HUMAN INHERITANCE assignment 1 for health studies

inserted into another organism to produce new combinations of genes. Genetic engineering is one type of gene technologies. There are different kinds of genetic modification such as altering an existing gene to change it product, and inserting a foreign gene from one species into another species. Organism relies upon the information stored in its DNA for the running of every biochemical process and the gene segment of the DNA has specific features on an organism. Therefore because enzymes can change the structure of DNA in living organisms by cutting and joining strands of DNA, scientist uses it to learn to cut and join specific genes from DNA and to build the modified DNA using these genes. Vectors is a transporters which carriers an infective agent from one host to another. With this knowledge, scientists try to improve the food we eat for example since tomatoes are sensitive to frost, the anti-freeze gene was taken from fish because they can survive in cold and that gene was inserted in the tomatoes so that they can be resistant to cold which will allow them to have a longer their growingseason.Selective breeding is another gene technology where the selection of certain individuals for reproduction in order to influence the traits inherited by the next generation. Now a day breeder wants to produce organism have a desirable characteristics like being resistance to disease, high crop yields and high growth rate etc. This is because it will benefit organisms and species in the long term. An example of selective breeding is the breeding of chickens; if you breed from the hen that lays the most eggs amongst other chicken then her daughters will also be good layers. This is because they will inherit the gene from their parents that control the number of eggs they produced and this continue for the next generations. Gene therapy is an experimental technique for correcting defective genes responsible for disease development. When genes are altered so that the encoded proteins are unable to carry out their normal functions, genetic disorders will be the outcome. This technique may allow doctors to treat a disorder by inserting a gene into a patient’s cells instead of using drugs or surgery. This could be to knock out a mutated gene that is not functioning properly and replacing a mutated gene that causes disease with a copy of the gene that is much healthier. Also doctors will introduce a new gene into the body to help fight a disease. This is done by maybe using a virus which is a kind of vector to deliver the curative gene to the patient's target cells e.g. patient’s lung cell or liver and remove genes that are causing disease and insert the healthy copy of genes.USES:Gene technology is used to research, diagnose and determine the causes ofhuman and animal diseases and to develop and produce drugs andmedical products to prevent, palliate or cure them. It also used to clarify and improve the understanding of the development and growth of plants and how to retard the organisms that harm them. This technology help to optimize chemical crop protection agents. And it used to improve the quality and yields of crops used for food, animal feed and fibre. This help investigating its potential to improve the nutritional qualities and the non-food potential of crops, such as for health and biomaterial applications.Over the past years with the knowledge of biological technologies scientists has discovered a production of useful chemicals like industrial enzymes. These enzymes are made inmedical industries and they are widely used in health products, food, cosmetics. Bromelain is a mixture of enzymes isolated from the stems, leaves and the skin of pineapple. It is a proteolytic enzyme that helps to digest protein. It has the function of strongly decomposing fibrin and the blood clot and because of it effects outside the digestive tract, it made into capsule or tablet form and has being used as natural anti-inflammatory for conditions such as arthritis.IMPLICATIONSGenetic screening is when doing a biological test given to a group of people to identify individuals at high risk of having genetic disorder or transmitting a condition to their offspring. This technique is useful for individuals who might want to know whether their unborn child is carrying a disease or disorder which gives them option as to whether they would like to keep the child or terminate it. Also the mother would want to do this test because she would want to know what preparation for the future that needs to be made before the arrival of the baby. For example when using this technique if the mother finds out that their unborn child is going to be a Down syndrome child then she will be given options and she might want to end the pregnancy due to reasons like her being unable to take care of a sick child. Also she might think of all the problems that the child will go through and not being able to live normal lifestyle as others.Genetic counselling is the process of evaluating family history and medical records and advice given to them about the nature and possibility of inherited disorders and also the chance of developing or transmitting it. It also involved advice on helping parents understand and reach decisions about what to do next by finding ways in which it can be prevented, treated, and managed. This is more useful to individuals who are not pregnant and want to become pregnant so that the counsellors will be able to help assess their risk factors. It can be used even after you become pregnant. For example if a baby has been diagnosed with spina bifida before birth then the doctor will suggest a caesarean section this will lessen the damage to the spine because the baby does not need to go through the birth channel which will reduce strain due to which there will be a low possibility of the child needing a wheelchair. Genetic fingerprinting is a technique to distinguish between individuals of the same species using only samples of their DNA. Although two unrelated individuals will have about 99% of their DNA sequence in common, this technique takes advantage of highly variable repeating sequences, the 1% is of an individual that makes them different from the others makes it possible for scientists to recognize differences between people and things that are identical. The use of this technique enable scientist to find a cure to disease and use it to help people with diseases. It also used in forensic science to helps to track down criminals by using DNA to match suspects to samples of a single drop of blood, or hair, saliva or semen was the only clue as to whether they are the one who has committed a crime or not. Genetic fingerprinting has not only been used for cure of diseases or forensic science and law, it has been a useful technique of settling maternity and paternity issues e.g. where the child was adopted and want to know are biological mother or where the mother wants to prove the right father of the child and the test is order by the court.Identity dispute for e.g. paternity, this is the legal process that identifies that a man is the father of a child. The way paternity works is that, every human as a unique sequence of DNA but vast majority of which it the same as everyone. The small percentage of your DNA which is different from another person makes you a unique individual. 50% of our DNA is inherited from the mother and the other 50% from the father. When testing to know who the father of a child is if that 50% of the child’s unique portion of DNA looks like the man then he is the father of the child. The paternity dispute about this is a case where some men do not want to take responsibilities of their child and claim that they are not the father of the child, especially if they were not married when the child was born will cause mothers to use this technique to prove them wrong so they can get involve in the child’s life socially and financially. The mother probably being a single parent would like to use that techniquein order to get help from the father because her responsibilities as a mother could be a bit too much for her to handle. Also a mother who might not be sure of who the father of her child is would want to find out the right father of her child. There are some men who desperately want to be part of their child’s life and do not have the chance to because the mother is probably refusing the man of his right by not getting him involved in their child’s life. In cases like that the man would want to do a paternity test by taking the woman to court where it will be order by court for the man to do a paternity test. The result of this test will prove whether the man is the father of the child and therefore get involved in the child’s life if he’s the father and given him the right to make decisions the underage child’s life.TASK 2In vitro fertilisation is the growing of embryo outside the womb. This technique is one of the ethical dilemmas that arise from reproductive technologies. Some of the ethical dilemma about IVF is that people debate whether it is right to use it to create a child. There are people out there who might argue based on a religion point of view think that we as human do not have any right to create a child in that case we are playing God. They think that God is the only one that has the power to make life and therefore He gives children so IVF should not be used whatever the circumstances, when the times comes for childless couples He will bless them with a child. However other people might argue that if there are solution and a way for couple who have being looking for a child then it why not use it used and IVF being the solution to the problem should not be stop from being used. There are couples, who are childless due to the man’s having low sperm count or the woman fallopian tube being damaged, and this kind of people will love to grab an opportunity like this where there is hope for them to bear a child. There are also lonely and single female who are desperate for a child but are not in a relationship and as a female, as you get older passing your late twenties going to early thirties you start to make less eggs and become less fertile. This reproductive technology for them is a life time opportunity and could make them happy. Whiles some might think that medical professionals are playing God by using that technology, others also who are benefiting from it will think that if it can bring happiness to their life then be it.Newborn Screening is another ethical dilemma arises from gene technologies. This screening is a blood test taken from newborn baby required by law to determine whether they are carrying any disease or disorder. The ethical dilemma that may arise from this technique is that some people might argue that parents should have the chance to refuse to not do the screening. Others may say that the screening for diseases or defects should not be allowed where there is no cure or treatment for it. People might think that this technique could affect the life of the couple where if they find out that their child has a disease or disorder will bring stress into their life, the child who they have being longing to see and received into a new world. However for some people they might think it a good idea for doctors to do newborn screening on babies for any disease or defects. This could probably be because if there is any illness, they would want to know in order start further treatment so there situation does not get worse. Also if it is an inherited disease the parents would want know so that if they too need treatment they can get it.Contraceptive techniques are used to prevent pregnancy and maybe STI. The ethical dilemma around this is that some might be based on religion point of views. This religion point of view could be that, why should women prevent themselves from pregnancy when children are a gift from God? Question like that may come up because those people might think we as human, one of our mission in this world is to multiply and not try to stop pregnancy. They could say that human has no right to stop pregnancy from occurring because we are not God; that decision should be left with God. On the other hand, some might say that if they are not ready for a child there is no reasonwhy they should bring him/her to this world to suffer. Also some might not want a child in their life probably due to career and other responsibilities. Some may say that, they are not in a commitment relationship therefore they cannot have a child for their current partner even their partner might not want child.TASK 3 The table below contains advantages and disadvantages of gene and reproductive technologies with regard to health and well-beingTechnology Advantages to health and well-being Disadvantages to health and well-being1. Genetic fingerprinting The good thing about this technique is that it solves crime by using DNA to match suspects to samples of their hair, blood etc. It also enable scientist to find a cure to disease and use it to help people with diseases. DNA samples can be contaminated when collected and that poor lab procedures can result in mistakes. This will cause suspect to suffer the consequences of something that they have not committed. It will make them (suspect) go through psychological problems thinking that they will take their liberty from them by spending probably the rest of their life in prison. It requires further standardization and quality control, to be accepted across the world as a tool and There are only a few reliable labs around the world that can give accurate results2. genetic counselling It helps them to understand the nature of the disease and what having it will mean in terms of what to do next and what options there might be for prevention/testing. Knowing that what they are going to hear might change their life will make them get worried. Also after finding out what might be the out come of their offspring it will makes the families/couples to be less interested in thinking of having a child because they might be scare.3. In vitro fertilisation and/or artificial insemination It enables women with damage fallopian tube that are unable to have a child through sexual intercourse and men with less sperm count to have children. Therefore more people now being able to have kids. This technique does not work for everybody. Also it is expensive therefore is not everyone that will be able to afford it.4. Gene therapy or genetic screening This technique is used to be able to find cure for disease like for e.g. diabetes, people with diabetes don’t make insulin. However with the use of these techniques they can get a gene from healthy person and grow it in bacteria then take it out and put it in injection to inject people with diabetes. Using this technique might cause a problem in the future because it could affect the genes in the body. Continuing using this technique may alter other genes in the body and cause other disease to occur.