Life Insurance companies should not have access to this information about genes. This is because they can raise life insurance payments due to whether or not the gene has a defect. People who may have a different or faulty gene may be penalised for this and their life insurance payments will be raised to accommodate this. However, the gene may have been interpreted wrongly and then extra money is being obtained for no reason. It is against people’s human rights to be treated differently due to the map of their genes.
Employers should only have access to the information if the employee gives permission. The information belongs to the person who the genes belong to.
The legal, ethical and social implications of the Human Genome Project are that it is a person’s structure to their body and it can be used against them in a variety of ways. There were two main primary concerns from the public about genetic information being stored and available:
(1) Insurers will use genetic information to deny, limit, or cancel insurance policies or (2) employers will use genetic information against existing workers or to screen potential employees. Because DNA samples can be held indefinitely, there is the added threat that samples will be used for purposes other than those for which they were gathered.
“Executive Order Protecting Federal Employees
On February 8, 2000, U.S. President Clinton signed an executive order prohibiting every federal department and agency from using genetic information in any hiring or promotion action. This executive order, endorsed by the American Medical Association, the American College of Medical Genetics, the National Society of Genetic Counsellors, and the Genetic Alliance
- Prohibits federal employers from requiring or requesting genetic tests as a condition of being hired or receiving benefits. Employers cannot request or require employees to undergo genetic tests in order to evaluate an employee's ability to perform his or her job.
- Prohibits federal employers from using protected genetic information to classify employees in a manner that deprives them of advancement opportunities. Employers cannot deny employees promotions or overseas posts because of a genetic predisposition for certain illnesses.
- Provides strong privacy protections to any genetic information used for medical treatment and research. Under the EO, obtaining or disclosing genetic information about employees or potential employees is prohibited, except when it is necessary to provide medical treatment to employees, ensure workplace health and safety, or provide occupational and health researchers access to data. In every case where genetic information about employees is obtained, it will be subject to all Federal and state privacy protections.”
Obtained from http://www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genome/elsi/legislat.html
The chromosomes that control a certain characteristic are the
The genes that control a particular characteristic are
I will not be possible to replace these genes
The information may be able to help potential parents because they will be able to find out if the baby has a big possibility of being born with a particular disease or syndrome that runs in the family. For example it will be possible to see whether it is likely to have multiple sclerosis or cystic fibrosis. Also the parents will be able to see from the babies actual DNA if it has a problem or not.
The information can help drug makers target illnesses and diseases with more precision. They will be able to see how a gene will react to the drugs and will be able to see how the drug can be targeted directly at certain things instead of prescribing a drug that may not even come close to helping the sufferer.
Drug companies have funded the Human Genome Project as they are hoping to gain more information on how to make more effective and worthwhile drugs meaning they may be able to receive money and save more peoples lives.
