The molecule of DNA is simply a two helix structure. This has brought into place very much research on the human genome. 30 years ago, scientists discovered that human hereditary was brought up by genes which were assumed to range between 49,000 to 105,000 in a human body. Researchers and different energy departments from different areas combined their efforts and came up with a project on human genome (Tiedeken1997, p. 105). This project so far has advanced due to discoveries of many kinds of genetic markers. These discoveries has enabled researchers to widen their goals and objectives they had initially planned for.
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People’s genes determines which disease one can develop into and the environmental reactions once exposed to it. Its use has also arisen great concern. For example, a company dealing with health insurance charges dearly to a gentleman carrying a gene that can expose him to lungs cancer. Likewise, pregnant mother considering aborting at late stages of her pregnancy may change her decision once given myriad instructions. Also mammography can be recommended at early stages to mothers with breast cancer. She can be advice on the diet to take and the treatment to undertake before the situation becomes worse. This will improve the heath care of many people in the future. But the fear is that the might not only be used at the right way hence may have severe consequences.
Some benefits that accrue with human genome understanding are, accurate and faster disease diagnoses can effectively be done by doctors even at its early stages of its development this may also lead to discoveries of many therapies and cures due to the information provided. Genes that may lead to prostate cancer and other disorders have also been identified.
Even though the research is claimed by many scientists to have more advantages than the disadvantages to the community, this project should be terminated for it is a resource wasteful and it has the following implications.
Moral. When one decodes the sequence of his/her DNA, it may bring with it a moral dilemma. Re-engineering of our (human) species, will be encouraged once we have received genetic code knowledge. This will make biologist tell pregnant mothers the traits of their unborn children. This will be through using some parts of genome to tell out this secret. The fear here is that people may decide to change their appearances and the appearances of their children. This genetic treatment will be used by many to make them appear smarter or even younger than their age. Also people can use them for slimming or even fattening. This may lead to future eugenics which is improving human race by the use of knowledge received from genetics. This may mean that some traits are more favoured to others. (Collins, 1998, p.685)
Gene manipulation may also result into severe side effects. Some genes associated to a particular disease can cause resistance to other illness. A good example is the resistance offered to malaria by the gene that causes sickle cell anaemia. Our future development may be tempered with if we rearrange or even change our genes. (Michael, 1989, p. 356).
Insurance companies. If genetic information is given to the insurance companies then there might be creation of a genetic underclass. The living expenses will be higher regardless of whether the disease speculated will occur or not. Anybody assuring his /her life against death will be charged heavily if the information from genetics people says that he is affected with this “animal”. Therefore confidentiality should be kept between the affected person and the biologist. Also genetic testing should be optional and no one should be forced to reveal the information. Employment in many companies is not usually made to people found carrying the genes that cause kidney diseases. Worse enough is when one is terminated from his job once found to have genes that cause cancer. This is regardless of whether he has been an efficient staff or long serving one. Once this happens, serious financial problems arise with the family. This brings the need of making changes in the law for better society.
Privacy. The real threat comes due to loss of privacy. It is very possible for a biologist to pick or come up with a specimen from anywhere then get or determine someone’s information through studying the gene. This looses meaning and force information can be received concerning someone. Once false information is received by the insurance company then the person concerned may loose job as earlier indicated. (Diaby, 2000, vol.20). This can be avoided by researchers removing all identities and making the sample anonymous. This will greatly reduce the risk arising from the results made by the researcher. Each person has a unique DNA sequence which has got enough information to identify a person. To protect the donors from the foreseeable future, effective privacy should be established. Disconnections should be made between the donor and the public. There should never occur an establishment of a particular DNA sequence and its source. Comparison between the sampled DNA and public database sequence information should be done. There should be no linkage between the phenotype information and the DNA of the donor. This is because this information is not necessary to HGP and its recording is compromising and misusing the confidentiality of the donor. The only contact which should be allowed is only when the donor is picking the initial specimen. Also another way of protecting the donor is by educing the incentives of acquiring more identities concerning the donor. The only problem may occur when dealing with large-scale DNA sequencing. This is because confidentiality cannot be guaranteed there fore there is need for the donors to be made aware of this type of research. (Collins 1998, p.200)
Determination of genetic. The assumption that if a particular quality gene occurs, then the phenotype follows automatic is a great limitation. This is not always true. Other factors apart from gene also determines the phenotype for example the existing environment and the nutrition taken. This brings to a great danger of determining the genetic value of a person.
Ownership. A serious problem arises with the ownership and patenting. The ownership of a gene can be claimed by scientists or others hence rising issues forcing ethical and legal actions to be taken by the government.
Modification of germ line. The modification of a gene to come up with desirable traits of individuals is of great concern. Germ line should be modified according to our ability hence need for technical advances.
Discrimination and prejudice can be supported during genetic treatment. This has always been the case for many people who file cases against others. For example, when two babies parents having similar problem approaches a doctor. The doctor is unsure of treating the two. Both babies, Jane and Ann, are short. Sufficient growth hormone can not be produced by Jane hence she can not grow above the height of four feet. Both parents are both five feet tall. On the other hand, Ann has inherited from her parents her height. By luck, there is an access to growth hormones to both parents and they would like their children to receive these hormones. Now the doctor has to make a decision to give it to both or to Jane only who has her height resulting from mutation. Now the big question is who will make the decision? Will it be fair? (Collins, 1998, p. 682-690).
There is always an anguish to people with untreatable diseases associated with genetics after realising the truth. These bring wrong perception of ones future. It makes people live miserable after realising what they are suffering from cannot be cured. Many friends try to keep off from these people whom they see as if they have no future.
Molecular biologist find it hard for bioinformatics. The analysis of the gene information is not easy with the use of the ordinary computers. Bioinformatics resources in many institutions and organisations are centralized. This makes bioinformatic to be very specialized. The data and the information should be presented to researchers by the bioinformatician. This can only be done by the use of web pages which in many cases interface with the databases.
Understanding of the concepts for example the translation and recombination, makes it difficult for people with knowledge in information technology. People can make several studies to comprehend bioinformatics.
The data should be presented in a web-friendly manner. This makes it very hard. This means that the data should include visual items for example, pie charts and graphs which makes the data attractive while reading and meaningful to the person reading it. There is also the tendency of the data not being delivered. This is contributed by the fact that many scientific study and information are not considered useful. In other reviews they show that most of scientific reports have incomplete information. Biotechnology industries greatly relay on bioinformatics for their day to day activities. (Dodds and Sandra, 1992, p.254).
Difficulties of policy setting. The establishment of policy for implications concerning genome technology is difficult. The levels of tolerance to risks and technology understanding capacity really varies greatly. Differences in public discussions on human gene will never end or get resolved for an agreement has never been reached on which decision to be chosen. Political pressure must be insulated from this discussions and only allow professional to come up with the policy to be adopted. Effective information collection process should be adopted to give hope of genome technology policy.
The proposed research which should be made in the current world are:
Scientists should concentrate highly on better projects which are based on food production, diseases and economic growth. For example, approximately $ 2 billion was lost by American corn crop farmers in the year 1997 form corn borer. It was hard for the stalk borers to be controlled for they lived inside the stalks of the corns. This mainly occurs during its larval stage where it burrows and finds its way to the stalk. When it enters the stalk, it hampers the flow of food, water and other important nutrients essential to the plant. This makes the crop snap down to the ground hence lowering its yield. Tiedeken (1997, p. 105). Due to this threat, some of the money spent on genome projects should be directed towards this area to search for pesticides for its control. Also a more resistant corn plant should be researched which requires more time and more. This can effectively be done if more time is allocated for its research.
The money which is directed to this research should now be diverted to agricultural based researches to increase the output of a country. Feeding a whole population needs greater production. Research on diseases and pests should be conducted and the right measures be taken to prevent these calamities. If our crops are protected from these ‘animals’ then yields will automatically increase. Satisfied people always have energy to work harder hence will definitely improve their well-being. Also the economy of the country will rise.
Just imagine one your friend or a family member is struggling with HIV aids. They are very sure that any time they are going to perish but nothing can be done to stop it. As they continue to suffer from this deadly disease, their wish is to have a cure one day. Even the slightest drug to relieve them from the pain is a blessing to them. Therefore, scientists should spent more of their time and energy looking for drugs that will one day cure the disease. By so doing millions of lives will be saved by their efforts. The tumour which accompany these families are unbearable and finding a cure will also heal their heartache. We can first save life for it cannot be created by man.
Instead of scientists spending a lot of time on genome projects, they should be working hand in hand with the government to come up with rules, laws and regulations preventing people from experimenting on other peoples’ genes. We always have to get right in cases of piracy or duplication and therefore our DNA should never be accessed without our consent. If this continuous then it means that one day we will have another Jane who resembles me. There should be only one God and no one else should try the role of creation or manipulating the traits of a person.
Conclusion.
In conclusion, this project has got its advantages and disadvantages. The weight of each is determined by how he views the two sides. It has educated many people of their hereditary traits and other characteristics which may be of importance to them. The project should always involve professionals and researchers who are more experienced and focused. The great effort made towards this project if put in to another beneficial project, then it will generate great and good outcome.
References.
Allan Bernot and Cure, 1995. Physical Mapping for Human Genomes. p.249.
Bertrando J. Megabase for Human DNA. California. p.84
Collins, Franco S. et al, 1999. New Objectives and Goals for America Human Genome. P.650-690
Diaby J. 2000. Developmental Countries Human Genome. Vol.20.p.234.
Hallen M. 1996. Approach to Human Genome. p.294.
Jim Doddy and Sandrax, 1993. Human Genome. Institute of biology Wilson Woodrow. p.56.
Michael P.N. 1989. Essays on Human Genomes. Brighton, East Sussex. p.156.
Sinha S, and Parthaprasid, 2001. The Human Genome. Natson Met M. India. Vol.13: 165-175
Tiedeken, 1997. Project on Human Genome. Brighton. p.105
Valentino F. 2001. Sequencing Strategies for Genes. New York. p.185.
