Projects Like Genome Research example essay topic

While creationist and evolutionists are arguing over who is right and where we (being the human race) came from, the rest of us are left to worry where all the advances in DNA / genome research will lead us. Australia has been slow to jump on the genome research bandwagon and become involved in larger scale research. Yet for biological and medical research we have contributed strongly. To undertake such projects like genome research, funding and facilities are a must have, what many institutions have not / do not have. The Australian Genome Research Facility, established in 1995, has provided Australia with a facility for DNA sequencing. Australia is one of the countries involved in the Human Genome Project.

The human Genome Project (HGP) officially began in October of 1990, its aim to identify and locate all of the approximately 30,000 genes in the human DNA and to determine the sequences of 3 billion chemical bases that make up the human DNA and to store this information in databases. The HGP is providing information about genes that greatly affects genetic testing (identify presence / absence of a gene in an individual) and genetic screening (testing a whole population for the presence of a particular gene). Tests may also become available for genes involved in determining aspects of human behaviour, not just inherited disorders. Just from saying what I've just said, many people would be able to come up with a question or concern due to the apparent speed of advances in this area.

Through my research I have found a range of possible problems or vexing questions that could be asked, some should be able to be handled easily or with few problems, others are more complicated (and I emphasise the 'should', that all depends on who is handling the problem). One of the simpler problems to arise is privacy and confidentiality; there is already a basic rule in the healthcare profession - To respect the confidences of the patient. So, if a disorder in that person is the product of a genetic characteristic does that still leave the 'patient's o lely the individual to those rights or is the entire family entitled to them? Should the family be allowed to override the wishes of that individual and obtain information important to them all about that individual's genes relevant to genetic conditions, provided the law allows it?

If such information reached others apart from family how would we prevent discrimination based on those facts? In relation to discrimination should a third party (employer, insurance company) have the right to require a person to submit to genetic testing to establish their likely future health status? Then begs the question, are there some types of employment whose essence would suggest, in exceptional cases, such a right should exist by law? Are there other means available to monitor a person's health without resorting to refusal on the basis of a genetic test?

Would the denial of information on a person's genetic makeup be feasible? Insurers may already require those who want their services to complete other tests that may indicate genetic predispositions. Genetics and criminals, advances have already not been in favour of criminals but what happens when it is proven, through that person's genetic makeup, that their actions may have been caused or influenced by a pre-existing genetic characteristic? Criminal law is usually based on the assertion that it is necessary for the state to prove the accused acted as they did and had necessary intention to do so.

Yet, if their actions may have been influenced by a pre-existing genetic characteristic is this to say they were unable to control themselves? To what extent would a person then have control over their actions and doings? How would this be determined? What of the donors of genetic material that bears data useful for the development of drugs and therapy, should that person then receive some share of the profits that may come from the use of that material? Or, should it just be put down to philanthropy (helping others worse off) for the benefit of humanity? There is much research devoted to identifying genetic differentials, which cause some families or groups to show signs of resistance, or susceptibility, to life-threatening or disabling conditions.

Although, how will the world community ensure the focus of immediate research on the human genome is to include combating malaria and river blindness, not simply wrinkles for the rich who are getting older. Now for some more perplexing ideas. It is the view of Justice Michael Kirby, member of the HUGO Ethics Committee and the International Ethics Committee of UNESCO, that if nothing is done about the HGP, to legislate it, is then to accept that science and technology may take societies to wherever the imagination of those who are involved wishes. He also says in a speech to the Medical Journal of Australia, "Yet apart from a few legislators (and I would exempt Senator Natasha Stott Despoja) most politicians would rather run a mile from the complex issues of the genome". This statement in itself raises issues, does that mean that they would not really be able to find an effective way to do so? Now for an issue that if used properly, provided we actually find out how to do it, could bring great benefits to society, but if we do go overboard with the idea, there could be large repercussions for society.

I'm talking about creating the "perfect child", if we do create the technology to do this, good uses would be to eliminate genes for diseases and disabilities but to take it too far would be to model the child to how the parents want them, although I am nor creationist or evolutionist, that would be messing with them as a person. Generally in societies people have similar ideas about the "way to be", particularly more traditional people, and to be able to create "perfect children" in their societies could eventually see everybody assimilating and variations in personalities may eventually differ by very little. How do we combat this issue, through the law, even then, will it be what people think is right? For today we are lucky enough to have people of differing opinions and ideas. Things will be debated and people will put their two cents in to hopefully come out with a successful end result. All we have to do is put our faith in ourselves and I think the issues of privacy and confidentiality, third party interests, criminal responsibility, donors of genetic material getting a share of the profits made, what to do in terms of legislating the HGP and genetic modification or the quest for the "perfect child" will eventually be sorted out..