Synthetic Biology Ethics Essay

Ethics in Synthetic Biology
Have you ever wondered what healthcare would be like if ethics were not governing the crucial decisions regarding the lives of people? If so, you possibly understand how important ethics is in general and if not, imagine a world where the best interest that was not considered and the decision that may inflict harm was used as the best decision. Ethics is a very important factor in everyday decisions, especially referring to the well being of others. Special fields in science like the advancing study of synthetic biology also need to consider the ethics and morality of the new technologies. Synthetic biology is the construction of new biological units (Seranno). With the advancement of synthetic biology, many new
Being that synthetic biology is the process of creating new biological forms it has received many criticisms and backlash. Most of the critic, which comes specifically from those who follow Christianity and/or Catholicism, use religion as a foundation to abide by for everyday life. For someone who is religious and follows such practices, they would be against synthetic biology as some believe it goes against their beliefs. The reaction of life in such an unnatural process defies many laws for their religious. Often, the idea of science going to far comes about. This belief of science going to far strays from the belief that science is trying to play the role of God, a common assumption. It is understandable that some might feel this way since synthetic biology consists of creating new life artificially. Those who believe in a higher being would most likely be against this process. Simply synthetic biology goes against religious beliefs. Synthetic biology consists of interfering with nature, synthetic biology can be used for good or evil and what people who follow a religion that believe in a higher being believe that science is using the recreation of artificial life as an evil process. It is understandable why this concept would come to play however are religious leaders really considering every aspect of synthetic biology, what it
This means are the practices of synthetic biology safe for the public. The idea that these synthetic organisms can be deemed unsafe and possibly have long term effects is an ethical issue many synthetic biologists have to deal with. It is an important question to ask since something that would have dangerous effects in the long run should realistically not be funded or continue to be researched on. Examining this particular ethical issue with the deontological perspective, gives the opportunity for a moral outlook on the ethical issue at hand. Patrick Heavey examined the ethics of synthetic biology with a deontological perspective. Understanding the morality of weather or not synthetic biology is safe is understanding the ethical issue in itself. To fully grasp the concept of it is safe, those involved in synthetic biology must know limits. Patrick Heavey writes about if synthetic biology challenges the dignity of life. He says, although synthetic biology can lead to the injurious attitudes, there can still be positive outcomes, it does not bring harm to life as every subject has its negatives that can be deemed unsafe (Heavey “Synthetic Biologic Ethics”). Heavey is simply stating that synthetic biology cannot be labeled as unsafe