Genetics' Effect on Medicine in the 21st Century

Genetics' Effect on Medicine in the 21st Century

Deoxyribonucleic acid, DNA, is present within every single cell in the

human body and controls the production of different proteins. DNA can

be thought of as the brain of every cell, it governs the operation of

the body's cells and so determines whether the individual has good

health or is ill. It is for this reason that the study of DNA

generates such excitement in medical research, and offers such hope

for the future identification and treatment of disease.

Many would argue that the mapping of the human genome is one of the

key scientific achievements; however, this knowledge is of no

practical use because we aren't fully prepared to experiment and

develop this knowledge due to seen and possible unforeseen

consequences. Enthusiasts argue that there are many substantial

benefits waiting to be presented to us as we discover more about how

our DNA acts.

In this essay I will discuss the impact of the mapping of the human

genome sequence will have on medicine in the 21st Century.

With the mapping of the human genome a new science known as genomics

has arisen, and many would argue that it is this new science that will

bring substantial improvements in medicine. Genomics is already making

it possible to alert us to inborn pre-dispositions to conditions such

as breast cancer, as a result this will allow earlier screening. With

this knowledge it will eventually become possible to produce drugs

that are more effective by engineering them to the need of an

individual while avoiding drugs that have no effects or harmful

side-effects, this knowledge will also allow us to attack the probl...

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...will give the

human super human strength and intelligence could be inserted into the

humans' DNA. This could be done a large scale to create a superior

race that would have all the desired traits of other humans such as

good looks, intelligence and high efficiency.

Isn't this already being done? Babies are born a pre-determined sex,

with pre- determined eye/skin/hair colour. The last time attempts were

made at creating the superior race; it resulted in millions of Jews

being executed by the Nazis.

Finally, for now I believe we should aim to create a better world,

where disease such as small pox isn't rampant in third world

countries. We should use this information and knowledge carefully and

aim to eliminate terminal illnesses such as AIDs and cancers so that

we don't watch relatives and friends die helplessly.