Some genes that have been identified by the project by the project contribute roles in diseases that develop later in life, such as Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. These diseases are multifactorial in that both the genetic make up of a person can cause it, alongside the environmental factors which can also contribute. Genetic testing can identify people at greater risk and then health authorities can target these people- giving regular screening, advice and counselling.
Knowing the base sequence of a normal, functioning gene may eventually with advanced medical techniques be able to eliminate all risk of the disease by directly correcting or replacing the faulty allele in people, a enhanced form of genetic therapy. This has been done successfully in a few people with rare inherited diseases that affect their immune systems. Also, using the information of the genetic make up, eventually we may be able to produce drugs that can specifically destroy a certain mutated cell, for example cancers. This would mean that cancer could be stopped quickly and less intrusively than current treatments such as chemotherapy.
Many people are concerned with the implications of the genome project. Many people believe that it is not worth the time or money to sequence the entire human genome when only a small percent is used to encode for proteins. They believe that this money and time would be better spent creating more enhanced medical treatments. Also, genetic testing is a concern as the results for some genetic tests the results are not clear cut and it questions the reliability of these tests as false results may be given.
If a gene is found to be faulty and the person is found to have a disposition to that illness they may be discriminated against by employers and insurance companies. This would mean that people may not be employed because of their genetic makeup even though they may not even develop any illness. This is a great worry within the public.
Genetic testing is fairly a new procedure and so is costly. This means that poorer people, the people who would benefit the most, may not be able to afford genetic testing. This means that the world’s poorest people will continue to be vulnerable to infectious diseases. This is a big disadvantage of genetic testing.
Another increasing worry among the public is to do with the access to the databases of which the information will be stored. It is agreed that this information should be made accessible worldwide, although to who is another matter. What would happen for example, if this information were to be made accessible to terrorists, they could produce weapons which could target specific genes to cause fatal effects. So who would decide who has the right to this information? And what protection should be put in place? These are questions which need answers before the public will feel at ease.
The genome project enables for testing to be carried out on new born babies. This means that if the test results come back positive for a particular illness/disease parents may consider aborting the child where’ as normally they would not have. In extreme cases, parents may also choose to abort if the child is found to have or be prone to a disability.
“There isn’t the will to craft laws that protect people with disabilities. The next logical step is (for the medical community) to euthanize them at birth”
-Audrey Cole, CACL, ethics and value committee
Also, as medical procedures advance, parents may be able to choose the sex, appearance, and personality of their child. Creating designer babies, a generation of perfect children acting almost as clones.
I think that the genome project debate is complex. In my opinion I feel that overall the advantages overweigh the disadvantages of the genome project. I think that the potential of this project in helping advance medical treatments and techniques is enormous and is of great importance. I believe that the genome project will prove to be a great asset and will benefit millions of people all over the world. I think that the money and time spent on the completion of this project is worthwhile.
I think that genetic tests are overall an asset as they are able to inform us of the chances of inheriting diseases and it helps us to gain a better understanding of the human body and its processes. I think that these tests should be monitored closely and efforts should be made to improve the reliability of the results. I do not think that every person should have a genetic test as this would make people very anxious over their health and may end up creating stress related health problems. I think that people should only be issued for genetic tests on the recommendation from their doctor or personal general practitioner (G.P).
In response to the publics worry over access to the database I think that this is an issue which will need to be addressed as I think everyone has the right to this information without endangering the public. I think that employers/companies should not be allowed to an individual’s personal genetic information unless it is appropriate for health reasons and if it is not appropriate the details should remain private under doctor patient confidentiality.