...DNA databases are a compilation of DNA profiles obtained by geneticist (The Human Genome Project), medical facilities, and multiple government agencies to map and utilize the information for research and identification purposes. Most notably, the use of DNA databases are widely used within the criminal justice system to 'catch' criminals as well as exonerate the innocent. In contrast, The Human Genome Project uses the information in the database to map and understand the genes of human beings ( The human). Although the information is used in different ways, still the issue of ethics remains. Many argue that DNA is highly personal and has no place in 'databases" that are accessible to other individuals or government agencies. Some argue that these databases are no different than obtaining a fingerprint, but is 'right' because of the helpful information it brings to crime solving....
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...Genetic Engineering Facts By definition, Genetic engineering is the modification of an organism’s genetic make up through artificial means often involving the transfer of specific traits known as genes, from one organism to another. In simpler terms, it is the manipulation of DNA to alter an organism’s characteristics in a particular way. The following are some important facts one needs to know on this topic. Genetic engineering can mean deleting DNA to get rid of undesired traits or introducing new genes to get desired traits, but it can also mean combining DNA from separate people. We can begin by talking about the Human Genome Project. The Human Genome Project (HGP) was an international research effort to determine the DNA sequence of the entire human genome. HGP researchers untangled the human genome using three tools: producing what are called linkage maps, through which inherited traits (such as those for genetic disease) can be tracked over generations; making maps that show the locations of genes for major sections of all our chromosomes; and determining the order, or "sequence," of all the bases in our genome's DNA. The research revealed that there are probably somewhere around 30,000 human genes and has given the world detailed information about the structure, organization and function of the human genes and other functional components found in DNA. This information can be seen as the basic set of inheritable "instructions" for the development and function of a...
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...Bioethics Ramona (Campbell) Haggard Bioethics, by definition, is the ethics of medical and biological research. There are a number of bioethical issues that are being carefully addressed as they arise. Some are easily remedied and some still remain very controversial. In this paper we will explore the use of genetic trait testing, access to genetic information as well as the issue of vaccinating or not. With regards to bioethical related data the accessing, storing, gathering, and sharing medical data for the purpose of using the data for the scientific purpose of research is still a controversial issue in the scientific community. There is no basic problem with sharing medical data electronically, with the implementation of EHR, electronic health records. However, there is yet to be formal ethical guidelines established for the use of this data in the biological sciences community. There have been guidelines introduced for developing ethical principles with the ultimate goal of winning over the scientific community to incorporate the use of this data into their existing code of ethics. The scientific community has an obligation to share this data, if permitted by the patient, for research purposes. It also can be a major factor that could increase the trust of the public with regards to scientific research. Society also had concerns about employers having access to genetic information. (Duke & Porter, 2013) With the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of...
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...HeLa cells were used to build up polio vaccine, in-vitro fertilization, cancer treatment, AIDS research, Gene mapping, cloning and so much more. The HeLa cells were also sent to space to test the effects of zero gravity. Though Mrs. Lacks died early, she gave her invaluable tumor cells as a gift which is being used in research and will be used for many years to come. The research by scientists on HeLa cells brings up numerous ethical, legal and social issues encompassing Henrietta Lacks cells, known as HeLa cells. It raises the basic issues concerning the privileges of patients who have had tissue removed and utilized for discovery of new medications. Regardless of ongoing scrutiny of the ELSI issues in HeLa cell line controversy, the whole genome sequence of HeLa cells was published by JJ. Landry along with his team of researchers in 2013. They did not break laws or rules by doing so. As...
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...Kerry Lee 5 May 2012 Lisa Sowle Cahill’s article, “The genome project: more than a medical milestone” discusses the history of the human genome project. The project started in 1990. (Cahill, 2000) The goal was to map the entire human genome within 15 years, on a budget of $3 billion. The human genome project is not old by scientific standards. However, the developments from this project have been breakthrough and impressive. The benefits of personalize medicine are easily recognized. The major benefits of personalized medicine are early diagnostics and, medication and treatments are personalized to an individual for maximum results. Diagnostics use molecules to measure the levels of genes, mutation, and proteins that can be used in the provision of specified therapy that fits the patient health condition. (Science daily, 2010). Our DNA and genes can determine the likelihood of an individual developing certain diseases and how an individual can react to certain medication and treatments. With personalized medicine, medical professionals can analyze a patients genome and identify risk factors to intervene and begin a treatment plan that will best cure/treat/delay the disease of that particular patient. Personalized medicine can change the way professionals approach diseases and illnesses. It has the ability to alter healthcare to further fit their individual needs. Using the individuals genome, personalized medicine has become a future possibility. Personalized...
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...Religious groups are often the ones who believe the replacement of body parts and other biological advances defies ethics. Rejecting medical treatment altogether and replacing it with faith healing is often done by Christian Scientists, Pentecostalists, the Church of the First Born, the Followers of Christ, and a myriad of smaller sects. They often believe that no illness will ever be stronger than their faith and prayer. The prime issue that surrounds these radical individuals comes when humans are put in danger and rejected scientific treatment on the order of another, such as a parent declining a child vaccinations or procedures that would keep them healthy. This crosses a line that even the most controversial medical procedures cannot stir up enough debate to reach. When these ethical beliefs get in the way of peoples’ health, parents can be criminally...
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...Biocentric Ethics Analysis SCI/362 June 29, 2015 Mark Leeper Biocentric Ethics Analysis The term biocentric ethics means any theory that views all life as possessing intrinsic value (DesJardins, 2013). Genetically modified organisms are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially changed in a laboratory through genetic engineering ("Non-Gmo Project", 2015). In recent news, there has been controversy over the use of GMOs. Since the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery store shelves in 1994, more GMOs has since came on the market (GMOinside, n.d.). Does GMOs have inherent value? INHERENT VALUE Inherent value is a quality attributes to every creature that has a life that matters to it (Regan, 2004). According to DesJardins (2013), inherent value is to have value in and of oneself. Objects with inherent value are ends in themselves, not merely means to some other end (DesJardins, 2013). CONTROVERSY REGARDING GMOs There are two main problems that concern GMOs. GMOs have no boundaries and do not have labels. Once a genetically modified organism is planted they are in risk of contaminating any regular crops planted nearby (The Non-GMO Report, 2005). A survey reports that in the Midwest, where there are millions of acres of GM corn and soybean crops, up to 80% of organic farmers reported direct costs or damages resulting from genetic trespass (The Non-GMO Report, 2005). Unlike the organic...
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...Human Genome Project and Clinical Research Name Course Subject Having whole structure of the human genome is like having a complete manual needed to make the human body. The challenge to scientist now will be to read the contents of the manual’s content, understand how the parts correlate, discover the genetic basis for health and the pathology of diseases that plague human beings. Genome based research, will eventually enable researchers to develop efficient diagnostic tools, to understand the health needs of individuals, based on their genetic makeup and help in designing effective treatments for diseases. Personalized analysis based on individual genome, may lead to a powerful form of preventative medicine that will be able to learn about risks of future diseases, based on the DNA analysis. Health care professionals like the physicians, doctors, nurses and genetic counselors, will be able to work with patients and focus their energies on things that are likely to maintain health for a person (Lander, 2011, p.190). That may as well mean lifestyle changes or diet it might also mean medical monitoring. Through understanding of the molecular level of how diseases like schizophrenia, diabetics and heart diseases come about, new generations of interventions that are more efficient and precise that today’s interventions may be formulated. Cancer is among the most devastating ailments in the society today. It is a random killer and has given a face in the millions...
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...Samantha Huser Professor Eddy Writing 131 11 November 2015 Title The standards of ethics are often difficult to establish, especially when it comes to whether or not humans and animals should be allowed different rights, or whether they are completely equal. This also includes whether or not all humans should be equal. Moreover another huge concern with ethics is when an unethical action might be considered the best choice; for example it is considered unethical to use animals to do research, but in some cases this might looked past. Depending upon the benefits of the research some might be slightly ok with using the animals. Often there is controversy over whether or not humans and animals should be held to an equal level, and even more whether or not animals can feel pain just as humans. Some just like Peter Singer who Francis Fukuyama discussed in his essay, seem to believe that animals should be held to a higher power and be considered more valuable than that of humans. Fukuyama quotes from Peter Singer in his article “Human Dignity”, “the need for animal rights, since animals can experience pain and suffering as well as humans, and the downgrading of the rights of infants and elderly people who lack certain key traits, like self-awareness, that would allow them to anticipate pain. The rights of certain animals in his view, deserve greater respect than those of certain human beings” (Fukuyama 190). Overall, Singer is saying that depending upon the mental ability of...
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...The Human Genome Project began around 1986. The main goal of the project is to locate and sequence all genes found in human DNA. The objectives for this ambitious effort are to learn more about heredity of disease and to discover the genes that would aid in gene therapy. Advances in gene therapy strive to treat hereditary diseases and possibly eliminate disease from the genome. In the world of Modern science it has brought so many new discoveries to help tons of people with thousands of different problems. Gene therapy is one of the most current discoveries that we have found. Gene therapy is a great way to help us change out or inactivate a gene in humans and animals. Now depending on the situation, it can be wonderful thing or some potential issue of everyday ethics. So you can get a better understanding of Gene Therapy. The definition of gene therapy is the introduction of genes into existing cells to prevent or cure a wide range of diseases (Jaroff, 1996). Gene therapy has though us there is a different possibility in how we can handle disease and treatment. Somatic gene therapy involves the manipulation of gene expression and in the cells. This will be corrective to help out the patient. Now for Germline gene therapy this involves different type of genetic modification of germ cells, which passes the change on to the next generation. This research helps in today’s world of medicine. It helps the doctors to help to cure the issues the patient is having. ...
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...to consumers. The increased availability of genetic testing may result in a wider distribution of the benefits of testing, such as decreased uncertainty, the chance to avoid passing on a gene mutation to future generations, increased psychological well-being, and greater awareness of available treatments or risk-reducing strategies, but it may also contribute to an increase in the risks associated with genetic testing, such as decreased individual and family well-being; increased depression, anxiety, guilt, stigmatization, discrimination, and family conflict; and unnecessary or inappropriate use of risk-reducing options (Riper & Gallo, 2005). Money is maybe the most important driving force in the modern era of biotechnology. Genome and genetic findings have been given also financial value. The possibility to test for genetically-based individual susceptibility provides new ideas for marketable products. In an industrial worker, a metabolic polymorphism that causes an increased risk for cancer would create an avoidable financial burden in industry and insurance companies. The involvement of such financial aspects brings along several ethical implications in genetic research. The first aspect is the motivation of scientists that determines the target of research interests and goals (Vahakangas, 2001). Another ethical implication linked with the financial aspects of science is the transparency of science. Especially genetic information is material for numerous...
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...Genetic engineering permits a limitless scope of modification and introduction of otherwise foreign genetic material to any species. Gene cloning, also known as DNA cloning, is a very different process from reproductive and therapeutic cloning. Cloning is done by extracting a specific gene from an organism and inserting it into a vector, which is then put into certain conditions to prompt the gene to multiply. Vectors can range from bacteria to viruses to yeast cells (National Human Genome Research Institution). DNA cloning is the starting point of many genetic engineering approaches to biotechnology research. For example, cloning animal models of disease can be used to study the gene that the animal carries causing mutations. By duplicating these transgenic animals, much time is saved in the trial-and-error process of learning about human disease through animals such as mice. Another advancement DNA cloning could trigger is cloning stem cells genetically identical to an individual to build, maintain, and repair the body more rapidly. This could activate the chance to grow whole organs to be used for medical purposes, alongside cloning the stem cells of someone with a disease for...
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...Modern Eugenics With global technologies rapidly advancing, specifically those based in the field of genetics, one might wonder where humanity is headed in terms of their offspring. The answer? Modern eugenics. Francis Galton's eugenics, centered around forced sterilization and selective breeding to eliminate undesirable traits and foster the spread of more advantageous ones (Galton), is dead. However, the idea of focusing on one’s inherited genes to eliminate passed down diseases is alive and well, albeit in a more “modern” fashion. Is modern eugenics the right way of the future for humanity? To what extent should modern eugenics be viable? Before ambitious genetic projects had begun, such as the Human Genome Project which mapped out the entirety of the human genome (Genome.gov), the only way to tamper with an individual’s genes was through their parents. Gregor Mendel earned the moniker “The Father of Genetics” because of his experiments involving the breeding of plants in the mid 19th century (Biography.com). However, modern eugenics focuses on the genes of child more than the parents through abortions and the genetic altering of the embryo to achieve the desired results. This can be achieved through a process called genetic screening, which observes an embryo’s chromosomes for any lapses or breaks (Galloway a). Embryo’s that show signs of a genetic disorders, such as Down Hassan 2 Syndrome, SCID, or Sickle Cell Disease, are aborted in favor of an “unflawed”...
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...fragments from an organism to a self-replicating element, like a bacterial plasmid. The fragments join with the cloning vector and are reproduced with the host cell. This technology is most commonly known for its use in genetically modified foods. DNA fragments that code for better tasting, higher nutrient qualities are spliced into regular plants to produce super foods (US Dept of Energy Genome Program, 2009). Reproductive cloning takes all the genetic information out of a cell and replaces it with DNA from the desired organism. With luck, this cell will begin to divide until it becomes an embryo and can be implanted into a host mother (US Dept of Energy Genome Program, 2009). Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Research Therapeutic cloning is by far the most controversial. This type of cloning produces human embryos for use in research, and usually for the stem cells that can be harvested from these embryos. Stem cells can be used to clone organs and body parts from the patient’s own DNA to eliminate the tissue rejection that commonly occurs from organ transplants (US Dept of Energy Genome Program, 2009). This type of cloning can also be used as gene therapy. In this case, mutated genes are replaced with healthy genes, removed completely, or introduced to fight disease. It is still risky and therefore reserved to cases that have no known cure (Genetics...
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...Currently Humans have rudimentary ways (Selective breeding with both Plants and Animals is most common currently) of controlling the genetics of food, but using Crispr people can physically change the traits a plant has without the use of selective breeding. This allows for quick easy crops with desirable traits such as, larger produce, resistance to pestilence, etc (Novella, "CRISPR and the Ethics of Gene Editing « Science-Based Medicine"). Similar to how crops could be modified some people fear that Humans and animals will too come to be modified for desirable or specific genetic traits, however this is where the bulk of the ethical problems concerning stem...
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