Human Genome Exploration
Uploaded by cooksterj on Oct 26, 2011
This paper defines the Human Genome Project and discusses some of the ethical and social issues associated with genetic modification. (3+ pages; 2 sources; MLA citation style.
I Introduction
The Human Genome project is an on-going attempt to understand the basic building blocks of the human organism. This paper defines the genome and some of the potential ramifications of the project.
II Discussion
A genome is “the sum of all the DNA in an organism”. (“Human Genome Project”, PG). The DNA itself includes the genes, which in turn carry the information necessary to make certain proteins. The proteins in their turn determine such things as physical characteristics, some behavioral characteristics, and how well the organism will be able to fight disease, among other things. (“Human Genome Project,” PG).
The genome contains four chemical bases, which are abbreviated A, T, C and G. It is the order in which these bases occur that determines what species the organism is. The human genome has “3 billion pairs of bases.” (“Human Genome Project,” PG).
The Human Genome Project ‘s goals are to “identify all the approximate 30,000 genes in human DNA”, determine the 3 billion chemical base pair sequences in human DNA; create databases to store this information; develop improved tools for data analysis; “transfer related technologies to the private sector” (the HGP is run by the government); and “address the ethical, legal and social issues … that may arise from the project.” (“Human Genome Project Information,” PG).
The “ethical, legal and social issues” are abbreviated ELSI, and are of concern to project workers, enough so that special attention is paid to them. It takes little reflection to imagine some of the problems and concerns that are inherent with this technology. For example, genes control physical and behavioral development, and the ability to fight disease, among other things. Would it be ethical to genetically modify the disease-fighting genes so that the individual would be able to fight off the AIDS virus, for example? What about parents who want blue-eyed blonde children? Is it ethical to modify the genes controlling genetic make-up so that such children will be born?
If genes control some types of behavior, perhaps science could modify them so that violent tendencies are curbed before they begin. Or perhaps science could create genetically enhanced students who love to study and retain what...