Human genome online assignment Essay Example for Free

Human genome online assignment assay1) If transmittable manipulation does be lie with a reality, I cerebrate allowing non- indisposition characteristics to be altered would fox solemn honourable and social implications. Screening for unhealthinesss and treating or eradicating them totally would be a huge benefit to mankind, plainly to use contractable technology to produce designer babies will most likely lead to a social divide similar to that portrayed in the movie Gattaca (De Vito and Niccol, 1997).Such technology would most likely be expensive and only those who put up afford it will benefit and gain undue receipts over those non fortunate enough to confine the financial means to avail of the technology, leading to a social system where you have the genetically-enhanced superior class and the inferior citizens conceived the natural way. 2) I dont think behavior insurance companies should have access to a soulfulnesss genetic in makeation. As it is, I believe i nsurance policies already hold a lot of stipulations that policy holders more ofttimes than not, end up receiving the short end of the bargain.If insurance companies find out that a person has a predisposition to a disease, they could easily refuse to provide that person with insurance and that I think, would be unfair since they would be depriving that person of his need to secure financial aid in case he does permit sick. In the interest of fairly sharing risk of infections though, insurance companies whitethorn be allowed limited access to genetic information. Limited, because I believe the welf ar of policy holders should still be of topmost formerity and any form of discrimination against individuals should not be allowed.3) Yes, I believe that the information from the Human Genome Project (HGP) will make tremendous benefits to a lot of people in the next 20 years. Technology sires at a very fast pace and it is not impossible that Collins predictions may very well come tr ue. Already, the underlying genetic problems creditworthy for certain diseases have already been identified and with the genetic map from the HGP, the causes of a lot of other afflictions will be identified and from there, therapies can and will be becomeed.Even though custom-made therapies will most likely be more difficult to develop and perfect, the identification of disease genes will still greatly benefit the general population (Nova Online, 2001). 4) I think we are not that prepared for the implications that will result from the applications of these information. Right now, our society is already struggling with various other ethical issues in other biotechnological fields like stem cell research and it would be too primitive to ignore the present and potential issues that may arise due to the far-reaching consequences of the HGP.5) I dont think employers should have access to an individuals genetic information since there is the danger that a person may be discriminated on the basis of his genetic profile. As of present, I think discrimination may be viewed as singling out an individual for what he is (e. g. his race, gender, etc. ), but to discriminate someone establish on his genetic profile would also mean discriminating him for what he could be. A person can be at risk for a certain disease but thats secure it its a probability, not a guarantee.Besides, it would also mean discounting a persons capabilities in antagonism of whatever genetic condition he may have. There have been countless stories of people overcoming their disabilities so there is no reason that one should be discriminated or favored based on his genetic makeup. 6) I dont think it is that surprising, especially if I consider that like me, these lower organisms are a follow, so its really just logical that we do share something in common. Considering though how ofttimes more complex we seem to be compared to these organisms, then yes, it is surprising that we dont seem to be tha t genetically different from them.7) I believe that testing of unborn baberen should be confined to deleterious genes, i. e. those that have serious and possibly life-threatening consequences such as that with diseases. I believe its a national of putting things in perspective. Traits and disabilities like homosexuality or color blindness may be unsuitable but they really seem trivial compared to serious afflictions that may mean life or shoemakers last for the child. 8) If its a curable or continueable disease, then I would probably be in favor of being time-tested so that I can create the necessary steps to prevent or prepare myself in case I do get sick.However, I cant say that decision would be as simple in the case of non-treatable diseases, because as with the woman who tested positive for a BRCA mutation (Nova Online, 2001), knowing that I am at risk for a disease that has no cure will probably mean that I will be living my life everyday with a sword hanging over my he ad and it would be very hard to live life that way. 9) Yes, I would want my mate and I to be tested if we were carriers for a disease prior to having children.I wouldnt want to take the risk of bearing a child only to have him/her suffer from the disease that we carry when we couldve spared him/her from that difficult life. I believe that I owe it to my future child to have myself and my partner tested. 10) I dont think genes or genomic material should be procure because as Lander has observed, apprehensions over whether a particular gene or part of the genome has already been patented has fit a limiting factor in that drug companies usually wouldnt want to take the risk of working on treatments that might already be protected by a patent (Nova Online, 2001).I believe that there are several ways that scientists can approach a disease and develop a treatment for it, so wherefore patent genes or genomic material? Why not just let everybody have access to such information so that n ot only one drug company can work at a specific disease but rather several, so that theres a better chance that one of them will be able to develop a treatment which they would then have all the right to patent? Lets take for example the case of cystic fibrosis.The gene responsible for this disease was discovered way back in 1989 and yet no cure has been discovered up to now (Nova Online, 2001). It only goes to show that identifying the gene responsible for the disease does not automatically mean that the cure would also be discovered consequently, so why allow the burden of further limitations brought on by patents?References De Vito, D. (Producer), Niccol, A. (Director). (1997). Gattaca Motion Picture. USA Sony Pictures. NOVA Online. (2001). Cracking the code of life. Retrieved May 30, 2007, from http//www. pbs. org/wgbh/nova/genome/program. html.