Use Of Genetic Technologies Research Articles

Talking genetic technologies and conservation: purposeful games as a tool to level the epistemic playing field

In New Zealand, the use of genetic technologies for environmental and conservation purposes is a highly contested issue yet genetic technologies, including RNAi and gene drives may offer technological advances for protecting New Zealand's vulnerable biodiversity. This context makes discussions on the use of gene technology for environmental purposes both challenging and necessary. Such discussions can be difficult, not simply because they are often contested, but also because people find the topic complicated, the language alien and overly scientific. This research, which sits at the intersection of science and publics, is part of a large national dialogue which aimed to better understand the public's thoughts and feelings around the use of genetic technologies for environmental or conservation purposes. To assist people to feel comfortable at the beginning of the dialogue sessions, we designed purposeful games before engaging in a facilitated conversation. These games are based on heritage games that most people are familiar with but altered to address several issues relevant to genetic technologies in an environmental context. This article provides an insight into how to design and use purposeful games to foster epistemic confidence in non-scientists. It acts as a helpful guide for others working in contested spaces where there is a need to effectively facilitate engagement of non-scientists in important science-society discussions.

Transhumanism, Human Moral Enhancement, and Virtues

Moral transhumanism is a project that aims to enhance human beings by using modern technology in a morally beneficial way. This article discusses the problems and ethical dilemmas raised by transhumanism, notably whether (moral) virtues may be enhanced in the proposed manner. To achieve this end, moral transhumanism primarily proposes the use of genetic technology and pharmacology. Regarding moral virtues, the article suggests that sensitivity to reasons is a fundamental feature of human moral cognition. Enhancing moral virtues would diminish this sensitivity or assign it a superfluous role while jeopardizing the person’s autonomy and self-determination.

Implementasi Teknologi Genetika Untuk Konservasi Spesies Laut Terancam: Tinjauan Literatur Tentang Metode dan Keberhasilan

The pace of global environmental change and the intensification of human activities have put significant pressure on marine ecosystems, threatening the sustainability of many species that are important both for ecosystems and the economies of coastal communities. In this context, this study aims to evaluate the application of genetic technologies in the conservation of endangered marine species, focusing on environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring, CRISPR genetic engineering techniques and population genetic analysis. The method used was a literature review that examined current academic sources related to genetic technologies and their implementation in conservation. Findings show that eDNA is a highly effective tool in species and habitat monitoring, and has been successful in specific cases such as Napoleon fish and green turtles in Raja Ampat. In contrast, CRISPR techniques offer the potential to improve the genetic resilience of species, despite significant regulatory and ethical challenges. The implications of this study emphasize the need for strong policy support and international collaboration to address these challenges and optimize the use of genetic technologies in more effective conservation strategies in the future.

Prospects for implementing genetic sequencing technologies in healthcare

The article presents the results of a study of the prospects for the development and introduction of genetic sequencing technologies into the practice of healthcare in the Russian Federation. The research is carried out within the framework of the strategic directions of scientific and technical development of the Russian Federation, outlined in the Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, as well as within the framework of the development of end-to-end technologies, which are specified in the Concept of Technological Development of the Russian Federation until 2030. The use of genetic technologies opens up wide opportunities in various fields of medicine and makes it possible to implement the principles of personalization, personification, and predictivity of healthcare aimed at improving the quality of medical care. The purpose of the study was to investigate the market of medical services for genetic sequencing to assess trends, prospects, and directions of its development. To conduct the study, theoretical research methods, i.e. the study of literary sources on the research problem, as well as empirical methods (questionnaires) were used. The authors developed a questionnaire examining the expectations of potential consumers of the market of innovative med ical technologies, including genetic sequencing technologies. A survey included 640 respondents living in the Russian Federation, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Belarus, etc. (a total of 13 states). The obtained data were subjected to quantitative and qualitative processing of the material. The correlation between the age, gender of the respondents, the country of residence, the level of their education (secondary education, secondary vocational training, higher education), the field of their education (medical, pedagogi cal, engineering), and their attitudes to the prospects for the implementation of genetic health technology in the coming decades has been studied. The data obtained make it possible to study the characteristics of the target audience, which is expected to reach the peak of fertility by the time of the globalization of genetic engineering, and build a model of the future consumer of medical services of genetic sequencing. The study al lowed exploring the potential of the market for medical services of genetic sequencing. The data obtained make it possible to develop methodological approaches for studying the requests and technologies for generating demand from consumers of these medical services living in Russia, the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and members of BRICS.

Expert Views on Communicating Genetic Technology Used in Agriculture

The use of genetic technology in agriculture is viewed by some as the next frontier of farming but others may view it as a threat. The aim of the current study was to describe the views of experts working in agricultural genetics regarding how best to communicate genetic technology with a broader audience (e.g., clientele, the public). We recruited 10 experts working in roles that involve communication about genetic technology in agriculture. Using semi-structured interviews, we asked participants to describe how they discuss this technology, who they discuss it with, and their thoughts on the involvement of various stakeholders in these discussions. Interview transcripts were subjected to thematic analysis and participant responses were organized into three themes: 1) Communicating and framing genetic technology, including discussing risks, benefits, and applications, distinguishing technology from other similar technologies, and engaging in value-based discussions; 2) Challenges of public communication, including misinformation and opposing opinions, conflation with older technologies, and balancing information provision; and 3) Stakeholder involvement in discussions, which included views on how different groups (e.g., activists, farmers, and scientists) should be included in discussions, and who is best suited to discuss genetic technology with the public. We conclude that leaders in agricultural genetics engage in a variety of approaches to communicate genetic technology, using different frames that they feel are likely to appeal to their audience, and differ in their opinions of who should be involved in these discussions.

Who bit the boat? New DNA collection and genomic methods enable species identification in suspected shark-related incidents

Species identification following shark-related incidents is critical for effective incident management and for collecting data to inform shark-bite mitigation strategies. Witness statements are not always reliable, and species identification is often ambiguous or missing. Alternative methods for species identification include morphological assessments of bite marks, analysis of collected teeth at the scene of the incident, and genetic approaches. However, access to appropriate collection media and robust genetic assays have limited the use of genetic technologies. Here, we present a case study that facilitated a unique opportunity to compare the effectiveness of medical gauze readily available in first-aid kits, and forensic-grade swabs in collecting genetic material for shark-species identification. Sterile medical gauze and forensic-grade swabs were used to collect transfer DNA from the bite margins on a bitten surf ski which were compared to a piece of shark tissue embedded along the bite margin. Witness accounts and the characteristics of the bite mark impressions inferred the involvement of a Carcharodon carcharias (white shark). The morphology of a tooth found on the boat that picked up the surf ski, however, suggested it belonged to an Orectolobus spp. (wobbegong). Genetic analysis of DNA transferred from the shark to the surf ski included the application of a broad-target nested PCR assay followed by Sanger sequencing, with white shark contribution to the ‘total sample DNA’ determined with a species-specific qPCR assay. The results of the genetic analyses were congruent between sampling methods with respect to species identification and the level of activity inferred by the donor-specific DNA contribution. These data also supported the inferences drawn from the bite mark morphology. DNA from the recovered tooth was PCR amplified with a wobbegong-specific primer pair designed for this study to corroborate the tooth’s morphological identification. Following the confirmation of gauze used for sampling in the case study event, two additional isolated incidents occurred and were sampled in situ using gauze, as typically found in a first-aid kit, by external personnel. DNA extracted from these gauze samples resulted in the identification of a white shark as the donor of the DNA collected from the bite marks in both instances. This study, involving three incidents separated by time and location, represents the seminal application of gauze as a sampling media after critical human-shark interactions and strongly supports the practical implementation of these methods in the field.

Philosophy, Governance and Law in the System of Social Action: Moral and Instrumental Problems of Genetic Research

The research analyzes the process of formation of the ethics committee as a new institution in the system of regulation of genetic research. The external factors of this process are the increasing digitalization of medical and research practices, as well as the special situation that is developing in the field of genomic research and the use of genetic technologies, where issues of philosophy, jurisprudence and administration have generated many fundamentally new, and sometimes unexpected contexts. The author shows the similarity and difference of approaches to the inclusion of the ethics committee in the national regulatory systems of different countries and determines the prospects for further integration of the new institution into normative and administrative-regulatory and law enforcement practices. The research applies all the main methods of system analysis and structural and functional analysis, as well as the comparative legal method. At the stage of generalization of empirical material, the author turns to the means and methods of philosophical phenomenology and phenomenological sociology. The study revealed that the ethics committee may have different institutional and regulatory functions in a variety of management and legal systems. Being hybrid in nature, the ethics committee performs various functions, and in various state legal systems and traditions it can combine elements of legislative, executive and judicial power. At times, the ethics committee may go beyond the scope of both a purely administrative and exclusively legal regulator. All this indicates that the integration of this institution into the legal system and into a variety of social practices is far from being completed.

Human and animal intestinal commensals and probiotics vs modern challenges of biosafety: problems and prospects.

The appearance of an array of data on the study of the intestinal microbiota in Metazoa has significantly expanded our understanding of the role of commensals in the control of a wide range of physiological functions in higher organisms in norm and pathology. In the intestine, where the microbial load significantly exceeds the number of microorganisms of other ecosystems, the components of the intestinal microbiota are a constant source of stimuli that induce activation of the host immune system. The introduction into practice of biomedical research of innovative high-resolution methods, includingmulti-omics technologies, has brought data that change our understanding of intestinal commensals, including probiotics with GRAS status, widely used in medicine, agriculture and biotechnology. The ability of these bacteria to induce negative processes in the host body that are beneficial for bacterial proliferation and expansion revealed a clear lack of our knowledge about the logic of their life and the mechanisms of interaction with eukaryotic cells. This determines the urgent need for comprehensive research of probiotics and the development of standardization of their safety assessment. Apriori's confidence in the exceptional benefit of the bacteria widely used in medicine, agriculture and biotechnology has determined the seriously omission in our control system today - the lack of standardization of studies for the safety assessment of bacteria with GRAS status . The moment has come when it became clear that this gap should be promptly filled and that only exact understanding the molecular base of interacting the microbes with eukaryotic cells can provide the foundation for effective practical developments in controlling the evolution of bacterial virulence and probiotic safety strategy, as well as the competent use of genetic technologies for monitoring the environment and managing infectious processes, thus avoiding the dramatic consequences of large-scale interventions in the micro and macro worlds.

Safe Use of Genetic Technologies

The prospects and problems of the development of modern genetic technologies are analyzed, and pressing issues of updating the regulatory framework for the safe use of their products are posed in this article, which is based on the materials of reports at the RAS Presidium meeting on December 7, 2021. At the end of 2018, by Presidential Decree no. 680 On the Development of Genetic Technologies in the Russian Federation, this R&D area was declared a priority. According to the authors, to expand genetic technologies in Russia, it is necessary to change the concept of their legal regulation and to bring the legislative norms in line with the current level of the development of science in this area, including the adjustment of the genetic engineering nomenclature.

Distance learning training in genetics and genomics testing for Italian health professionals: results of a pre and post-test evaluation


 Background
 Progressive advances in technologies for DNA sequencing and decreasing costs are allowing an easier diffusion of genetic and genomic tests. Physicians’ knowledge and confidence on the topic is often low and not suitable for manage this challenge. Tailored educational programs are required to reach a more and more appropriate use of genetic technologies.
 Methods
 A distance learning course has been created by experts from different Italian medical associations with the support of the Italian Ministry of Health. The course was directed to professional figures involved in prescription and interpretation of genetic tests. A pretest-post-test study design was used to assess knowledge improvement. We analyzed the proportion of correct answers for each question pre and post-test, as well as the mean score difference stratified by gender, age, professional status and medical specialty.
 Results
 We reported an improvement in the proportion of correct answers for 12 over 15 questions of the test. The overall mean score to the questions significantly increased in the post-test, from 9.44 to 12.49 (p-value < 0.0001). In the stratified analysis we reported an improvement in the knowledge of all the groups except for geneticists; the pre-course mean score of this group was already very high and did not improve significantly.
 Conclusion
 Distance learning is effective in improving the level of genetic knowledge. In the future, it will be useful to analyze which specialists have more advantage from genetic education, in order to plan more tailored education for medical professionals.

International Legal Framework for the Application of Genetic Technologies: Main Features and Issues Open for Discussion

The objective of the present article is to determine the specific characteristics of the established international legal framework for the application of genetic technologies and to identify general guidelines that influence states’ policies in this area.Genetic technologies evolve rapidly, raising a number of ethical and legal issues and directly affecting human rights. At the universal level, there is still no international treaty containing uniform rules in this field. At the regional level, the experience of the Council of Europe deserves further study. National approaches to the legal regulation of applying genetic technologies differ since States retain a great deal of discretion in regulating these issues.Though the Council of Europe Member States enjoy a margin of appreciation in regulating the use of genetic technologies, a number of common distinctive features underlying the international legal framework in this area can still be singled out. These are informed consent, prohibition of reproductive human cloning, prohibition of germ line modification with certain exceptions. They arise primarily from the Oviedo Convention, the Protocols thereto and the ECtHR practice. Soft law documents adopted at the UN, UNESCO and the Council of Europe contribute to the process of their formation, too, but to a lesser extent. The efforts undertaken at the European and universal level shape modern international legal regulation in the field and set up the course of action for States to follow.

The Practice of International Bodies on the Problems of Using Genetic Medical Technologies: Classification, Overviews of the Legal Cases

The purpose of this paper is to attempt to classify the practice of international bodies that is significant for understanding the legal features of the use of genetic technologies as well as to provide a brief overview of some of the ECtHR cases that are key to identifying the general trends in human rights protection in the use of genetic technologies. The author provides an analysis of the ECtHR cases, which reveal some aspects of informed consent in medical activities and also addresses the more specific issue of prenatal genetic testing. The conclusion is drawn that it is advisable to classify cases of international bodies on the application of genetic technologies into two main categories: cases concerning particular issues of the application of genetic technologies and cases containing fundamental legal positions on the application of medical technologies, including genetic ones. It is necessary to consider both categories of cases in order to clarify the official interpretation of international norms and principles for the protection of human rights in the area at issue. For example, the analysis of practice in a broad category of medical cases provides insight into how the ECtHR discusses the principle of informed consent through the interpretation of the right to privacy enshrined in article 8 of the ECHR. However, a narrow focus on cases directly arising from the application of genetic technologies allows the inference of general requirements for legal regulation and human rights in subject areas such as genetic testing.

Potential threats to the use of genetic technologies and legal ways to resolve them

The object of the study is public relations in the field of the use of genetic technologies and their impact on human and civil rights and freedoms, ensuring the security of society and the state. The subject of the study is the provisions of international law, the legislation of the Russian Federation in the field under consideration, the norms of Russian and international law in the field of criminal law protection of relations that may be jeopardized by the use of genomic technologies. The authors draw attention to the fact that the existing legal system does not fully solve the tasks of ensuring the security of human and civil rights and freedoms, society, the state, environmental protection from dangerous encroachments using advances in the field of genetics. The results of the study are based on formal logical and general scientific methods of scientific cognition, a systematic approach. In addition, private scientific methods: formal legal, comparative legal method of legal interpretation. The main conclusions of the study are the following provisions. Potential threats that pose a danger to human life and health, ensuring the safety of society and the environment have been identified. Potential risks may arise in the field of human genetic research, genome editing technologies of various organisms, illegal collection and use of genetic information about a person, the threat of the development and use of genetic weapons as a type of biological weapon, in the field of regulating the activities of DNA laboratories, the use of genetic material for cloning and the use of human embryonic material. As a solution, it is proposed to use the positive foreign experience indicated in the work, the ideas of domestic authors and also the author's proposals for improving the legal regulation of the sphere in question. The novelty of the study lies in the fact that actual and potential risks are identified that pose a serious danger not only to individuals, but also to society as a whole. Legal solutions for their elimination are proposed.

A atuação do enfermeiro na genética e genômica: Uma revisão integrativa

Introdução: A enfermagem em genética e genômica congrega o uso das tecnologias genéticas na assistência aos indivíduos com doenças genéticas, proporcionando uma assistência personalizada. Objetivo: Revisar na literatura a produção científica atual sobre a atuação do enfermeiro na área de genética e genômica. Métodos: Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura, no período de 2015 a 2020, nas bases de dados Lilacs e PubMed. Foram utilizados os seguintes descritores nas bases: “Nursing”, “Genetics”, “Genomics”. Para o cruzamento dos descritores, utilizou-se um protocolo com os seguintes boleanos: Nursing AND Genetics AND Genomics. Como critérios de inclusão foram selecionados artigos pautados em pesquisa com dados primários e editoriais, que abordavam a temática do presente estudo nos idiomas de português e inglês, disponíveis na íntegra e online. Os critérios de exclusão foram resumos de trabalhos, teses, dissertações, revisões que utilizavam dados secundários. Resultados: Após filtragem com base nos critérios de inclusão, foram selecionados dezesseis artigos conforme critérios estabelecidos. Após a leitura e análise dos artigos, emergiram duas categorias temáticas, os quais foram: “Integração da Genética e Genômica na Enfermagem” e “Educação na Enfermagem em Genética e Genômica” Conclusão: Conclui-se que a genética e a genômica são importantes tecnologias de cuidado na enfermagem, especialmente no cuidado aos pacientes com síndromes raras, sendo assim, torna-se importante a formação continuada dos profissionais acerca dos conhecimentos genéticos.

Plant mineral transport systems and the potential for crop improvement

Nutrient transporter genes could be a potential candidate for improving crop plants, with enhanced nutrient uptake leading to increased crop yield by providing tolerance against different biotic and abiotic stresses. The world's food supply is nearing a crisis in meeting the demands of an ever-growing global population, and an increase in both yield and nutrient value of major crops is vitally necessary to meet the increased population demand. Nutrients play an important role in plant metabolism as well as growth and development, and nutrient deficiency results in retarded plant growth and leads to reduced crop yield. A variety of cellular processes govern crop plant nutrient absorption from the soil. Among these, nutrient membrane transporters play an important role in the acquisition of nutrients from soil and transport of these nutrients to their target sites. In addition, as excess nutrient delivery has toxic effects on plant growth, these membrane transporters also play a significant role in the removal of excess nutrients in the crop plant. The key function provided by membrane transporters is the ability to supply the crop plant with an adequate level of tolerance against environmental stresses, such as soil acidity, alkalinity, salinity, drought, and pathogen attack. Membrane transporter genes have been utilized for the improvement of crop plants, with enhanced nutrient uptake leading to increased crop yield by providing tolerance against different biotic and abiotic stresses. Further understanding of the basic mechanisms of nutrient transport in crop plants could facilitate the advanced design of engineered plant crops to achieve increased yield and improve nutrient quality through the use of genetic technologies as well as molecular breeding. This review is focused on nutrient toxicity and tolerance mechanisms in crop plants to aid in understanding and addressing the anticipated global food demand.

Влияние использования генетических технологий на права будущих поколений

В исследовании определена значимость этических и правовых норм для регулирования применения генетических технологий. Эта задача является важной для современного общества, но не менее актуальной она представляется для определения рисков применения генетических технологий на права будущих поколений. Материалом стали научные статьи и электронные ресурсы. Методами исследования выбраны формально-логический, системный, структурно-функциональный и формально-догматический. Полученные результаты свидетельствуют о том, что тема заботы о будущих поколениях не должна игнорироваться при использовании генетических технологий. Правовые инструменты смогут определить пределы использования генетических технологий с учетом интересов будущих поколений. The study determines the significance of ethical and legal norms for regulating the use of genetic technologies. This task is important for modern society, but it is no less relevant for determining the risks of applying genetic technologies to the rights of future generations. The material was scientific articles and electronic resources. The research methods are formal-logical, system, structural-functional and formal-dogmatic. The results show that the topic of caring for future generations should not be ignored when using genetic technologies. Legal instruments will be able to determine the limits of the use of genetic technologies, taking into account the interests of future generations.

The Formation of Ethical and Legal Methods of Control over Scientific Research in the Field of Development and Use of Genetic Technologies

The paper is devoted to the problems of the formation of ethical and legal methods of regulation and control over scientific developments and discoveries in the field of genetic engineering and biomedical cell technologies. The author highlights the main stages of the development of science in this area and the implementation of the results in global practice and civil circulation. The paper raises a question about the delimitation of the ways of public discussion of scientific discoveries and achievements in the global aspect for the legal methods of regulation and control to be formed. The paper considers some aspects of commercialization of scientific discoveries, their use in the framework of international competition and stimulation of the economies of countries participating in scientific progress in the field of genetic engineering. It is concluded that it is necessary to form a unified global approach to scientific developments in order to avoid bypassing the law and using weak legal order to legalize the results of scientific research that are currently unacceptable. It is important to differentiate between technical safety criteria and ethical, social, religious, legal aspects, and in addition, to include the political and economic context, which is becoming increasingly inherent in scientific research as new products and services are introduced to the market.

Law in Ensuring the Safety of Genetic Technologies Against their Use for Criminal Purposes

Genetic technologies offer wide prospects for socio-economic progress. At the same time, their application in practice could put at stake the interests of society, human rights and freedoms. Therefore, the development of genetic technologies requires its analysis from the standpoint of jurisprudence, thoughtful legislative regulation and protection from uncontrolled spread and criminal use. The paper analyzes different points of view on the use of genetic technologies. The author substantiates the necessity of proper legal regulation and security of the process of development of genetic technologies. The paper contains the results of the scientific research. The paper elucidates the problems related to the use of genetic technologies in the process of artificial human reproduction: imperfection of the legal framework (In particular, lack of the definition of the legal status of human embryo, lack of justification for the legality of its use for research and therapeutic purposes), the threat of the use of genetic technologies for criminal purposes. The author concludes that the use of genetic technologies for criminal purposes is especially dangerous because organized criminal groups focus their attention on genetic technologies. This gives rise to a special criminal situation that requires new approaches for effective counteraction. To this end, the priority is given to identification of crimes committed with the use of genetic technologies and analysis of the emerging practice of investigating this category of crimes. Failure to comply with standards, deviation from regulations and procedures imposed on medical care may result in harm to health or death also when the assisted reproductive technologies are used. The author has made some proposals to solve these problems with due regard to domestic and foreign experience in the use of genetic technologies in the field of human artificial reproduction (in particular, it is proposed to establish effective international cooperation in this area).

A critical review of the ethical and legal issues in human germline gene editing: Considering human rights and a call for an African perspective

In the wake of the advent of genome editing technology CRISPR-Cas9, there has been a global debate around the implications of manipulating the human genome. While CRISPR-based germline gene editing is new, the debate about the ethics of gene editing is not – for several decades now, scholars have debated the ethics of making heritable changes to the human genome. The arguments that have been raised both for and against the use of genetic technologies in human reproduction reiterate much of the arguments made in the pre-CRISPR debate. As such, it is instructive for South Africa to reflect on these arguments now, in considering our position on the regulation of the use of this novel biotechnology. There are two dominant schools of thought in this area, bioliberalism and bioconservatism. Bioconservatives raise concerns about the risks of genetic manipulation and argue that it ought to be limited or prohibited to avert these risks to human health and human nature. Bioliberal scholars are more open to the prospect of genetic manipulation because of its potential utility. In this paper, I conclude that in liberal democracies like our own, bioliberal arguments ought to be seriously considered when formulating policy on human genome editing because of the extent to which they resonate with our Constitutional values and human rights. I further suggest that there is a need for an enquiry into the relevance of African perspectives on the ethical questions that arise concerning germline genome editing.

FORMATION OF PRINCIPLES OF LEGAL REGULATION OF HUMAN GERMLINE GENOME EDITING

The article substantiates the need to establish legal principles for the use of gene modifications in human embryos and reproductive cells; highlights the problems of genome editing that require understanding by legal science, including at the international and national levels, and do not have a clear solution at the present stage. Purpose: based on the analysis of the legislation of foreign countries, the need for accessibility and openness to the international community of information on the safety of using technologies for gene editing of human germline, the identification of new forms of scientific activity focused on working with public opinion on the use of genetic technologies is proved. Methods: methods of comparative legal analysis, formal logic, description, statistical methods, and the method of legal norms interpretation are used. Results: at the present stage, the main task of the legal community is to develop legal principles for regulating public relations in the field of genetic engineering and biomedical technologies. At the same time, the most important component is the formation of public participation and active involvement of public institutions in the formation of the legal environment for creating a system of legal norms that meet the realities of scientific progress and protect the rights and interests of each person and humanity as a whole.