The
human growth hormone (hGH,
somatropine) is mentioned for people whose own hGH production level is
insufficient. NOT for people who'd prefer to be tall for
aesthetical reasons nor
top athletics who also use hGH supplements (1). The
pharmaceutical hGH production is via
genetic engineering the
microorganisms, but before the GMO-era it was
extracted from
sheep brains (2). This may give a link to the
CJD mentioned in the previous write-up, like the possible link between
animal feed based on sheep products to
BSE to
CJD. However, at the moment of writing this (the
story with the
prions) isn't
scientifically proven.
The hGH
treatment of children who do have insufficient hGH production of their own tends to be
beneficiary, but when children are treated who don't have a
shortage of own hGH, the treatment must be finished, otherwise it will result in a
delayed
growth pattern. Reported
side effects of the treatment are
psychic disfunction and a possible relation with
leukemia (1).
The text is a small section of my thesis Applied Philosophy, called "Acceptance of genetically modified microorganisms on the basis of points of view of life".
References:
1: Reiss, M.J. and Straughan, R. Improving nature? The science and ethics of genetic engineering. Cambridge University Press. 1996. 288 p.
2: Schellekens, H. Bionieuws. March 1996.