The Importance Of The Human Genome Project

2751 Words6 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on the nature and meaning of the human genome project

The Importance Of The Human Genome Project This is the outstanding achievement not only of our lifetime, but of human history. I say this, because the Human Genome Project has the potential to impact the life of every person on this planet. It is a giant resource that will change mankind, much like the printing press did. The famous words of Dr. James Watson resonated as a victory bell, signaling the successful completion of what many deemed the boldest undertaking in the history of biology: The Human Genome Project (2003). On the fiftieth anniversary of the day that forever changed science the day Watson and his colleague Francis Crick unraveled the secret of life, the structure of deoxyribonucleic acid the world was presented with another shocking discovery: the complete sequence of the human genome. Almost immediately, uproar swept throughout the science community and the world-at-large, as many believed that the solution to our problems had finally arrived the true secret of life the panacea that would dissipate the ominous clouds of disease and suffering. Yet, as often happens when a promising new idea is presented on tenuous grounds, the revelers had only heard a fraction of the entire story; their grand hopes were born primarily of imagination. But when all the celebratory confetti had cleared, there stood defiantly amidst all the hoopla voices of reason. Molecular anthropologist Jonathan Marks voice was one of these. In an excerpt from his literary work What It Means to be 98% Chimpanzee: Apes, People, and Their Genes, Marks undermines the importance of the Human Genome Project and our genes, advocating instead a more rational and moderate view of them. By exposing three of the Project s flaws, he hopes to convince... ... middle of paper ... ...ealize that our genes are but one aspect of our history, that there are many other histories that are even more important it is a delusion to think that genomics in isolation will ever tell us what it means to be human (2001, paragraph 11). Indeed, everything is not solely in our genes. Works Cited Beckwith, J. (2002). Geneticists in society, society in genetics. In J. Alper (Ed.), The double-edged helix (pp. 39-57). Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press. Lewontin, R.C. (1991). Causes and their effects. Biology as ideology: the doctrine of DNA (pp. 41-57). New York: HarperPerennial. Marks, J. (2002). The meaning of human variation. What it means to be 98% chimpanzee: apes, people, and their genes (pp. 88-95). Berkeley: University of California Press. Paabo, S. (2001). The human genome and our view of ourselves. Science Magazine 291, 1219-1220.

Show More
Related

  • Descartes Doubt Argument Analysis

    923 Words  | 2 Pages

    The premise the mind cannot be split we know to be false. For example in the 1960s Scientists Sperry and Gazzaniga split the brain in studies of epilepsy. The result was having two minds operating in two different specialised areas. The patients for example would see a picture of an object in their right vision but see themselves holding another object in their left vision. This resulted in confusion in the patients due to conflicting perception of what they are seeing in their split brain (nobelprize.org, 2016). This shows that Descartes’ premise was wrong because the mind can be split. Thereby we can see Descartes reason for believing that the mind can exist without the body is limited. The split brain procedure isn’t the only modern day article that limits Descartes reasoning from body-mind divisibility. There are mental disorders such as the dissociative identity disorder whereby the mind appears to be split into different identities. This results in there appearing to be more than one person living inside a single body. This example of mental disorder depicts that the mind is divisible and thereby Descartes reasoning is furthermore limited. In modern day understanding of the mind, there are disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder that signify that the mind can be ‘broken’. Studies in physical brain damage, for example car crashes causing loss of memory and suggest that the mind

    Read More

  • The Knight and the Cart

    1463 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...e’s heavenly elevation. In addition, Lancelot literally sacrifices himself for her, when he finds out mistakenly that she has died, he tries to kill him self. Guinevere is portrayed as a divinely creature. Only she had the power to save Lancelot and soothe his agony and pain. Lancelot reaffirming her alleviating power, begs Guinevere to allow him to go to her: “If you grant me permission, my way is clear. But if my scheme does not suit you, then the way is so difficult for me that my entry is impossible." Once she permits him to enter "…Lancelot had every wish ….as he held [Guinevere] in his arms… greatest joy and pleasure,” confirming that his salvation was in her hands.2

    Read More

  • The Creation of Lancelot and the Undoing of the Once and Future King

    2364 Words  | 5 Pages

    The legendary figure of King Arthur, the Once and Future King, started his rise to literary prominence through Geoffrey of Monmouth and his work, The History of the Kings of Britain. Monmouth introduced readers to a heroic and noble king who defeated the Saxons and reclaimed Britain, creating a period which set the stage for the Arthurian era and the glories of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table. Over time additional authors added their voice to the telling of the Arthurian legend; adding events and characters, ultimately changing the story forever. Perhaps the most notable of these additions came in the form of Sir Lancelot. The creation of Lancelot, a knight introduced by Chrétien de Troyes in The Knight of the Cart, produced an underlying futile battle for top billing between Arthur and his top knight. The inclusion of Sir Lancelot in works such as, The Vulgate Cycle and Le Morte d’Arthur show further proof that once the character of Lancelot was created, King Arthur was no longer needed to save Camelot and bring it back to peace. Between Lancelot’s courtly love for King Arthur’s wife Guinevere and his renown for being “Sought after by all men and loved by all women more than any other knight” (Vulgate 102), one can see how King Arthur stood no chance against such a chivalric man, leaving him all but helpless to watch as Camelot and his round table crumbled as Lancelot’s prominence rose.

    Read More

  • King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table: Fact or Fiction

    1975 Words  | 4 Pages

    The typical romantic knight consists of a charming man sitting upon his noble steed dressed in shining armor and chain mail. It was during the Victorian Era when literature about knights greatly increased in popularity. All throughout England, restrictions were placed on writings and literature (O’Gorman 2000). Authors took to writing about knights to express their thoughts and feelings and to discuss controversies openly and without breaking the law. The more renowned knights are the knights that sat at the round table. The stories about the Knights of the Round Table are known for their dauntless adventures and scandalous romances. There are many stories that have been written on the topic of the Knights of the Round Table, but the tale “Le Morte d’Arthur” is an epic consisting of twenty-one books and five hundred and six chapters (Plot Summary: Le Morte d’Arthur 1997) of the Knights adventures. The Knights of the Round Table are a part of history that has lived on through centuries in literature and they have impacted the world in such a way that they can never be forgotten.

    Read More

  • Descartes’ Argument from Divisibility

    1693 Words  | 4 Pages

    ...these considerations aside, Descartes’ argument from indivisibility is formally fallacious from the outset, however. The argument is intended as an independent proof of mind-body dualism and is only true if the mind is indeed indivisible. Yet, the premise that the mind is not divisible can only be valid if the mind is distinct from matter. The argument assumes what it is trying to prove, namely dualism, and so cannot be considered sound. The objection that premise (3) might not explicitly entail dualism, but only embodies an observation on Descartes’ part that he cannot conceive of a divided mind, is not really good enough to salvage the argument, because it raises the issue of the validity of mere conceivability as an arbiter of truth. The argument from indivisibility fails or at the very least withholds judgment pending a definite proof or disproof of premise (3).

    Read More

  • Capitalism: The Rationalization of Irrationality

    2216 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ng this simplistic definition of capitalism which means that there will be “winners” and “losers” to this relationship. The focus upon the “bottom line” leaves little to no room for the consideration of social consequences such as unemployment and poverty. The disconnection that capitalism creates enables itself to flourish thus limiting the potential to achieve socio-economic justice. Fundamentally changing the way capitalism operates requires a political shift in power dynamics. Consumers who do play a role in how the economy is structured are needed to be brought back to consciousness by demanding justice.

    Read More

  • The Knight of the Cart (Lancelot)

    387 Words  | 1 Pages

    In this romance, there is a battle between reason and love. Both try to thwart the paths of the other. When love is taking control, there is always a sense of reason that prevents Lancelot from doing what he wants, and when reason has the better of him, love makes him go in a different direction. Reason is the logical explanation behind each action taken or decision made by Lancelot. Love is the attraction that Lancelot feels for Gweneviere and it has a way of pushing aside reason, when he tries to make a judgment. These two elements are almost the devil and angel inside of Lancelot. Neither one can be described as good or bad, but can be considered opposites of each other. Also, most times, love is a stronger trait in Lancelot than the process of thought and reason.

    Read More

  • History Of The SAT Reasoning Test

    1791 Words  | 4 Pages

    Designed to measure the math, reading and writing skills necessary to predict college success, The SAT Reasoning Test is the most popular and widely accepted exam used for college entrance available today. A team of U.S. colleges developed its earliest form, known as the College Entrance Exam, in 1901. This essay-only test was designed for students applying to colleges to take one entrance exam instead of separate exams for each university. In 1926, the College Entrance Exam became the SAT (Student Aptitude Test). The test was formatted to multiple-choice in order to objectively assess a student’s college readiness while giving all students an equal opportunity for success. Since then, the title of the test was changed again to no longer stand for Student Aptitude Test due to the multifaceted purpose of the test. Published by the Educational Testing Service, the current title of the test, “SAT”, is just an acronym that no longer stands for anything. Still, the SAT has been constantly developing to best assess student scholarly performance (“History of the Tests”, 2014).

    Read More

  • The Genome Revolution

    1083 Words  | 3 Pages

    For numerous years, the world’s most prestigious geneticists have been trying to crack the human genetic code, the intricate puzzle that defines each and every one of us as individuals. With the monumental success of the Human Genome Project, a new and exciting biological frontier is ready for exploration. The ramifications of the knowledge derived from this endeavor will no doubt be staggering for residents of the Rio Grande Valley and the world at large.

    Read More

  • The Human Genome Project Research

    637 Words  | 2 Pages

    The Human Genome Project is essential for the human race to advance. With the ability to decimate human disease and even boost food resources, people will increase life expectancy alongside decreasing the percent of people around the world who go hungry each day. There can even be limits placed on Legal aspects of The Human Genome Project results that appease civil rights activists and will preserve ethics and diversity while still improving mankind. Humans will never have to fear disease or hunger. The future looks bright for all of mankind.

    Read More

  • Le Morte D Arthur Research Paper

    529 Words  | 2 Pages

    A medieval romance is an exciting tale of a hero who goes on a quest and is filled with magical events and adventure which takes place during medieval times. Sir Thomas Mallory’s novel Le Morte D’Arthur is one of the most well known medieval romances there is. This essay will discuss the three main reasons why Le Morte D’Arthur is a medieval romance: there are many supernatural events that take place, characters are motivated by love, there are noble heroes throughout the novel.

    Read More

  • Patient Identification: Blood Drawing Procedures

    1105 Words  | 3 Pages

    A phlebotomy student at CWI, may I draw your blood? This is the proper way I would

    Read More

  • Phlebotomy Ethnography

    262 Words  | 1 Pages

    The curiosity that I have with the medical practice perked my excitement for this ethnography paper. When considering which medical field I wanted to further investigate phlebotomy gained my focus. While enrolled in phlebotomy classes during summer semester at Aurora Community College I was provided mass amounts of knowledge in phlebotomy. One concern I had entering the nursing practice was venipuncture because of my past history of numerous blood draws and intravenous fluids. During these times I was often used as a pin cushion with the number of sticks to success being twelve in one visit. Never wanting to risk placing a patient of mine in this situation I enrolled into phlebotomy class. This new skill would assist me in my overall goal of

    Read More

  • An Eye for an Eye: Justification or Codification, Michel Foucault

    1482 Words  | 3 Pages

    “Justice must always question itself, just as society can exist only by means of the work it does on itself and on its institutions.” The philosopher Michel Foucault explains the delicate balance of the justice systems with society. We have grown accustom to our way of crime and punishment in the United States. It handles the situations in a way of treating everyone as equals. Hammurabi’s code relies on more of a crime fits the punishment method. The common code, an eye for an eye, shows how seriously strict Hammurabi’s code can be. Should punishment be handled like we do in today’s society, in a humane way, or a brute force method? Without a doubt, history shows that human nature causes us to desire power, and usually ends in criminal actions. Punishment comes from the government and how it is handled. Is the United States implementing their job or do we need to go back to a stricter code?

    Read More

  • Human Genome Project Essay

    3148 Words  | 7 Pages

    The Human Genome Initiative is a worldwide research effort that has the goal of analyzing the sequence of human DNA and determining the location of all human genes. Begun in 1990, the U.S. Human Genome project was originally planned to last 15 years but now is projected to be complete in 13 years. This project was started to find the 80,000 - 100,000 human genes and to determine the sequence of the 3 - billion chemical bases that make up human DNA. The information generated by the human genome project is expected to be the source book for biomedical fields, including those such as developmental biology and neurobiology, where scientists are just beginning to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. The human genome project is expected to immensely benefit medical science. It will help us to understand and eventually treat many of the more than 4000 genetic diseases that afflict mankind, as well as the many multifunctional diseases in which genetic predisposition plays an important role. New technologies emanating from the genome project will also find application in other fields such as agriculture and the environmental sciences.

    Read More

More about The Importance Of The Human Genome Project

Open Document