Ms. Deborah Fanning
Human Genome Project
Reflection Paper 1
The history of mankind has traditionally been filled with curiosity about one's abilities and limitations. We are narcissistic by nature and have a need to expand one's knowledge base more and more every day. The Human Genome Project (“HGP”) is an example of such a curiosity. HGP is a research effort with the goal of taking the human DNA and determining the location of an estimated 100,000 strains of genes. The genes will then be arranged into sequences and used to treat over 4,000 genetic diseases that currently affect us today. The HGP project includes, but not limited to, a resource of genomic maps and DNA sequence information that provides detailed information about structure, organization, and characteristics of DNA, this information establishes the basic set of genetically coded “instructions” for the growth and development of a human being.
Many moral dangers exist in utilizing such a process to cure disease. To handle such a delicate process of DNA decoding, a stabilizing balance needs to be established to ensure the project is under strict surveillance and to prevent conditions from arising which could critically affect the project's success, one of which is discrimination. If HGP is successful at isolating a cancer causing gene that identifies an individual with a higher risk of obtaining cancer than the average person, insurance companies could conceivable deny coverage or make coverage so inexplicably expensive that the “average” person could not afford it. What about specific job opportunities? It could very well control your very station in life. Safe guards will have to be implemented to protect everyone’s basic human right to life.
That is just one tangible item that one will have to consider - there are many more. Let’s consider morality. In the name of Science, a seemingly harmless collection of information is gathered for the advancement of HGP. Let's assume HGP is successful, and
Reflection Paper 1
The history of mankind has traditionally been filled with curiosity about one's abilities and limitations. We are narcissistic by nature and have a need to expand one's knowledge base more and more every day. The Human Genome Project (“HGP”) is an example of such a curiosity. HGP is a research effort with the goal of taking the human DNA and determining the location of an estimated 100,000 strains of genes. The genes will then be arranged into sequences and used to treat over 4,000 genetic diseases that currently affect us today. The HGP project includes, but not limited to, a resource of genomic maps and DNA sequence information that provides detailed information about structure, organization, and characteristics of DNA, this information establishes the basic set of genetically coded “instructions” for the growth and development of a human being.
Many moral dangers exist in utilizing such a process to cure disease. To handle such a delicate process of DNA decoding, a stabilizing balance needs to be established to ensure the project is under strict surveillance and to prevent conditions from arising which could critically affect the project's success, one of which is discrimination. If HGP is successful at isolating a cancer causing gene that identifies an individual with a higher risk of obtaining cancer than the average person, insurance companies could conceivable deny coverage or make coverage so inexplicably expensive that the “average” person could not afford it. What about specific job opportunities? It could very well control your very station in life. Safe guards will have to be implemented to protect everyone’s basic human right to life.
That is just one tangible item that one will have to consider - there are many more. Let’s consider morality. In the name of Science, a seemingly harmless collection of information is gathered for the advancement of HGP. Let's assume HGP is successful, and