Bioethical aspects of genetic modification - survey of the senior grammar school population

Abstract

Spajanjem dva velika čovjekova napretka, otkrića DNK i razvoja tehnologije, čovjek dolazi do raznih spoznaja i otkrića koji mu pomažu u raznim sferama života. Jedna od posljedica sljubljivanja tehnologije sa znanošću je i biotehnologija koja je pružila čovječanstvu mnoga poboljšanja; liječenje bolesti, lakša proizvodnja i dostupnost inzulina, otkrića bolesti još u embrionalnoj fazi. No, kako svaka medalja ima dvije strane tako i medalja „genetički inženjering“ ima i svoju lošu stranu. Uplitanje genetičkog inženjeringa u poljoprivredu i stvaranje GM sjemena je trebalo dovesti do smanjenja pa čak i potpunog nestanka gladi u svijetu, no proizvodnja i uzgoj GM sjemena je otkrio mnoge nedostatke. Genetički modificirano sjeme predstavljeno je kao novi, moderniji, isplativiji, plodonosniji način poljoprivrede, no sjetva i uzgoj GM sjemena je prouzročilo veće probleme od onih koji su se nastojali riješiti ovakvom poljoprivredom. U diplomskome radu ograničit ćemo se na genetički modificirane usjeve te nastojati prikazati neke probleme koje uzrokuje sjetva i uzgoj genetički modificiranog sjemena. U radu ćemo prikazati neke ključne trenutke koji su prethodili razvoju biotehnologije i neka stajališta bioetike o temi koja ima svoje zagovornike, ali isto tako i glasne protivnike. Središnji dio diplomskoga rada prikazuje istraživanje provedeno s ciljem dobivanja uvida u svijest i znanje o ovoj temi među populacijom završnih razreda dviju gimnazija u Slavonskome Brodu.Combining the two significant advancements of man, the discovery of DNA and the development of technology, man comes to various insights and discoveries that help him in various walks of life. One of the consequences of combining technology with science is biotechnology, which has given humanity many improvements; treatment of the disease, easier production and availability of insulin, discovery of the disease in the embryonic phase. However, as each medal has two sides, so the “genetic engineering” medal has its downside. The intrusion of genetic engineering into agriculture and the creation of GM seeds was supposed to lead to a reduction and even a complete disappearance of hunger in the world, but GM seed production and cultivation revealed many drawbacks. Genetically modified seeds have been introduced as a new, more modern, cost-effective, more fruitful way of farming, but the sowing and cultivation of GM seeds has caused more significant problems than those who sought to tackle such agriculture. In my thesis, I will limit myself to genetically modified crops and try to show some issues caused by the sowing and cultivation of genetically modified seeds. In the paper, we will present some of the key moments that preceded the development of biotechnology and some bioethics views on a topic that has its proponents but also vocal opponents. The central part of the thesis presents research conducted to gain insight into and awareness of this topic among the population of the final grades of two grammar schools in Slavonski Bro