Medicine is transforming rapidly. During this era of human history, scientists are forever changing lives, because for the first time humans are not powerless against their genes! We now have the power to not only predict, but also alter our very future. The Genetic Revolution is here!
With the power of gene therapy, scientists now have a new tool that enables them to change a patient's DNA. Medical treatments usually counteract the symptoms of a disease. But with gene therapy, doctors can cure diseases. Click to learn more
The concepts described in this website might be a review for some people, or it might be a new learning experience. Click in order to learn or review the basics of biology and genetics.
Medicine is transforming rapidly. During this era of human history, scientists are forever changing lives, because for the first time humans are not powerless against their genes! We now have the power to not only predict, but also alter our very future. The Genetic Revolution is here!
Issues and Impacts
Genomics can unlock some of the deepest secret in a person, secrets that sometimes they don't even know about. Privacy, along with other controversies, are some of the issues involved in genomics. This page will explain several of them, but remember, it's up to YOU to decide where you stand.
(175) Shouldn't some things be kept secret?
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Although there are some debate about what is more important, the environment or our genes, it is certain that genetics dictate part or most of our traits. Decoding this information will likely yield massive amount of data about an individuals, which could be used negatively or positively.
Imagine if we advance the technology needed to determine if a person will have a high risk for any disease.
Will it be ethical for a doctor to tell an unstable patient about the discovery? Will it be ethical to say "I'm sorry, but you're likely to die from this incurable disease" ? For example, if a newborn baby was genetically tested to have a high risk of Huntington's Disease at age 40, should the parents be told, right after the mother have delivered the baby?
What is more important, the ability to determine and prevent diseases before they are dangerous, or the chances that private traits of a person might be public to others?
In addition, will DNA testing be accurate enough, that it can be use on a baby BEFORE it is born? If so, how will the mother react when she learns that her baby might have a disease, be below intelligence, or have a high chance of recklessness?
The introduction and penetration of advance DNA sequencing technology will no doubt be controversial.
Will decoding our DNA marginalized and exclude others who are deemed to be too different. Will society marginalize people with genetics that suggest they will perform bad in school? Or will we go to the other extreme and marginalize people who have an "unfair" genetic advantage over us? Will the next big "Einsteins" be excluded simply because their DNA suggests that they will be smarter?
How far will society go? Humanity had always discriminated and judged people based on their background, culture, skin color, and education levels. Will we discriminate other "less genetically advance" people.
Imagine if colleges require DNA testing to see if an applicant will be successful in their school. Or imagine if adults makes matrimonial choices not on love, but on DNA. Will we become a eugenic society in the future as we strives to become perfect?
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If scientists find a gene related to violent and crime in an individual, should they be "secured" and "kept under check" by law enforcement agency? If this happens, society can prevent a large percentage of crime by targeting the criminals before they commit a crime. But how do we know if a person is going to commit a crime, even if their genetics do increase the chances of them doing it?
In addition, we must bring into question the privacy of our DNA. Do insurance companies have the rights to scan our DNA and charge higher prices for people "likely" to be sick? If DNA sequencing and analyzing becomes extremely advanced and detailed, would we want private information to be available or taken?
A DNA Database is a system which contains a massive amount of DNA. One example, is the FBI's CODIS. If a person committed a crime, should their DNA be permanently place in the Database, even if they are later proven innocent? In addition, could the use of DNA be a "quick and easy" way for police to prosecute "suspects" without other evidences?
As Americans, we are have rights that protects us from having our privacy violated. For example, it is illegal for polices to enter and search a citizen's house without a warrant. But how far does those rights extend in protecting our DNA? For instance, if a suspect was chewing a piece of gum, and threw it in a supermarket's trash can, is it legal for investigators to take that gum and sequence it?
The surge in DNA technology, and an increased curiosity from the general public will convince many people to have their DNA tested. It is also likely that economic competition will result from multiple companies as they create better, more accurate, and faster DNA sequencing and analyzing technologies. Copyrights and patents will also be made for new technologies.
DNA testing will exponentially become cheaper, and as our society begins to accept DNA sequencing on a regular basis, we can have regular DNA checkups at the hospital.
(181) Competition
(182) Economic Rivalries
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New DNA technology will allow people to glimpse into a portion of their lives. How will people react to this knowledge, knowing that they are genetically dumb, smart, evil, weird, social, etc. Will our society become more stress or more relax. In addition how will religions react to this onset of technology? Will they condemn this technology, or will they embrace it? Our cultural emphasis and values will change as we become more aware of who and what we are. Perhaps our spiritual values will also increase. Will our knowledge of our own DNA restrict us mentally into thinking that we are limited in abilities because our DNA dictates it, or will we become rebellious and try to change our "programmed" nature and traits.
New laws about DNA will be enacted to protect our identity and controversies will arise everywhere because of these laws. The government will also have to respond to religious and moral ethics concerning this technology.
Multiple court cases will have to be decided to legitimate or illegitimate DNA testing for criminal prosecution. In addition, Congress may have to write new laws concerning privacy and discrimination.
(184) Congress