Study On Ethical Issues And Public Policy Of Genetically Modified Animals

Transgenic technology is a handle of "double-edged sword" . Genetically modified animals, the product of transgenic technology, brought enormous economic and social benefits to the mankind, and it triggered a series of complex and extremely sharp ethical issues as well. To try to solve this problem, the author of the thesis makes a study on the topic of "the ethical and public policy issues of genetically modified animals" .The purpose of doing this is to be any help to our government's decision-making, that is to say, on the one hand to promote healthy development of genetically modified animals research and application, on the other hand to urge genetically modified animals bring health benefits and environmental benefits to our human beings as many as possible.Because of this, the author of the thesis uses methods of theoretical analysis, ethical principles analysis, positive and negative ethical analysis, case studies, and the theoretical principles of harmless, respect, fairness, effectiveness, integrity to make a thorough study of the ethical and public policy issues of genetically modified animals.This thesis mainly have solved two problems: One is the ethical issues of genetically modified animals; the other is closely related with the first one, that is the public policy issues of genetically modified animals. In order to achieve this purpose, the thesis is divided into three parts: Chapter 1 to Chapter 3 is the theoretical basis of the whole thesis; Chapter 4 to Chapter 8 act as the main part of the thesis; Chapter 9 is the conclusion the thesis. The main points of this thesis are as follows:First, genetically modified animals have "natural" and "unnatural" characters. It is not fully justified for us to oppose genetically modified animals research and development only by their " unnatural" character. And from the ethical debate about the "natural" or "unnatural" characters of genetically modified animals we can get the following usefulenlightenments──The make of genetically modified animals should notonly obey the laws of nature, but also respect human's dignity, so that man and nature, man and animal can achieve beneficial interaction.Second, although genetically modified animals' short-term, direct effect on human health is small, their long-term, cumulative and indirect effect is still difficult to determine. And genetically modified animals may have great damage on ecological environment and biological diversity, if not control effectively, this damage will become catastrophic. Therefore, we should realize this situation very seriously. Besides, genetically modified animals may have greater possibility to suffer cross-species infection, so we should pay special attention to this as well. Since genetically modified animals have so many potential risks, we should adopt "Guilty until Proven Innocent strategy" to avoid them. The specific method is, first, supposing a genetically modified animal is unsafe, then, treating it through scientific testing and strict management, seeking advantages and avoiding disadvantages in order to ensure human health.Third, it is not appropriate or should not confer patent rights to genetically modified animals. Currently more feasible approach is to raise the threshold to authorize patent to genes and to explore other methods, for example, practicing the science and technology incentives, tax reduction or exemption to protect the interests of investors and researchers, and make full use of the "ethics clause" as moral barriers to protect gene patent, through these methods to promote the development of public interests and the fair distribution of interests. States also should develop international cooperation on the basis of fair competition, equal and mutual benefit so as to achieve mutually beneficial objectives.Fourth, genetically modified animals can be commercialized though many ways. First, implement logo management, respect consumer's know and choose right; second, take measures to minimize risks; third, guarantee fair and just distribution of interests; fourth, conduct safety tests to xenotransplantation organs. Now that the conflicts of interests exist objectively in the commercialization of genetically modified animals, then we should adopt relevant measures to avoid this kind conflict, coordinating different interests requires relevant us to compliance with the basic principles of international cooperation and recognized international norms in the commercial process of genetically modified animals. To achieve mutual benefits and fair distribution of interests, we should develop international cooperation in accordance with the ethical norms of "Lee-one" , and "gentlemen's love money, and in a proper way" .Fifth, it is very urgent to establish special official website about genetically modified animals in the aspects of laws and regulations, covering techniques, ethics and management. Meanwhile, the author of the thesis should outline the public policy of genetically modified animals, proposing that its management scope are in medicine, agriculture, biological materials, environmental protection and other fields, that its basic management policy is "prudent encourage and strict management", that its basic management principles are safety, risk-benefits, fair distribution, gradually commercialization, animal welfare, respect for autonomy and participation in the management, and that its management approaches are research and business access, developing ethical examine and experts supervisor, conducting animal and human experiments, compelling product logos, strengthening export and import controls, standardizing food and drug safety and health management, prohibiting strictly and strengthen supervision, establishing management bodies, organizing management-related education and training activities and establishing official website of genetically modified animals.