Summary Of The Documentary 'DNA: The Promise And The Price'

The documentary “DNA: The Promise and The Price” talks about many new aspects of genetic science today and the different ethical arguments and implications that may be sacrificed in the process of these new scientific breakthroughs. This documentary examines different researchers of genetic science in their attempt to fulfill DNA’s capability to help prevent and cure diseases. However, it also shows how some aspects of these advanced technologies could have major consequences not only for the patients involved, but to humanity and to our environment. I remembered one interviewee in the documentary said, “Much is promised by genetic science, the manipulation of our genes. But the questions is, can it deliver? And if it does, are we ready to take responsibility for meddling with the very fabric of life itself: our DNA?”.

The film focuses on three advanced genetic researches: gene therapy, stem cells, and cloning. Gene therapy is a technique that is said to help in treating and curing genetic diseases such as Hemophilia, Muscular Dystrophy, and Cystic Fibrosis by manipulating the abnormal genes causing these diseases. With this technique, it exploits the ability of the virus to contaminate a normal gene into the genome of the cells. On the other hand, even there is a great hope for gene therapy, it has been so far been risky. As
It is an undifferentiated cell that has the ability of giving rise to more cells of the same kind, from which certain other kinds of cell arises through differentiation. The film exposed that there are significant ethical problems with this technology. According to researches, if these innovative organs were to succeed in people, the embryonic stem cells produced to grow organs would need to originate from the source itself, to ensure that it will not get rejected. Therefore, the only way to generate stem cells that exclusively contain our very own genes, is to produce a cloned