Title Page

Copyright Page

Contents

Preface

About the Companion Website

Part I Setting the Scene

Chapter 1 Science and Society

1.1 What’s It All About?

1.2 What Is Science?

1.2.1 Introduction: Some History (But Not Very Much)

1.3 Modern Science

1.4 Science, Ethics and Values

1.4.1 Introduction

1.4.2 Scientific Fraud

1.4.3 Science and Societal Values

1.5 Attitudes to Science

1.5.1 Science and the Enlightenment

1.5.2 Science, Modernism, Modernity and Postmodernism

1.5.3 Postmodernism and ‘Pseudo‐modernism’

1.5.4 Public Attitudes to Science

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 2 Ethics and Bioethics

2.1 Ethics and Morals

2.2 The Development of Ethics

2.2.1 Introduction

2.2.2 Virtuous Greeks

2.2.3 Ethics and Duty

2.2.4 What Happens If…?

2.2.5 Natural Law

2.2.6 Moral Relativism: My View Is as Good as Yours

2.2.7 The Revival of Virtue

2.2.8 Ethics and Rights

2.2.9 Ethics and Religion

2.2.10 Ethics: A Summary

2.3 Making Ethical Decisions

2.4 Medical Ethics

2.5 The Growth of Bioethics

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Part II Biomedical Science and Medical Technology

Chapter 3 Life before Birth I: The New Reproductive Technologies

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Gametes Outside the Body

3.3 Techniques of Artificial Reproductive Medicine

3.3.1 Objections to Assisted Reproduction

3.3.2 Donor Insemination

3.3.3 Gamete Donation

3.3.4 In Vitro Fertilisation and Variations

3.3.5 Reception of Oocytes from Partner

3.4 Embryo Testing

3.5 Mitochondrial Donation

3.6 Embryo Research

3.7 Rights of the Unborn Child

3.8 Men and Women: Do We Need Both?

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 4 Life before Birth II: Embryos, Foetuses and Associated Issues

4.1 Introduction

4.2 The Early Human Embryo

4.2.1 Introduction: Embryos and Persons

4.2.2 Status of the Embryo: Human Life Begins at Fertilisation

4.2.3 Status of the Embryo: The 14‐Day Approach

4.3 Embryo Research

4.4 Screening and Diagnosis

4.5 Reproductive Rights

4.5.1 Scope of Reproductive Rights

4.5.2 Contraception

4.6 Abortion: Maternal–Foetal Conflict

4.7 Surrogacy

4.8 Artificial Wombs

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 5 Cloning and Stem Cells

5.1 Introduction

5.2 Frogs and Sheep

5.3 Genes and Clones

5.4 It’s Not Natural: It Should Be Banned!

5.5 The Ethics of Human Cloning: An Overview

5.6 Reproductive Cloning of Non‐human Mammals

5.7 Unlocking the Genetic Potential of Stem Cells

5.7.1 Embryonic Stem Cells

5.7.2 Therapeutic Potential

5.7.3 Embryonic Stem Cells and the Ethical Status of the Early Human Embryo

5.7.4 Therapeutic Cloning

5.7.5 Adult Stem Cells

5.7.6 Novel Sources of Stem Cells

5.8 Concluding Remarks

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 6 Human Genes and Genomes

6.1 Some History

6.2 Molecular Genetics and the Human Genome Project

6.3 Some Thoughts on Eugenics

6.4 Use of Human Genetic Information

6.4.1 Introduction

6.4.2 Genetic Diagnosis

6.4.2.1 Postnatal Diagnosis

6.4.2.2 Prenatal Diagnosis

6.4.2.3 Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis

6.4.2.4 Saviour Siblings: A Very Special Case

6.4.2.5 Where Next?

6.4.3 Genetic Screening

6.4.4 The Possibility of Genetic Discrimination

6.4.5 Community-Wide Genome Sequencing

6.4.6 Direct-to-Consumer Genome Analysis

6.4.7 The Burden of Genetic Knowledge

6.4.8 A Promise Unfulfilled?

6.5 Genetic Modification of Humans: Fact or Fiction?

6.5.1 Introduction

6.5.2 Somatic Cell Gene Therapy

6.5.3 Germ-Line Gene Therapy

6.5.4 Genetic Enhancement and Designer Babies28

6.5.5 Genome Editing

6.6 A Gene for This and a Gene for That

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 7 Transhumanism

7.1 Introduction

7.2 From Wooden Legs to Would-Be Cyborgs

7.3 Mind and Matter

7.4 Stronger, Fitter, Faster, Cleverer: Biological Aspects of Transhumanism

7.4.1 Genetic Modification

7.4.2 Life Extension

7.4.3 Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Enhancement

7.5 Military Applications

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 8 Decisions at the End of Life: When May I Die and When Am I Dead1?

8.1 Introduction: Four Important Examples to Inform Our Thinking

8.1.1 Charlotte Wyatt

8.1.2 Mark Sanderson

8.1.3 King George V

8.1.4 Reginald Crew

8.2 How Did We Get Here?

8.3 What Is Euthanasia?

8.3.1 Introduction

8.3.2 Euthanasia

8.3.3 Is Assisted Suicide Different?

8.4 Case for Assisted Dying

8.4.1 Openness

8.4.2 Necessity

8.4.3 Autonomy

8.5 The Arguments against Assisted Dying

8.5.1 Controlling Pain and Suffering

8.5.2 The Downside of Autonomy

8.6 The Debate Continues: Will the Law Ever Be Changed?

8.7 When Should Medical Treatment Be Withheld or Withdrawn?

8.7.1 Introduction

8.7.2 The Right to Refuse Treatment

8.7.3 Making Decisions for People Who Cannot Make Them for Themselves

8.7.4 The Liverpool Care Pathway

8.8 Concluding Remarks

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Part III Biotechnology

Chapter 9 Genetic Modification and Synthetic Biology

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Ethical Aspects of Genetic Modification

9.2.1 Introduction

9.2.2 Ethical Analysis of Genetic Modification

9.2.3 Risks Associated with Genetic Modification

9.2.4 Possible Misuse of Genetic Modification

9.3 Pharmaceuticals

9.4 Genetic Modification of Animals

9.4.1 Introduction

9.4.2 Scientific Background

9.4.3 Applications of Animal Genetic Modification

9.4.4 Animal GM and Animal Welfare Issues

9.5 Research Uses of Genetic Modification

9.6 Gene and Genome Editing

9.6.1 Introduction

9.6.2 The CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing System

9.7 Synthetic Biology

9.7.1 Introduction

9.7.2 What Is Synthetic Biology?

9.7.3 Applications of Synthetic Biology

9.7.4 Ethical Aspects of Synthetic Biology

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 10 Genetic Modification of Plants

10.1 Introduction and Definitions

10.2 Back to the Beginning

10.3 Basic Methodology

10.4 The Debate

10.4.1 Introduction

10.4.2 Conducting the Debate

10.4.3 The Key Issues

10.4.3.1 Intrinsic Objections

10.4.3.2 Risk

10.4.4 The Debate Continues

10.4.5 Genome Editing: A Special Case?

10.5 GM Crops: Is a Different Approach Possible?

10.6 Closing Comments: Consumer Choice

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 11 Genes: Some Wider Issues

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Crop GM Technology, World Trade and Global Justice

11.3 Gene Patenting

11.3.1 Gene Patents in Crop GM Technology

11.3.2 Gene Patents and Medical Genetics

11.4 Genetic Piracy

11.5 DNA Fingerprinting and DNA Databases

11.5.1 Introduction

11.5.2 Applications of DNA Fingerprinting

11.5.3 DNA Databases

11.6 Concluding Remarks

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 12 Biofuels and Bioenergy: Environmental and Ethical Aspects

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Biofuels: A Brief Survey

12.3 Biofuels: Ethical Issues

12.3.1 Introduction

12.3.2 Can Biofuels Be Produced without Affecting Food Production?

12.3.3 Is Growth of Biofuel Crops Sustainable?

12.3.4 Biofuel Production and Land Allocation

12.4 Concluding Comment

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Part IV Humans and the Biosphere

Chapter 13 Humans and Non-human Animals

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Humankind’s Place in the Animal Kingdom

13.3 Human Use of Animals: An Overview

13.3.1 Historic and Present-Day Perspectives

13.3.2 ‘Speciesism’

13.4 Vivisection and the Use of Animals in Research

13.4.1 Definitions, Laws and Numbers

13.4.2 Reasons for Experimenting on Animals

13.4.3 All Animals Are Equal, or Are They?

13.5 The Ethics of Animal Research

13.6 Animals in Sport, Companionship, Leisure and Fashion

13.6.1 Sport

13.6.2 Companion Animals and Pets

13.6.3 Fashion and Fur

13.7 Working Animals

13.8 Animals for Food

13.9 Concluding Comments

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 14 The Environmental Crisis: Not Just about Climate

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Environmental Damage: It’s a Fivefold Problem

14.2.1 Introduction

14.2.2 Environmental Pollution

14.2.3 Environmental Degradation

14.2.4 Loss of Habitat and of Biodiversity

14.2.5 Over-exploitation of Earth’s Resources

14.2.6 Pause for Reflection

14.3 Climate Change

14.3.1 Introduction

14.3.2 Sea Levels

14.3.3 How Much Can We Cope With?

14.3.4 Fuels and Energy Sources

14.3.5 Resilience

14.3.6 The Future

14.4 Valuing the Environment

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Chapter 15 Planet and Population

15.1 Introduction: The Anthropocene

15.2 How Many?

15.3 How Many Can We Feed?

15.3.1 Agricultural and Scientific Aspects

15.3.2 Social and Societal Aspects

15.3.3 War

15.4 How Many Is Too Many?

15.5 Water

15.6 Concluding Comments

Key References and Suggestions for Further Reading

Index

EULA