What's human about human genes?: He aha te tikanga tangata e pā ana ki ngā ira tangata?

By Dr Gary Raumati Hook

Māori version

Considerable controversy surrounds the concept of 'human genes' and what should or should not be done with them.

To some, putting 'human' genes into non-human species is an anathema. While to others the idea is just a minor blip on their moral radar.

What makes this topic so controversial and polarising is interesting because the science is reasonably straight forward and the practical consequences - especially for human health - are beneficial and commonplace.

These benefits include the production of insulin to treat diabetes and cow's milk containing a synthetic protein gene for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.

The controversy is not so much about the science as it is about the moral significance of interfering with what to some people represents the very essence of humanity, our genetic material.

Some even claim that ill advised actions could threaten the very foundation of the human species.

The placing of 'human genes' in non-human species raises issues that are deeply embedded in the psyche, and as a consequence some of these reactions have little or nothing to do with reason.

The term 'human genes' is used somewhat loosely, even within science.

At times it refers to genes sourced from humans, at others it means genes copied from genes sourced within humans and on other occasions it is used to refer to gene sequences that will produce a gene product equivalent to that produced by humans.

Yet humans are more than just the sum of their parts or genes.

Many believe that human genes are nothing special in themselves. Humanness has to do with relationships - between ourselves, God, the environment and other species.

The challenge, therefore, is to decide on what basis human gene transference is acceptable, and under what circumstances is it acceptable.

How can we engage with biotechnology and in particular genetic modification in ways that enhance the potential for human life and at the same time value and affirm the significance of our humanness?

[ Previous page | Next page ]

Ka nui ngā tautohetohe e pā ana ki te kaupapa o ngā 'ira tangata', a, me te pātai me pēhea te whakamahi i a rātou i runga i te tika.

Ki ētahi, ko ngā mahi whakawhitiwhiti ira mai i te tangata ki te kararehe me ngā tipu o te pūtaiao, he mahi mōrihariha. Engari ki ētahi atu he take tino iti noa iho tēnei kāore e whakapōrearea ana i a rātou tikanga.

Ko te take i pēnei rawa ai te tautohetohe me te wehewehe tangata nā te mea ki roto i te ao pūtaiao he ngāwari noa iho tēnei take, e kitea ana ōna painga mō te hauora tangata, a kua waia te tangata ki ēnei painga.

Ko ētahi o nga painga e puta ma ana, ko te whakatipu i tētahi rongoa (he 'insulin') hei patu i te mate huka, tae atu hoki ki te miraka kau he ira kei roto nā te tangata i hanga, hei whakapai i te mate e kiia nei he 'multiple sclerosis'.

Kāore e tino nui ana ngā awangawanga e pā ana ki te taha pūtaiao engari e pā kē ana ki ngā māharahara mō te pūtake o tēnei hanga o tangata, arā i kiia ai te tanga, he tangata.

E ai ki ētahi, ki te mahia nga mahi hangarau-koiora, ka haumate te wairua o te tangata.

He nui nga māharahara mo te whakawhitiwhiti ira tangata ki te hanga ehara i te tangata, a, kei te puku o te tangata e mau ana ēnei whakaaro, kāore i te āta whakaarotia e te hinengaro.

He rerekē te whakamārama o te kupu ira tangata ki tēnā ki tēnā, anā he pēnei ano hoki i roto i te ao pūtaiao.

I ētahi wā, ko te ira tangata te tikanga o te kupu, i ētahi atu, ko ngā ira i kapea mai i roto i te tangata, a, i ētahi atu wā, ko te tikanga o te kupu ko te whakarārangitanga ira hei whakatipu ira e rite ana ki nga ira o te tangata.

Me te whakaaro anō, he nui atu ra te tangata, mai i ōna wāhanga tinana, ira ränei. He toko maha ngā tangata e whakapono ana ki te whakaaro, ehara noa iho te ira tangata. Ko te āhua o te tangata, ko te whakawhānaungatanga i waenganui i a tātou, i te atua tapu, i te taiao me nga momo kararehe o te ao.

Nō reira, ko te wero, he whakarite ture, e mōhio ai te tangata he aha nga āhuatanga e whakaae ai tātou ki te whakawhiti ira, he aha hoki ngā tikanga e whakaae ai tātou e tika ana.

Me pēhea tā tātou whakapiri atu ki nga mahi o te hangarau-koiora, me te kaupapa o te rāwekeweke ira hei whakakaha, hei whakaora ake i te koiora o te tangata, a kia mau tonu ai te mana me te wairua o te tangata?

[ Previous page | Next page ]