- Determining the order of sequence of all the bases in our DNA.
- Making maps showing the location of genes.
- Producing linkage maps (Inherit traits can be tracked over generations).
The advantages of the HGP are mainly:
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Diagnosis and Prediction of Disorders
All diseases have a genetic component, whether inherited or environmental. The success of the HGP could enable the errors in genes (the smallest units of heredity) to be pinpointed. By using this information, we can develop new ways to treat, cure, or even prevent the diseases.
- Diseases Intervention
Knowledge about the specific faulty genes will lead to the development of treatment based on genes. New kinds of medicine will be based on gene sequence rather than by trial and error. Since they are targeted to specific sites, they will have fewer side effects.
- Insight into Biology
When biologists compare the human genome with the genomes of other organisms, they may gain some insight into molecular evolution, including human evolution.
Researchers have already identified single genes associated with a number of diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and neurofibromatosis. Genetic weakness has caught up in many major disabling and fatal diseases including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and several kinds of cancer. The identification of these genes will pave the way to effective therapies and prevention methods. The ultimate goal of the HGP, I think, is to use this information to develop new ways to treat, cure, or even prevent the thousands of diseases that afflict humankind. HGP will also provide many new possibilities in areas of modern day problems such as forensics. For example DNA can be used to identify suspects from evidence, such as blood and hair left at crime scenes. Victims and paternal relationships can also be identified using DNA.
Although the HGP provides many advantages for the future, researchers and lawmakers do agree that the increasing knowledge about human biology and personal genetic information would raise a number of complex issues for individuals and society. These are collectively termed as project's Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues (ELSI).
Among the implications and issues are the ability to predict future illnesses well before any symptoms or medical therapies exist; the privacy and fair use of genetic information with respect to employers, insurers, banks, law enforcement agencies, and many others; the availability of large amounts of genetic information in largely unprotected data banks; and the possible discriminatory misuse of genetic information. For example HGP may raise many controversial questions in areas such as insurance and employment. If an individual’s genome reveals potential defects, then insurance companies may try to deny that person coverage or charge higher rates. Employers can also discriminate candidates based on the applicants’ genomes. One potential outcome of the HGP, which I believe would be the most disturbing, is that genome research and use of genetic screening could cultivate a genetic underclass, leading to new societal conflicts.
Furthermore, most uses of the genome are very costly; average individuals may not afford to get the best uses of genome research. Due to high cost involved, developing countries will be denied of any benefits of HGP. The government should implement programs to emphasize the privacy of genetic information, fairness in its use and public education.
In conclusion, I strongly agree with the critics who believe that success of the HGP will lead to exploitation of the technology and result in ethical problems such as abortion. If an embryo was diagnosed to have a certain genetic disease, there is a pressure on the parents to carry out abortion. Do the parents have the right to kill their child just because he/she has the possibility of developing a certain disease? There are also ethical concerns on human cloning. As technology advances, there maybe a day that parents can choose the ideal genes for their future child. Not only can they eliminate possibilities of getting diseases, but good qualities such as being intelligent, athletic, good looking, can also be chosen before a child is born. Is this good or bad? It is always good to have healthier and more intelligent people to contribute to the society, but will this become a privilege of the rich, who could afford the cost of technology?
