Archive for April, 2007
The GM tobacco that could save lives
But at what cost? Tobacco plants growing in a hospital laboratory in London, genetically modified to include an algae gene, are said to provide an effective anti-HIV drug.
When you bring in medical justifications for ethically dubious practices, you find many previous opponents back off and begin arguing the case for rather than against—or at least they divide their views into contextual acceptability or no: you can do it for this reason, you can’t do it for that reason.
We see this all the time with regard to animal testing. It’s okay, some say, to test on animals, to torture and kill them, if the stated aim is to find a cure for cancer and not a new shade of lipstick. Those of us who are reasonable people most of the time can see the logic in this duality of opinion on what is effectively the same subject, whether we subscribe to the same views or not.
I’m not in favour of animal testing under any circumstance. I’m also a long way away in my opinions and actions from those who believe violence and intimidation are appropriate responses to the violence committed against animals in the name of science.
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