SPENCER, PLEASE READ: This is what you have to do

[Salamander]

SPENCER:

You are now faced with the following tasks:

1. Find the sequence of the gene that codes for the particular ribozyme expressed in Bree. Your father already did this, so it must be filed away among his belongings.
2. Synthesize the antisense RNA that will block the active site of the ribozyme or that will mark it for degradation. Again, your father already did this, so the antisense RNA should remain stored at -120 degrees Celsius in the lab where your father worked
3. Alternatively, you may need to synthesize a small interfering RNA (siRNA) that will shut down the expression of the ribozyme
4. Since you cannot inject RNA directly into the bloodstream because it would be rapidly detected and destroyed by the immune system, you must come up with a vector that will carry the RNA. Neutrogena has already developed LIPOSOMES and other drug delivery systems (nanocapsules, dendrimers, etc) for many of its products, so you may have these vectors at hand already.
5. Experiment extensively with non-human animal models to check for efficiency and untoward effects of this therapy

As a scientist, it has not escaped your attention that all these procedures and their consequences have implications beyond the laboratory. You are surely familiar with the acronym GE3LSI (genomics ethical, economic, environmental, legal, and social issues), used to group these implications. Among the main issues that you absolutely must consider some stand out:

1. Do you have the right to use this therapy in Bree, even if it’s against her will?
2. Is it ethical to use in Bree a therapy that has not been rigorously tested before?
3. What will you do if the therapy results in Bree’s death? This has already occurred in dramatically unfortunate cases of gene therapy gone awry
4. Are you aware that you are in serious violation of FDA regulations regarding clinical trials? (Of course, given the habitual disregard of your new friends for the law, this may not be much of a concern)
5. What will you do if some powerful institution (which may be linked to the Order / HoO) pressures you to patent your findings?
6. Specifically, since you will be using Neutrogena’s resources and facilities, what if the company decides to patent this “product” you create?
7. Are you aware that you don’t know how the antisense RNA you synthesize will affect the health of humans and of the environment?
8. Have you the potential impact of future uses of this new therapy you devised?

I invite you and the users of this forum to think about these issues and to discuss them in this thread, as their impact upon all of us is not trivial. Please feel free to add more issues that you think are relevant.


I wish you the best in your endeavours.