Genetic Screening and Gene Therapy: Proceed with Caution

"Now we know, in large measure, our fate is in our genes." famous words that were stated by the co-founder of DNA's double helix structure, James Watson. In a large effect, in this day of modern science belief our fate is controlled by our genes. Our genes control our physical statue, our outward appearance, basically our entire bodily makeup is all determined by our genes. Mankind is at the edge of a new frontier in genetic medicine and gene therapy and how man advances into this field greatly dep ends on his ethics, morals, and the general acceptance of this new found knowledge. At the heart of the subject lies the controversy over genetic screening. Many questions arise such as; Who should be tested? Who should have access to the information? And most important, Does man have the right to correct any genetic defect no matter what the case?

Technical Aspects

A gene simply put is one of many discrete units of hereditary information located on the chromosomes. The chromosome consists of DNA, and the DNA codes for proteins in the human body, and in turn it is the protein that provides the phenotype for the i ndividual. Genetic screening provides a way to predict whether or not a specific phenotype will occur. There are many ways in which one can preform genetic screening. One is karyotyping. Karyotyping is a process in which a blood culture is obtained an d centrifuged to separate the different components of the blood. After centrifuging the supernatant fluid is discarded. A hypoosmotic solution is added, and the white blood cells swell up causing their chromosomes swell apart. The solution is then cent rifuged again, and the white blood cells are removed and placed on a slide and stained. The slide is placed under a microsco...

... middle of paper ...

...w far will mankind proceed? A question we must all ask ourselves. At which point will man slow down and look back to see what has happened, analyze what it was we found, and what we have learned. We must proceed with caution, the right kind of morals, and mind set if we are to benefit society and mankind with this powerful tool of genetic screening and gene therapy.

References

Grady, Denise. 1995. Unnatural Selection, Vogue. v.185, n.10, pp230-234

Rubin, Rita. 1996. Do You Have a Cancer Gene, US World News and World Report, v.120,n.19, pp.66-73

Hiller, Marc D. 1981. Medical Ethics and The Law, Cambridge Mass. Ballinger Publishing Company.

Campbell, Neil A. 1993. Biology, The Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Inc.

Berkowitz, Ari. Our genes,ourselfs? Obtained from the WWW 10/5/96: http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/~pgrobste/Berkowitz.html