Life, Love and Children: A Practical Introduction to Bioscience Ethics and Bioethics

275 Pages·2002·6.661 MB·English

by  Irina Pollard PhD (auth.)

Life, Love and Children: A Practical
Introduction to Bioscience Ethics and Bioethics
Life, Love and Children: A Practical
Introduction to Bioscience Ethics and Bioethics
IRINA POLLARD PhD
Associate Professor, Biological Sciences,
Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
,III...
"
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
ISBN 978-1-4613-5000-2 ISBN 978-1-4615-0278-4 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4615-0278-4
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A C.LP. Catalogue record for this book is available
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Copyright © 2002 by Springer Science+Business Media New York
Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 2002
Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover lst edition 2002
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Contents
List of Figures xi
Preface Xlll
Acknowledgments xv
1
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE 1
The Hunter-Gatherers Homo sapiens 4
On the Evolution of Ethics 8
Bioethics 12
Bioscience Ethics 14
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 16
2
INAPPROPRIA TE LIFESTYLE AND CONGENITAL DISABILITY
IN CHILDREN: BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GROWTH,
TOXICOLOGY, TERATOGENESIS AND MUTAGENESIS 19
Patterns of Human Growth 20
The EmbryoniclFetal Periods and Embryo Staging 21
The Placenta as the Maternal-Fetal Interface 23
Abnormal Prenatal Growth Patterns 27
vi CONTENTS
Toxicology: Basic Principles 29
Teratogenesis, Mutagenesis, and Carcinogenesis 32
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 33
3
SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND PARENTHOOD: BIOLOGICAL
MECHANSIMS - ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITIES 35
Behavioral Variables - Biological Consequences 35
The Preconceptional Period: Male-Mediated Effects 36
Specifics 37
The Preconceptional Period: Female-Mediated Effects 39
Drug-Induced Infertility 40
The Prenatal and Neonatal Periods 40
Nicotine 41
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) 42
Passive Smoking 43
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 43
Ethanol (alcohol) 44
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) 45
Cocaine 47
Marij uana 48
Narcotics 48
Caffeine 49
Behavioral Variables -Bioethical Challenges 49
Socioeconomic Factors 50
An Ecological-Based Model of Preventative Care 53
Drug Addiction 54
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 56
4
OVULATORY METHOD OF BIRTH CONTROL: AGING
GAMETES AND CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS IN
CHILD ERN 57
The Laws of Inheritance 58
Human Fecundity 59
Female Libido: Procreational versus Recreational Sex 60
BIOSCIENCE ETHICS & BIOETHICS Vll
Principles of Reproductive Aging 61
Aging Gametes and Ovulatory Method of Birth Control 64
The Gametopathy Hypothesis and Congenital Anomalies 67
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 71
5
UNDERSTANDING CHILD ABUSE AND ITS BIOLOGICAL
CONSEQUENCES 73
Unwanted Birth and Crime 75
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or the Physical Signature of
Unresolved Trauma 78
The Biology of Behaviour and Cognition 81
Stress and Psychosocial Short Stature 83
Future Prospects? 84
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 85
6
THE STATE OF WELLBEING: ON HEALTH AND
ILL-HEALTH 87
Basic Principles of Wellbeing or in Control of our Destiny 89
The Link Between Population Density and Reproduction 89
Stress -The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) and Disease 90
Adaptive Strategies 93
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 95
7
THE STATE OF WELLBEING: ON THE END OF LIFE CARE AND
EUTHANASIA 97
Criteria for Re-Defining the Beginning and End of a Life 98
Euthanasia, an Evolving Concept 100
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 103
viii CONTENTS
8
PROCREATIVE TECHNOLOGY: ACHIEVEMENTS AND DESIRED
GOALS 105
Fertility Control -the Evolutionary Perspective 106
Infertility -the Price of Excess Fecundity 108
Assisted Reproduction: Social Considerations 110
Assisted Reproduction: Technological Considerations 112
Artificial Insemination 114
In vitro Fertilization and Related Technologies 118
Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection and Cytoplasmic
Transfer Technologies 121
Maturing Human Eggs in the laboratory 123
Surrogacy 123
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 124
9
THE RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGIES 127
Genetic Engineering and Related Technologies -
Biological Perspective 127
Gene Therapy 129
Prenatal Genetic Screening 134
Neonatal Screening 136
Pre-Symptomatic Screening for Individuals and Populations 136
The Use of Genetic Technology for Social Purposes 137
The Human Genome and the Human Genome
Diversity Projects 138
Access to the Ownership of Genomes 141
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 143
10
CLONING TECHNOLOGY 145
What is a Clone? 146
Reproductive Cloning: Basic Principles 148
Embryonic Stem Cell or Therapeutic Cloning 150
BIOSCIENCE ETHICS & BIOETHICS IX
Reproductive cloning: Ethical Considerations 151
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 155
11
HUMAN DOMINATED ECOSYSTEMS: RE-EVALUATING
ENVIRONMENTAL PRIORITIES 157
Population Growth and Economic Activity -
Are we Overstraining our Limits? 157
Extinction and Conservation of Biodiversity 159
Genetic Diversity and Environmental Adaptability 162
Human-Driven Climate Change 165
Stress and Adaptation 166
Living Within Nature's Constraints 167
Understanding Living Cycles and Anticipating Environmental
Policies Rather Than Relying on Remedial Measures 169
Fundamental Symbiosis: the Biogeochemical or
Nutrient Cycle 171
Losing the Food Race 174
Deep Design: The Synthesis of Nature and Culture 176
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 178
12
HUMAN DOMINATED ECOSYSTEMS: RECLAIMING THE
FUTURE BY TAKING DUE ACCOUNT OF FOLLOWING
GENERA TIONS 181
Self-Destructive Behavior and the Environment 181
The Tragedy of the Commons 182
Synthetic Hormone Disruptors 184
The Endocrine System 188
Wildlife Findings 189
Human Findings and the Precautionary Principle 190
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 192
x CONTENTS
13
HUMAN DOMINAT ED ECOSYSTEMS: W AREFA RE FITNESS
ENHANCEMENT OR LOSING STRATEGY 195
The Institution of War 196
The Tragedy of Conflict 198
Biological Warfare 201
Virtual Warfare 204
The Legacy of War on Future Generations 204
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 206
14
HUMAN DOMINATED ECOSYSTEMS: REWORKING
BIOETHICAL FRONTIERS 207
Global Responsibility -a Transboundary Detente to
Developmental Needs and Environmental Preservation 208
The Power of the Collective 209
The Power of the Individual 209
Stewardship of Mother Earth -in Defense of the
Global Commons 211
The Gaia Hypothesis 212
The Three Principles of Gaia 214
Living Within Nature's Bounty 217
Principle of Bioscience Ethics for Discussion 222
SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY 223
INDEX 245
List of Figures
2.1. Schematic diagram of human development 24-25
2.2. The placenta as the maternal-fetal interphase 26
2.3 Diagrammatic representation of the fate of toxic
substances in the body 30
3.1. View of the structurally complete fetal brain 46
8.1. Electron micrographs of sperm forms 115
8.2. Electron micrographs of forms continued 116
10.1. Monozygotic twins 148
10.2. Growing spare body parts to order 152
11.1. Exponential growth of human populations 158
11.2. Unique landscapes need protection 163
11.3. Productivity of old-growth tropical rainforests 173
11.4. Clearing and burning disturbance 175
12.1. We must protect our right to roam the commons 185
12.2. The chemical structures of steroids 187
14.1. Clean-Up Australia Sunday 210
14.2. Earth's biological components 218