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UNIT
ONE Genetics, Disease and Theology Introduction
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The question, “Are humans genetically
related to other living species?” has been a Today new questions are emerging. These questions ask things like, “Can science and theology be studied together?” “Is there a connection between human disease and nonhumans and disease in light of theology?” Are geneticists and other researchers morally and ethically in the right, to experiment by manipulating the life of other species for the sake of humans? Is there a deeper theological implication in genetics? These questions are now at the center of major discussions between theologians and doctors in the field of medicine. Theologians and researchers are feeling a tension from questions like the ones mentioned above because the questions and answers may take them into areas not previously explored, and where traditional value-systems have no ready-made responses. This project aims to address some of these questions. Genetics and Disease in Humans and Other Species – Research Findings Humans and other living species react similar
to genetic manipulation and experimentation. Genes that cause certain
diseases in humans are also resulting in the same or similar diseases
in nonhumans. These great strides in genetic research, has revealed
that humans and other living species are similarly affected by disease. The dog is divided into about three - hundred
breeds. There are approximately three hundred - eighty inherited
diseases that have been recognized in dogs. Many of these are exact
analogues of human disease. It has been discovered that the gene
that leads to disease is gene number nine. The study of this gene
has contributed much biological information in the study of human
and animal diseases. These results indicate that the great apes from central Africa could provide a reservoir of new herpes viruses that are potentially transmissible to humans. This finding further indicates that these primates may cause persistent infection, leading under certain circumstances to epidemic level within the human population. And a rhesus monkey that was made from an egg that had been modified to include a simple jellyfish gene is a good example of laboratory experimental and manipulation. The researchers who performed this experiment believe that this type of technology could be used to introduce more significant changes, such as those that would make primates to mimic closely human diseases like breast cancer or HIV. This could hasten understanding of disease
processes and the development of new therapies. For example, researchers
believe through experimentation that an Alzheimer’s gene could
accelerate the development of a vaccine for that disease. In this
way they hope to bridge the scientific gap between transgenic mice
and humans. Do Other Species Suffer in Disease as Humans Suffer? It is often necessary to use animals to understand human diseases, some of the work on cognitive diseases, such as schizophrenia, can only be carried out in people. Animal genetics will increasingly help the search for human genetic diseases. The examples cited here points out very strongly, humans and other species both share in the suffering of similar diseases. This in fact supports the idea of species solidarity. When one suffers all suffers. These results also indicate a species unity involving certain diseases. The animal studies mentioned here were found on web-site links mentioned at the beginning of this discussion. Even though science is proving that genetically other species and humans are showing great similarities, there still remains something in each of us that uniquely defines who we are as an individual. This uniqueness distinguishes each of us from each other and from other species. As humans we are able to think rationally. We can solve complex problems. We can think abstractly. We have the authority to affect our own destinies, in that we have free will. While other creatures do not appear to be able to do these complex skills to the degree that humans can, if at all. Only identical twins come the closest to being exactly alike. For the rest of us there are some differences in each individual that make us who we are. This individuation of the human species makes it impossible for one person to take another person’s place. In other words, there is something in our DNA that makes us distinct from other individuals and other species. Differences in the Research Process Between Humans and Other Species In disease both humans and other nonhumans suffer. The affects that disease has on humans can be studied, verbalized and interpreted but in nonhumans we can only study the affects and draw conclusions on their implications. As humans we are able to discuss how diseases are affecting us while nonhumans cannot communicate their feelings to us. Theologian Dr. Theodore Jennings of Chicago Theological Seminary states that, “Individuation is not just a “spiritual” or mental reality but a biological one which is of great consequence. We all have our own personal identity. However, with the understanding of the genome of an individual, new possibilities began to emerge. Each individual is also uniquely affected by disease, just as other species are uniquely affected by disease. God created all living things in creation. All living creatures react to sickness and disease. Humankind shares their world with other living things therefore we are all affected by what happens within our world just because we are in it together. This means that disease is apart of all living things, and will affect all livings things individually and collectively. Thus, disease is universal. When looking at this discussion on the affects of genetics and disease in humans and other species, we must also take into consideration the theological, ethical, social and moral issues. For generations theologians and scientists have argued that the biological sciences and theology have no reasonable relationship between them. The study of the affects of disease on humans and nonhumans would never in past generations have been a topic of discussion in a theology class or a scientific laboratory. How can the image of God be explained in genetics and disease in both humans and other living species? Human Creation and the Image of God Humans are reflections of God’s glory. Our reason, creativity, speech, and self-determination are the image of God. It is our entire self that reflects the image of God. Knowing that we are made in God’s image and thus share many of His characteristics provides a solid basis of self worth. While, humans are made in the image of God we cannot devalue other living creatures. They too were made by God, who Himself said, while in the Garden of Eden, “That everything He made was good.” The Creation story tells us that God placed value on everything that He made. He then gave man total authority over all of His creation. Does that mean, however, that man has the power to manipulate those things that are pertaining to disease or life and death issues? If God made all things and they were “good,” then where does sickness and disease originate? Science is now providing us an answer to this question. Through scientific genetic research it has been proven that disease results from genetic mutations. This means that something triggers a particular gene to over produce itself. From this triggering the mutated gene is unable to reverse itself, to produce at its right level. However, many diseases that appear in humans have been passed down through the genes of ancestors. Much of the research of the past believed that disease, at least for humans was environmental, occupational or deficient diets. We might be able to better understand the diseases found in other species by examining their genetic make-up.
Disease Prevention and the Scientific Researcher Scientific research has helped to play major roles in studying, curing and preventing many diseases. According to D. Gareth Jones in his book The Brave New People, this research has placed researchers on a status of being known as gods. From this unpopular label many scientist have begun to understand that they are still human beings working within a specific social, political and religious context. From this context there is another consideration to be expressed, and that is in reference to how scientific research has affected other living species. Much of the research findings come from the experimentation on laboratory animals. All Living Creatures Living Together Science therefore, besides altering the physical world, also introduces moral situations that have no obvious answers. It affects us as human beings – in relationship to the environment, to other living species, and to God. This highly complex relationship with other species has socio-cultural implications and has been handed down to us historically through a series of ideal and normative descriptions as well as in myths. Since, other living creatures also live in God’s creation, we as humans must respect their rights to live in harmony with their own kind, and also with us. Their right to share in God’s creation and live unthreatened is the context from which we must approach disturbing their environment for scientific purposes For this reason, we can state that the man-animal relationship has been the object of ethical discussions. There is also present a constant concern for tradition which places at the center of consideration the solidarity between man and animal based on the common reality of suffering pain and disease.
The experimentation and manipulation of genes and mutations in the scientific laboratory, by the scientists can no longer claim moral neutrality in their investigations. The pain suffered by animals when certain operations are performed upon them has to be looked at for their implications. Do scientist have the right to inflict pain upon animals for the sake of furthering science? Are these scientists in effect stepping beyond their boundaries into the realm of disturbing God’s creation? These questions have now forced theologians and scientist to enter into dialogue about the moral, ethical and religious implications. In this discussion we must begin with the conviction that the world is a continuous creation, and is a stimulus to our sensitivity that gives rise to the need, to ask oneself at every opportunity the question how we should cultivate the garden, which has been entrusted to us as a gift. Many Christians have been enlightened of the fact that a more just handling of the relationship between man and other living species may influence judicial relations among men themselves. Theology points toward educating us to see in the other animals not mere organic matter at man’s disposal but an organism living in relationships, which man needs to understand fully before attempting to modify them and manipulate their environments. Scientists are now attempting to examine these ethical issues within the realm of experimentation. If scientists continue to proceed in genetic testing without taking into consideration the worth of other species then they will continue to face opposition among many people.
Researchers and Their Scientific Process For researchers who do not consider the inhumane treatment of animals in the laboratory, does this mean that they feel that other species don’t matter? We as human beings have the ability to morally decide between right and wrong. Is causing pain to defenseless animals, for the sake of scientific advancement a pervasiveness of sin? Is manipulating the genetic make - up which God has given to each living creature a sinful act? Even though this tampering of genes may prove to find more evidence in the causes of disease, does this give a researcher the license to make life - changing alterations in other species? Is there a higher good that out weighs, the suffering mice and other animals undergo in the laboratory? Can we assume that the suffering that they endure will enhance the lives of humankind? Has humans placed themselves in the position of being gods as was earlier stated?
Sometimes man does take his intellect and work to extremes, to the point that it could be viewed as sinful. Sin is always pervasive. Is testing of lower species sinful in the sight of God. This living creature that God created does it not have any rights to exist? These are questions that are causing discussions among theology scholars and scientific researchers. Can we see any resurrection and redemption in what science is uncovering for the sake of humankind and other living creatures? Is the old adage “No pain, gain correct true in the scientific setting? Maybe, through these scientific advancements some will say there is redemption through scientific findings that will cure diseases like breast cancer, or Kaposi’s sarcoma, and schizophrenia, where all living creatures can benefit. Maybe, this can be viewed as resurrection and redemption. In light of disease and their affect on humans, pastoral counselors can draw from the wealth of resources and materials that discuss issues of disease, life and death. They can use this material to point out that all living creatures suffer, and encourage them to know that when one suffers we all suffer. When we all suffer God suffers. In giving members of ones congregation hope, pastoral counselors can help ill members know that they do have options for receiving treatment of their illness and they have science working to find the cures to all diseases. Pastoral counselors must inform members who are struggling with illness and disease to seek expert help for their treatment. Counselors must also let them know that there is emotional support in their church. Definitions for this Discussion Analogues are likenesses found in humans and animals. Collectively means altogether. Ethical is a principle of right or wrong or good conduct. Genetic coding refers to the genetic make-up of humans and other species. Genome is the human gene make-up. Individually means each person. Individuation is the distinctiveness or uniqueness of an individual. Interrelatedness is to come into mutual relationship. Living species are animals other than humans. Moral means the judgment of the goodness or badness of human actions. Retinal atrophy concerns the wasting away of the inner lining of the eye. Solidarity is a togetherness or unity. Transgenic is moving of genes.
http://www.wellcome.acuk/en/l/awtpregnmani.html http://www.bmj.com/collections/bse/pridis.htm. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1112000/1112171.stm Barker, Penelope - The Reference Shelf, The H.W. Wilson Co., New York, 1995. Birch, Bruce C., Rasmussen, Larry L., - Bible and Ethics in Christian Life, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1989. Jones, Gareth, D., -
Brave New People, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Mieth, Dietmar, Pohier, Jacques – Concilium Ethics in the Natural Sciences, T. & T. Clark Ltd., Edinburgh, Scotland, 1989. Nelson, Robert, J., - Genetics and Religion, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1994. Peters, Ted, - Playing God?, Routledge, New York, 1997. Ridley, Matt, - Genome, Fourth Estate Limited, Great Britain, 1999. Smith, Edward, Sapp, Walter, Plain
Talk about the Human Genome
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