Body and Soul: Genetic Engineering and Christianity: Session Notes

1. Genetic Engineering
   Read Gen 1:26-30 (Dominion over Creation); Rev 13:1-2 (Chimera)
   1. See World Book 1992 Year Book pp298ff for diagrams[1][6][8][9]
   2. Genetic engineering: techniques that altar the genes or combination of genes in an organism
   3. Some molecular biology:
      1. genes: hereditary material carrying an organism's characteristics
      2. genes reside on chromosomes within cells.
      3. there exist 23 pairs of chromosomes per non-germ cell, one set from each parent.
         • sex or germ-cells have 23 single chromosomes
      4. each chromosome contains a single molecule of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
      5. a molecule of DNA may contain thousands of genes
      6. DNA is a double helix (Watson and Crick, 1953): twisted rope ladder
      7. DNA stores info and replicates
      8. information storage:
         1. the rungs of the ladders are chemical compounds called bases
         2. a pair of bases per rung
         3. most genes consist of several thousand base pairs (rungs)
         4. the order of pairs (the base sequence) provides info necessary for a cell to make a specific protein
         5. the sequence is copied onto RNA and carried to other parts of the cell
         6. causes amino acids to be assembled into protein
         7. the form and function of a cell is determined by the proteins it produces
      9. replication (duplication):
         1. just before cell division, enzymes split the DNA ladder lengthwise, separating the base pairs
         2. the base sequence in each half ladder directs production of a new matching half
         3. therefore two DNA molecules, duplicates of original
      10. genetic code
          1. four distinct bases (A, C, G, T) == letters of an alphabet
             • adenine
             • cytosine
             • guanine
             • thymine
             • rule of complementarity: A pairs with T, C pairs with G in rungs
          2. triplet of bases correspond to an amino acid == 3-letter words
          3. protein is a sequence of amino acids == sentences
      11. defective gene
          • slight variation in base pairs may cause abnormal gene which can produce abnormal protein
   4. Recombinant DNA (s WB vol 8, p86 for diagram)
      1. use gene splicing to do this: snip, insert, recombine, rearrange, edit, pgm, and produce genetic material
      2. isolate gene-sized fragment by using restriction enzyme: reacts with a specific base segment to break the DNA molecule at a cleavage site
         • gene scalpel == restriction enzyme: cuts DNA up into individual genes
      3. use a ligase enzyme to splice isolated gene into another DNA fragment
      4. the recombant DNA (hybrid) inserted back into the cell
      5. it is replicated in the cell
      6. gene cloning == bacteria E. Coli mass produces it by its own reproduction
         1. insert genes via a virus (a vector) into E. Coli
         2. reproduces those genes as well as itself
         3. mass produce genes
      7. somatic and germline genes
         • germline genes effect future generations: sperm, eggs, embryos
         • somatic genes effect only the individual
         • gene therapy (i.e., genes excised or modified) for disease prevention/cure
   5. gene therapy
      1. insert a copy of a normal gene into a patient's tissue to replace faulty gene (s diagram 1992 YB pp304-305)
      2. blood drawn
      3. cells extract and grown
      4. normal cell spliced into a harmless virus
      5. virus introduced into cell culture
      6. virus inserts DNA with normal gene into cell
      7. the gene is incorporated into the DNA of cell
      8. cells returned to patient where it replicates
   6. human genome initiative
      1. genome: collection of all DNA in a human cell
      2. map all genes on the chromosome
      3. >100K genes in human
      4. a US government sponsored $3 billion project
2. Uses
   1. gene therapy to cure genetic disease
      • e.g., cure for advanced melanoma
   2. hGH = human growth hormone: first widespread genetic therapy
   3. production of insulin and interferons
   4. prenatal gene screening
   5. genetic screening for silent carriers
      1. determine if you are a carrier of a defective gene
      2. single copy of abnormal gene
      3. from both parents to activate
   6. detection of genetic defects or weakness in fetus
      1. finding disease genes: genes causing certain hereditary conditions
      2. sickle cell anemia
      3. muscular dystrophy
      4. Alzheimer's disease
      5. cystic fibrosis
      6. Huntington's disease
   7. genes spliced into various organisms: transgenic animals (chimeras) == animals engineered to contain the genetic traits of humans and other specie (including human):
      • better food source
      • production of antibodies
      • research: creatures engineered to be sick, cancer, HIV
   8. development of tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) for dissolving blood clots in heart patients.
   9. discovery of tumor-suppressor genes: holds cell growth in check preventing malignancy becoming a tremor. in cancer patients this is defective
   10. production of rennin to make cheese
   11. Flavr Savr tomato genetically engineered to not soften as early and can remain on the vine to ripen giving more flavor[11].
   12. develop micro organisms to breakdown garbage, toxins, waste
   13. production of bovine growth hormone for more milk and beef
   14. For computation[10].
3. Issues
   1. we become the architects of life
   2. Survey (Star-Ledger, Sept 14, 1994)
      1. Eagleton Institute of Politics' Center for Public Interest Polling
      2. 604 randomly selected NJ residents
      3. NJ residents rated understanding of sci and tech higher than national average
      4. 19% against genetic engineering; 58% to some extent for it
      5. 81% approved of creating new drugs to cure human diseases
      6. similarly for insulin -like products
      7. most wanted genetically engineered food labeled as such (but would buy it)
   3. Genetic screening
      • screen for genetic disease
      • screen for predisposition to disease
      • screen for traits
      • can lead to eugenics
      • what do we do with the results?
      1. do nothing
         • do we not have a calling from God to heal?
      2. abort
         • because child won't have quality of life? because parents don't want to deal with it?
         • short man? female (China)? not blue-eyed and blond?
      3. gene therapy
         1. what fetal "problems" should be corrected? diseases? predispositions?
            • eliminate genetic disease
            • eliminate predispositions
            • eliminate socially undesirable behavior: violence, alcoholism, homosexuality
            • design your own baby
         2. what's the limits of gene therapy and prenatal gene screening: looks, height, race, etc.: eugenics?
            • Eugenics: the science of improving the race by selective breeding
            • pressure by doctors, relatives, friends to undergo for condition and looks
            • modifying germline to eliminate undesirable traits or add desirable traits
            • perfect human
         3. gene therapy on sex cells is inheritable: passing undesirable traits
            • do we want the scientists determining future generations by determining what genes are bad and what are good?
         4. Do children have the right to an unmanipulated germline? Or, conversely, do they have a right to the best germline that genetic surgery can offer and many can buy?[6]
            • WCC 1989 statement "ban on experiments involving the genetic engineering of the human germline" and "strict control on experiments involving genetically engineered somatic cells, drawing attention to the potential misuse of É [this technique] against those held to be 'defective'"
      4. discrimination of the "genetically handicapped"
         1. knowing you have a gene predisposing you to a problem: cancer, heart trouble, etc.
         2. insurance liability
         3. employment, such as for a chemical co.
         4. Instead, might employers refuse to hire someone with a "gay gene"? Now that clinicians can screen for genes in utero might parents-to-be in the future É about a fetus with the gene?É Hamer was so troubled by such possibilities that he ended his technical, abstruse paper with an unusual plea: "We believe that it would be fundamentally unethical to use such [genetic] information to try to assess or alter a person's current or future sexual orientation." Scientists can hope all they want that society won't misuse their findings. But hope without ethical guidelines or laws has never been enough.[3]
   4. Manipulation of the biotic community
      1. harmful, uncontrolled bacteria produced accidentally
      2. environmental damage resulting from deliberate introduction of altered organisms
         • bacteria, viruses, plants [e.g., Flavr Savr tomato], and animals bioengineered using viruses and bacteria
      3. trans-species breeding: a threat to the diversity of the biotic community?
         1. human genes inserted in animals for better food sources or to produce human body materials
         2. transgenic animals are patentable
         3. Union of Concerned Scientists (Star-Ledger, Dec 20, 1993): some transgenic plants could create "weeds" like the notorious kudzu. Need more field tests.
   5. commodification of genes:
      1. 100K genes in human; Human Genome Project to map every gene
      2. once a gene is isolated, it can be mass produced, patented and sold
      3. means jobs and economic growth
      4. what is the status of genes: life or property? is there a distinction?
      5. patented microbes, plants, animals, cell lines:
         • Chakrabarty -- first patent (on an oil-eating microbe);
         • OncoMouse -- DuPont holds patent
      6. the biotic community: from a common heritage to a private preserve
         • Sen. Hatfield: The patenting of animals brings up the central ethical issue of reverence of life. Will future generations follow the ethic of this patent policy and view life as mere chemical manufacture and invention with no greater value or meaning than industrial products? Or will a reverence for life ethic prevail over the temptation to turn God-created life into reduced objects of commerce?[6]
4. Religious considerations:
   1. Are we divine -- in the image of God?
      1. Are we more than just electrochemicals? If so what more are we? Does changing the blueprint of life violate this divine pact?
      2. Are we co-creators with God?
         • What an awesome responsibility!
         • changing the blueprint of life -> enormous ramifications
         • We must include our Partner in our considerations
      3. What is life? When does it begin and when does it end?
         • Life is not just the materialistic body and intellectual mind, but spirit and soul.
         • Life began when God spoke the Word.
         • Life is sustained by the love of the Cosmic Christ.
      4. What is our destiny? (eugenics)
         • God's purpose: love and compassion
         • Our purpose: profit? self-aggrandizement?
         • Our purpose is demonic if it is not congruent with God's
      5. Who determines what is a perfect human?
         • bad genes? bad traits?
         • What does God expect of us?
         • Is perfection body and mind only? or also soul?
         • Should we strive to engineer soul?
      6. Who determines who is born and who is not?
         • Gene therapy and other extraordinary techniques allow us to decide.
      7. Who determines who dies and who lives?
         • Are we responsible to individuals or to the community or to both?
   2. What about the integrity of creation?
      1. What does God expect of us with respect to the rest of creation?
      2. Should we violate the integrity of a species? What is the integrity of a species?
         • Does each specie have a role in God's purpose?
         • What is our role?
         • If co-creation, then is gene splicing appropriate? When?
      3. Is there a limit to the number and type of human genes that should be engineered into other species?
         • Do life's building blocks belong to God and the commonweal or to patent holders?
      4. How will our technology effect the diversity of creation? increase it or decrease it? and does it matter?
         • God celebrates our diversity: In my kingdom there are many houses
         • God has made us stewards of creation: are we being good stewards? what does the divine stewardship entail (an ecological question)?
         • Are animals living or machines? What's the difference? Should animals have rights
      5. Who will set the limits?
      6. Do animals have soul? Is there a World Soul?
         • soul inseparable from body: vitality
      7. Is a human a machine?
         • "time and motion" studies
         • cog in a larger machine
         • repetitive work
         • "techno-body": body building, etc.
   3. As healers, in the footsteps of Christ, how are we called to use genetic engineering?
      1. How should we use genetic engineering?
         1. how to decide socially?
         2. how to allocate?
         3. how to weigh risks on individual and future generations?
         4. how to not play God?
      2. should we seek to heal medically all disease of the body and mind?
         • cure worse than problem?

References

1. Barbour, Ian; Religion In An Age of Science; HarperSanFrancisco; ©1990.
2. Barbour, Ian; Ethics In An Age of Technology; HarperSanFrancisco; ©1993.
3. Begley, Sharon with Mary Hager; Does DNA Make Some Men Gay?; Newsweek; July 26, 1993.
4. Callahan, Daniel; Our Fear of Dying; Newsweek; October 4, 1993.
5. Jaki, Stanley L.; Brain, Mind and Computers; Regnery Gateway; Washington, D.C. ©1989
6. Kimbrell, Andrew; The Human Body Shop: The Engineering and Marketing of Life; HarperSanFrancisco; ©1993.
7. Cole-Turner, Ronald S.; An Unavoidable Challenge: Our Church in an Age of Science & Technology; ©1992 The Division of Education and Publication, UCBHM.
8. World Book, vol 8, pp85
9. World Book 1992 Year Book, pp300
10. Steven Levy; Computers Go Bio: DNA beats a Pentium any day; Newsweek; May 1, 1995.
11. A Tomato With a Body That Just Won't Quit; Newsweek; June 6, 1994.