생명조작 기술의 급속한 발달과 윤리적 입장 정리의 문제

Development of Life-Manipulation Techniques and Buddhist Ethical Position

  Reportedly Korean Biotechnology has maid rapid progress during the last decade. According to recent news Professor Hwang’s team of Seoul National University has succeeded in the cloning of human embryonic stem cells by somatic cell nuclear transfer and finally also succeeded in the cloning of dog. However, this technological success has always both the positive side and the negative one. While the first could promise perfect treatments of many hard diseases, the second produces actually some serious ethical problems. For example, as a result of the research on human embryonic stem cells a copied human baby and chimera(hybrid of human and animal) might appear to in the near future. Of course the above possibilities would not happen on tomorrow immediately. Though we Buddhists should always alert against the possibility of appearance of cloned human beings and hybrid (of human and animal). I think it is an unimaginable story and will be ultimately a tragedy of humankind. This essay is dealing with these ethical problems of biotechnology. The contents of my essay are as follows.   Ⅰ. Background of My Arguments   Ⅱ. Life-Manipulation Techniques and Prospected Ethical Problems   1) Concepts of Cloning of Human Embryonic Stem Cells   2) Moral Status of Human Embryo   3) Arguments Pros and Against Concerning Human Embryonic Stem Cells   Ⅲ. Ethical Meaning of 〈Laws Regarding Bio-ethics and Security〉   Ⅳ. Conclusion; Life-Manipulation Techniques and Buddhist Ethical Position