Future raises moral issues in genetics

October 12, 2009 —

Science fiction might paint the future with scenarios of genetic manipulation. But, as one lecturer asked Wednesday at Founder’s Hall, is America ready to handle genetics’ ethical gray areas?

As part of the Fall Focus lecture series, “Leadership in Times of Crisis,” Dr. Janine Idziak lectured on ethics and genetics in the 21st century. The professor from Loras College in Iowa discussed the ethical dilemmas that genetic technologies carry to a crowd of faculty, students and the general public.

Idziak’s straightforward itinerary outlined her topics, including the Human Genome Project, genetic testing, gender selection, babies by design, social issues and legal issues.

She also used a scene from the 1997 film Gattaca and three case studies to bring up debate over genetic issues.

The scene showed a couple in the not-too-distant future who had one baby naturally and decided to have a second baby by genetically designing it. The result of baby-by-design was a child born without genetic imperfections; traits such as hereditary diseases, baldness and obesity were removed from the embryo’s DNA.

Computer science sophomore Amanda Pavlicek said that thoughts of fiction becoming fact were new to her.

“I have not thought of genetically engineered babies before now or how this will affect our future,” she said.

Idziak also looked at the Genetic Information Act of 2008 which offers limited protection from genetic discrimination in getting a job or health insurance.

The professor discussed the complications of constitutional rights, especially the social implications that could be created by designing a person with no flaws. The question was asked if what she called a “genobility,” or division between classes, would arise.

If all are created equal, then would it matter who did the creating?

“Tonight’s lecture really made you think about conflicting moral and ethical issues that genetic engineering brings up,” said Jared Bruner, computer information systems junior.

Idziak brought up a case study to look at violent behavior. If a person’s genetic makeup predisposes them to committing crimes, should gene therapy be used as a substitute for jail time?

“These questions and debates made for a very interesting evening, which combined biology and philosophy,” said Travis Raines, a biology major.

Idziak does six to eight lectures a year on bioethical topics as a guest speaker at universities. She became interested in the debate over ethics and biology while at Dartmouth College.

She was a participant in a summer institute on teaching the ethical, legal and social implications of the Human Genome Project. She has published two books on the history of ethics.