| dc.description.abstract | The emergence of bioethics and biotechnology brings to our attention the need to highlight the collaboration between science and ethics. Whereas science has always been guided by the principle of social responsibility, there are anomalies in the advancement that are a challenge to science. Thus, the ethics professionals and intellectuals should respond to this challenge by a critical reflection on the findings of science.
Over the centuries there has been considerable scientific and technological advancement and this advancement has had a significant impact on humanity. In the 20th century, intellectuals reflected on this impact. Scientists, philosophers and other scholars realized that as humanity advanced in science and technology, there was need to address the effects of this advancement on the well being of the people.
What ever bioethical issue one may think of, any rational person would agree that science should be used to advance human well being, or to put it in a more general sense should have a vision of advancement toward development and of course the development of human beings. This perception of science would not have cultural and religious boundaries.
The promotion and protection of human rights is essentially meant to ensure the well being of individual persons, families and communities. In the East African culture, when we contemplate human rights, we tend to bias our perception in favor of what is good for the society than the good of the individual person. Even the world religions e.g. Islam and Christianity give prominence to the good of the society when considering human rights and other ethical issues.
Bioethics can be defined as the study of ethics of health care and biological sciences. It addresses ethical issues that emerge in health care disciplines as well as ethical concerns in research, involving human and non-human subjects. It refers to what is considered appropriate to do in relation to the biosphere - whether in our bodies, in our sharing of it, or in our natural habitat. It concerns what is done in relation to the biosphere; what is considered appropriate to do, in its private, social and universal dimension. It has been discussed very much recently because technology has confronted the world with choices for which there is no well established precedence.
It is a multi-disciplinary field that involves philosophers, theologians, healthcare, professionals, lawyers, social scientists and economists. It has been known to be a discipline with the ethical implications of biological research and application. This includes the ethics of development and the application of biotechnology both within and beyond the human sphere. It is a branch of ethics that studies moral values in the biomedical sciences.
On the other hand, Biotechnology refers to the use of microorganisms such as bacteria or biological substances such as enzymes, to perform industrial or manufacturing processes. Although biotechnology seems new, it has been around for quite some time and has been used to produce drugs and synthesize hormones. The science of biotechnology can be broken down into sub-disciplines called red, white, green, and blue. Red biotechnology involves medical processes such as getting organisms to produce new drugs, or using stem cells to regenerate damaged human tissues and perhaps re-grow entire organs. White (also called gray) biotechnology involves industrial processes such as the production of new chemicals or the development of new fuels for vehicles. Green biotechnology applies to agriculture and involves such processes as the development of pest-resistant grains or the accelerated evolution of disease-resistant animals. Blue biotechnology, rarely mentioned, encompasses processes in marine and aquatic environments, such as controlling the proliferation of noxious water-borne organisms.
Generally, biotechnology is particularly regarded as a potential tool to increase food
production, provide good health and conserve the environment for the growing world
population. Key activities have included production of genetically modified organisms,
human cloning, and use of genetically modified plants to mention but a few. Biotechnology.
like other advanced technologies, has the potential for misuse. Concern about this has led
to efforts by some groups to enact legislation restricting or banning certain processes or
programs, such as human cloning and embryonic stem-cell research. There is also concern
that if biotechnological processes are used by groups with nefarious intent, the end result
could be biological warfare.
Biotechnology is changing the world economy to the extent that developing countries which were once suppliers of raw materials are now being marginalized by the innovations and inventions in biotechnology being witnessed in the global trade. Raw materials from some developing countries are now being demanded in less and less quantities owing to the development of cheaper and cost effective alternatives by the developed countries.
Uganda, with an economy heavily reliant on agriculture, should develop its scientific and technological capacity to manage biotechnology, and should quickly put in place appropriate policies that aim at maximizing benefits of biotechnology while minimizing risks associated with it. The challenge for Uganda is to create an enabling environment for biotechnology and its safe application. It has been noted that biotechnology, if used appropriately, has the potential to provide more and healthier foods, offer more effective cures for diseases and many other advantages. However, these and other applications carry risks that need to be addressed through regulatory and safety regimes.
As Governments and other organizations are stepping in and invest in biotechnology research and development tailored toward products that can help developing countries and assist these nations in building the capacity to benefit from bio-innovation, there is need to take stock of who is who and their contributions in biotechnology. There has been a need for Uganda to build up an inventory for all stakeholders involved in bio ethics and biotechnological capabilities, setting biotechnology priorities, and those involved in the private sector within biotechnology research and development. This is meant to help create a forum for harness awareness, monitoring and supporting all effort of bioethics and biotechnology in Uganda. Through increased awareness of the social context of biotechnology and commitments to resolve existing issues, one can envision a future in which biotechnology is harnessed responsibly to help all nations and all people. | en_US |
