proactionaries Precautionaries Prudent vigilance Balance harms that will never be acceptable with harms that can be mitigated Justice & fairness need to be balanced with preserving intellectual freedom Resource allocation should be done in a way that will not hinder public access to EBDC 26

27 Religious Viewpoints Theological questions to think about What impact does in vitro development have on our human self conception and image ofg d? Does EBDC overstep well defined boundaries? Does success with synthetic biology make life less special? What is the appropriate relationship between humans and the natural world? Are EBDC scientists arrogant and hubristic? Are religious conceptions or practices affected? How do we use religious conceptions to help us with the direction of EBDC? 27

28 Igniting the Moral Imagination of 21 st Century Leaders 28