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potential benefits of genetic engineering
genetic testing vs privacy
potential benefits of genetic engineering
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For as long as mankind has walked the Earth, there have always been things standing in its way; things scientists have taken centuries to try and understand. Finding the key to why someone has a pre-disposition to cancer, Alzheimer’s, heart problems, or even skin conditions like psoriasis, lays within their genetic make-up. Many remain reserved on the subject and insist that the risk of genetic testing isn’t worth the reward, though there is much evidence to the contrary. The debate on the benefits of genetic research and what they can do to help mankind has been argued with the help of extensive scientific testing, anonymous surveys, and rulings from our own Federal Government. People are hesitant about genetic research for several reasons; most of them centered around the invasion of their privacy and the negative effects it could have on their lives were the information to be displayed publically. There’s also the sticky question of ownership when it comes to genetic material; does it belong to the patient being tested, or the scientists who discovers what’s being tested in the first place? Although steps have been taken via the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act to prevent a patient’s information from being accessed without their permission, there is still no law that will allow someone to put a patent on genetic material within a human body. (“21st-Century Genetics.” The New Genetics, 2010) Looking at a commonly known example, the Black Death, also known as bubonic plague, remains to be one of the worst cases of human casualty due to illness. The people of the 14th Century had very little knowledge of the inner workings of the human body and therefore chalked ... ... middle of paper ... ...lass; let kids know what problems our scientists and doctors are being faced with, what avenues they are exploring to fix them, and how they are attempting to do so. Genetic research is a wonderful scientific advancement; one that takes new steps every day, and one that people need to recognize and embrace. Works Cited Kerath, S.M., Klein, G., Kern, M., Shapira, I., Witthuhn, J., Norohna, N., ... Taioli, E. (2013). Beliefs and attitudes towards participating in genetic research. BMC Public Health, 13(1), p1-9. Li, J, Zhen, T., Tsai, S.Y., & Jia, X. (2013). Epidermal Stem Cells in Orthopaedic Regenerative Medicine. International Journal of Molecular Science, 14(6), p.11626-11642. National Institute of General Medical Sciences. (2010). "21st-Century Genetics." The New Genetics, p. 74-83. Retrieved from http://publications.nigms.nih.gov/thenewgenetics/chapter5.html
The more we know about genetics and the building blocks of life the closer we get to being capable of cloning a human. The study of chromosomes and DNA strains has been going on for years. In 1990, the Unites States Government founded the Human Genome Project (HGP). This program was to research and study the estimated 80,000 human genes and determine the sequences of 3 billion DNA molecules. Knowing and being able to examine each sequence could change how humans respond to diseases, viruses, and toxins common to everyday life. With the technology of today the HGP expects to have a blueprint of all human DNA sequences by the spring of 2000. This accomplishment, even though not cloning, presents other new issues for individuals and society. For this reason the Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) was brought in to identify and address these issues. They operate to secure the individuals rights to those who contribute DNA samples for studies. The ELSI, being the biggest bioethics program, has to decide on important factors when an individual’s personal DNA is calculated. Such factors would include; who would have access to the information, who controls and protects the information and when to use it? Along with these concerns, the ESLI tries to prepare for the estimated impacts that genetic advances could be responsible for in the near future. The availability of such information is becoming to broad and one needs to be concerned where society is going with it.
Kevles, Daniel J. and Leroy Hood. "Will the Human Genome Project Lead to Abuses In Genetic Engineering?" Taking Sides. Ed. Thomas A. Easton. Guilford, Connecticut: Dushkin Publishing Group Inc., 1995. 342-357.
Although there is so little that can be done to change those inherited genes that an individual may have, scientific research has proved that for every possible disease affecting humans ' well-being there is a genetic component where the body responds. The main point in genetics reactions is whether we activate a gene response or we keep it inactive by following healthy lifestyle choices. The science and research on genetics is expanding and this field will help in the development and advances of health science, which will greatly contribute to the enhancement of individuals ' well-being (Durch, Bailey, and Stoto
Peterson, Dr. Alan. "It's not all In our genes- social and political implications of human genome project." The New Statesman. 3 July 2000. 13.612: 5,1
It is patients’ right to opt for genetic testing on their own DNA, although they are accepting a great risk by doing so. DNA is unique to each individual, present in each individual since conception, and influences who each individual is, so the information contained within it belongs to each patient, despite the risks. Such risks include DNA testing services providing results to potential employers or insurers, who can make decisions at the disadvantage of the patients if high disease probabilities are discovered. The results can also cause patients to react emotionally poorly and make negative changes to their lifestyles. Although risky, patients deserve the rights to take these risks if they choose to do so.
Sam is a fifteen year old girl who has been fighting cystic fibrosis her whole life, and at this age she knows her life is cut short and will barley make it past the age of thirty. Kids who are born with this have an abnormal gene, and something as simple as that can cut someone’s life short. Modern technology and science has changed the world we live in today, from creating things as simple as a play station four’s or a smart phone to creating the power to genetically clone human race. Scientist could genetically modify genes to be cured from diseases like cystic fibrosis, Huntington disease, and even breast cancer but many argue that this wouldn’t be an ethical thing to do. Although cloning has its benefits it also has its downfalls and because of this it is a very controversial topic in today’s society. I believe genetic engineering has more benefits than disadvantages because it will eliminate diseases, especially those that are known to cause premature death.
Assessing the consequences of the information that the Human Genome Project may yield must be taken into consideration; the medical benefits must be weighed on a balanced scale with the ethical and moral ramifications to properly size up what we will do in the future. Residents of the Rio Grande Valley must be prepared to deal with the positive and negative aspects of this modern revolution that we call genetics.
Many things are changing at an extremely rapid rate in our society. The new advances in the areas of science and biotechnology are raising many ethical and moral dilemmas for everyone. No one will be left unaffected. Everyone will have to make a decision and take a stand on these issues. I will discuss advancements of genetic screening and testing. The first step to any ethical problem is to understand the topic. It is difficult to formulate accurate ideas without knowledge about the topic, so first I will provide a little background information on genetic screening. I will then point out some of the areas of controversy associated with genetic screening, and finally I will discuss my view on the topic.
Looking back over the major medical advances of the last decade provides us with an insight into what might be in store in the future. Genetics has been and remains at the forefront of medical research. Chief scientist of the Human Genome Project ,Craig Venter, thinks that genetics is the precursor for many medical advances, and that the the biggest area of future healthcare will be preventative medicine : “By understanding the genetic causes and links to disease we can spend more and more attention on preventing disease.” Although the fruits of this project are not yet fully ripe, future advances in this field could prove insurmountably beneficial to the healthcare system - doctors are currently on the brink of developing a genetic test for the prevalence of prostate cancer,for example. Furthermore, seque...
In today’s world, people are learning a great deal in the rapidly growing and developing fields of science and technology. Almost each day, an individual can see or hear about new discoveries and advances in these fields of study. One science that is rapidly progressing is genetic testing; a valuable science that promotes prevention efforts for genetically susceptible people and provides new strategies for disease management. Unnaturally, and morally wrong, genetic testing is a controversial science that manipulates human ethics. Although genetic testing has enormous advantages, the uncertainties of genetic testing will depreciate our quality of life, and thereby result in psychological burden, discrimination, and abortion.
way, the implications of a genetically related disease. The long and complex process of genetic
The Human Genome Project is the largest scientific endeavor undertaken since the Manhattan Project, and, as with the Manhattan Project, the completion of the Human Genome Project has brought to surface many moral and ethical issues concerning the use of the knowledge gained from the project. Although genetic tests for certain diseases have been available for 15 years (Ridley, 1999), the completion of the Human Genome Project will certainly lead to an exponential increase in the number of genetic tests available. Therefore, before genetic testing becomes a routine part of a visit to a doctor's office, the two main questions at the heart of the controversy surrounding genetic testing must be addressed: When should genetic testing be used? And who should have access to the results of genetic tests? As I intend to show, genetic tests should only be used for treatable diseases, and individuals should have the freedom to decide who has access to their test results.
Moreover, the use of a metaphor in the title succinctly summarises the main argument that genetic testing provides no benefits to society. The repetition of “epidemic” in the title and main body also conveyed that manipulative genealogy is a growing into a serious issue, especially as “everyone” in society is inevitably affected by their genes in one way or another. More importantly, the
In just the last 40 years, genetic engineering has progressed past the range of science fiction and in 40 years from now, who knows where we will be. By then, diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, and many others will be able to be cured before the child is even born. Also, who knows what else will be possible with technology that we will possess by then, and in the words of the great scientist James Lovelock,”I suspect any worries about genetic engineering may be unnecessary. Genetic mutations have always happened naturally, anyway”. Genetic engineering is the future of animals, the future of humans, and the future of the Earth as a whole.
... idea to take part in. Genetic testing can lead to a global preparation for parents to look out for their children. The genetic test results can determine so much for the children and what they might get passed down to them whether its diabetes, cancer, or any other illness or disease.