Impact of gen etic research on women in Africa
Abstract
The cycle of
disease and food
scarcity
is the main obstacle for Africa’s economic development.
Genomic revolution undoubtedly
has
tremendous
potential to
alleviate infectious
and chronic
diseases
, while
improv
ing
food security
in our continent
.
Although the African women will
continue to be the major beneficiary
of these g
enetic
advances
,
biotechnology especially when it involves human subjects
can only be deemed ethically
justifiable when far reaching ethical parameters are defined and considered.
S
everal ethical
factors must
be carefully weighed such as potential environmental and health impact, altering
biodiversity, animal and human welfare
, social and religious issues
;
the potential co
-
modification
and
further denigration of attitudes towards women and
potentially harming life in order to
protect it.
Ultimately,
the proportionality of means versus ends concerning genetic modifications requires
careful ethical analysis.
This paper will examine the
progress in
genetic
resea
r
ch
including
clinical trials on DNA
-
based vaccines against malaria and HIV in Kenya.
Secondly, we will
discuss the uptake of genetically modified foods
in Africa
while avoiding exploitation of the host
communities. Finally, we will explore some p
olicy
and saf
ety
issues important in
genetically
modified foods,
population genetic
screening, including
HIV
screening, pre
-
implantation genetic
diagnosis, newborn screening;
assisted reproduction technology
and
stem cell therapy
in
resource
-
poor
Africa
n women
.
URI
http://profiles.uonbi.ac.ke/labubakar/publications/impact-genetic-research-women-africahttp://hdl.handle.net/11295/29073
Citation
International Conference on Muslim Womomen scholars in Science & Technology Development, 12 December, Tehran, IRAN, (2012)Publisher
University of Nairobi Department of Biochemistry,