Ethical Issues
Many people are concerned about the privacy of sending a sample of their DNA to test for the microbes that reside in their bodies. However, Hank Greely, a bioethicist at Standford University believes that there are no guarantee that any information is safe. The leakage of the health information that is revealed from the project can affect the success rate of getting jobs, long-term care insurance or life insurance. Jeff Leach, founder of Human Food Project, says "...if those concerns are there, then we tell people, you know, not to join the study because it's not 100 percent foolproof — nothing is" (Leach). (T-95)
Legal Issues
As the knowledge of what microorganisms can do for our environment spreads, the issue of who has the rights to create these genetically modified microorganisms. There are fears that US laws would prevent the use of this technology. These microbes could also potentially be used for bioterrorism. (T-98, T-99)
Because of the fast growing antibiotic-resistant microbes, many believe that the government should be the ones who take charge and report this information to its people, preventing further resistance. The knowledge needs to be spread globally. (T-96, T-97)
The safety of genetically modified microorganisms is also questioned. Whether the microbes are intentionally or accidentally released into the environment could either way potentially harm the ecosystem. (T-98)
GMM used in systems must be reported to governmental agencies. However, for foods that contain amino acids and enzymes created with GMM do not require to be labeled as GMM is not associated with the final product. (T-105)
