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Just because we can do something with biotechnology, does that mean we should?

Discuss the main ethical issues raised by biotechnology and how they can be weighed up

A focused answer to the O-Level outcome on bioethics. The main ethical issues raised by genetic engineering and biotechnology, and how to weigh benefits against concerns fairly.

Generated by Claude Opus 4.89 min answer

Reviewed by: AI editorial process; not yet individually human-reviewed

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  1. What this dot point is asking
  2. The answer
  3. Examples in context
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What this dot point is asking

This outcome asks you to discuss the main ethical issues raised by biotechnology and how to weigh them up. Unlike the technical topics, there is no single right answer here; examiners reward a balanced discussion that gives both sides fairly and reaches a reasoned conclusion. The guiding question is whether, just because we can do something, we should.

The answer

Why biotechnology raises ethical issues

Biotechnology gives us the power to alter living things, read people's genetic information, and create new products from organisms. With that power come questions about whether particular uses are right, who benefits, and what risks we should accept.

The main ethical issues

Common concerns include:

  • Is it right to alter living things? Some feel that changing the genetic make-up of organisms, or mixing genes between very different species, is unnatural or wrong.
  • Unknown long-term effects. Worries about effects on health and the environment that may not appear for years.
  • Genetic information and privacy. Genetic test results are sensitive and could be misused, for example by insurers or employers.
  • Modifying humans. Especially altering genes that could be passed to future generations, which raises deep concerns.
  • Fairness and control. Who owns the technology, who profits, and whether its benefits reach those who need them.
  • Use of animals and embryos. Concerns about animal welfare and the use of embryonic stem cells.

The benefits to weigh against them

Against these concerns sit real benefits: medicines such as insulin, vaccines, crops that resist pests or carry extra nutrients, cleaner industrial processes, and tools to diagnose and treat disease. Reducing suffering and improving food supply are themselves moral goods.

Weighing it up

Because ethics involves values, not just facts, people weigh the same evidence differently, and the consequences are often uncertain. A balanced view usually argues that a use of biotechnology is more acceptable when it is safe, well regulated, consented to, and its benefits are shared fairly, and less acceptable when risks are high, consent is absent, or benefits are unfairly distributed.

Examples in context

Example 1. Editing human embryos. The possibility of editing genes in human embryos, changes that would pass to future generations, has prompted strong ethical debate and tight restrictions in most countries. It shows how potential benefit (preventing disease) is weighed against deep concerns about safety, consent and altering humanity.

Example 2. Genetic data and insurance. As genetic testing spreads, there is concern that insurers or employers could use results to discriminate. Many places have laws limiting this, illustrating an ethical concern, privacy and fairness, being addressed through regulation.

Try this

Q1. State two ethical concerns raised by biotechnology. [2 marks]

  • Cue. For example, that it is wrong to alter living things, unknown long-term effects on health or the environment, misuse of genetic information, or concerns about modifying humans.

Q2. Give one benefit of biotechnology that can be weighed against ethical concerns. [1 mark]

  • Cue. Producing medicines such as insulin or vaccines, or crops that resist pests or carry extra nutrients.

Q3. Explain why two reasonable people can disagree about an ethical question in biotechnology. [2 marks]

  • Cue. Ethics depends on values and beliefs that differ between people, and the outcomes are uncertain, so they weigh the same facts differently.

Exam-style practice questions

Practice questions written in the style of SEAB exam questions on this dot point, with worked answer explainers. The year tag is the paper they imitate, not the source.

Original6 marksDiscuss the ethical issues raised by the genetic modification of organisms, giving arguments for and against.
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Examiners want a balanced discussion with arguments on both sides and ideally a reasoned view.

Arguments in favour: genetic modification can bring great benefits, such as crops that resist pests and need fewer chemicals, crops with added nutrients to reduce malnutrition, and medicines such as insulin produced safely and cheaply. Reducing suffering and improving food supply can be seen as a moral good.

Arguments against: some people feel it is wrong to alter the genetic make-up of living things, or to mix genes between very different species. There are worries about unknown long-term effects on health and the environment, about who controls and profits from the technology, and about fairness in who benefits. Concerns also arise about modifying humans.

A balanced conclusion weighs the benefits against the risks and values, often arguing that biotechnology can be acceptable when it is well regulated, safe, consented to, and its benefits are shared fairly.

What markers reward: clear arguments for (benefits to health, food and the environment) and against (it is unnatural or wrong, unknown risks, control and fairness, concerns about humans), and a reasoned, balanced conclusion rather than a one-sided answer.

Original4 marksExplain why ethical questions in biotechnology often do not have a single correct answer.
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The answer should explain that ethics involves values, not just facts.

Ethical questions involve people's values and beliefs, which differ between individuals, cultures and religions, so people weigh the same facts differently. For example, one person may value the benefit of curing disease above all, while another places great weight on not interfering with nature.

In addition, the consequences of biotechnology are often uncertain, so people disagree about how likely the risks and benefits are. Because there is no single agreed value system or certain outcome, reasonable people can reach different conclusions, and the questions do not have one correct answer.

What markers reward: the points that ethics depends on differing values and beliefs, that consequences are uncertain, and that therefore reasonable people can disagree and there is no single correct answer.

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