1. A brief summary of the article:
The article “Scientists attempting to harvest human organs in pigs create human-pig embryo” discusses the advances made by researchers that were attempting to utilize genetic manipulation of pig embryos in order to grow parts for people who need them. The research was undertaken in the hopes of providing donors with organs who are unable to get them otherwise. By combining human stem cells with pig DNA the researchers were able to demonstrate that this is indeed possible (Nicola and Rawlinson). The advance of gene editing is considered within the article as an important advancement that could have profound repercussions on the future of medicine and the ability to perfect organs for transplant.
2. An explanation of how the details of the story relate to at least two concepts from class:
This demonstrates how technology is embedded within a social context. The growing need for medical advances that are able to tackle the challenges that face society present major issues in regards to the moral consideration that is given to these ideas. It is for this reason that engineers must take a critical role when adapting to these changing conditions (90). Trust and reliability are also important ideals for engineers. Issues such as confidentiality and the communication of potential conflicts of interest arise when medical professionals are able to have access to people's personal genetic information and also have the capacity to profoundly alter these elements (Harris, Pritchard, and Rabins 115).
3. An evaluation of the actors in the case according to some of the ethical principles or ideas we have seen in the course material:
In relation to the social context of these adaptations, it is evident that profound changes could likely occur when given the opportunity to grow and harvest human organs. This demonstrates a supply and demand principle that should be challenged according to the expectations of social need. Furthermore, the creation of “chimeras” demonstrates a basic moral question regarding the extent to which animal experimentation should occur. The level of trust and responsibility that is relegated to experts in this field present a need to consider the effect that they have on their own circumstances. This will allow more ethical considerations moving forward.
Works Cited
Harris, Charles E., Pritchard, Michael S., and Rabins, Michael J. Engineering Ethics: Concepts and Cases. Wadsworth. Print.
Davis, Nicola and Rawlinson, Kevin. “Scientists attempting to harvest human organs in pigs create human-pig embryo”. The Guardian. 2016. Web.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/jun/05/organ-research-scientists-combine-human-stem-cells-and-pig-dna.
