Genetics and Human welfare
Introduction
Human genetics can be considered as basic and a practical science. In the view of basic science it can be described as the branch of science that deals with laws of storage, transference, and understanding of information for development and normal working of the living. In this way, human genetics involves most worth-studying creature organism i.e. the human being. Human genetics is a practical science as its results are not only confined to theoretical level but of practical use as well. Its value for human wellbeing is bound to have consequences for theoretical research as well, since it effects the selection of problems by human geneticists, their beneficial results which allow the financers to invest. Because of its hypothetical and practical importance, human genetics offers temptation and human satisfaction unmatched by work in fields that are either primarily hypothetical or entirely practical.
In human genetics 1st step is to isolate gene and clone it. Then desired products can be obtained.
Cloned genes and production of chemicals
Cloned Genes can be used for
1. Production of Human Hormones
2. Vaccines
3. Commercial Chemicals
1. Production of Human Hormones
a. Human genes for peptide hormone
In the humans, peptide hormones are secreted from secretory cells of gland after gene expression of peptide hormone genes in these cells .e.g. insulin and other Human Growth Hormones
Insulin
Insulin is released from the Islets of Langerhans of pancreas gland located in abdomen, a peptide (protein) hormone. Insulin is a necessary for the diabetics whose normal function for glucose (carbohydrate) metabolism generally fails. Its precursor is proinsulin a pro-hormone in beta cells of pancrea...
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... 1st seven amino acids of b-galactosidase to fuse with that of growth hormone inhibitory hormone i.e. Somatostatin. Somatostatin was not detected in transformed bacteria the possible explanation was that it degraded in E. coli bacteria. So the other plasmid was genetically formed to prevent the degradation which had mutually a promoter of the lac operon and another lacL region. The gene for beta-galactosidase is lacZ. This time plasmid was sliced close to c-terminus of beta-galactosidase gene the fusion peptide thud obtained had piece of beta-galactosidase at N-terminus joined to Somatostatin by methionine. Cyanogen bromide used to cleave only carboxyl side of methionine. Thus, the somatostatin was synthesized. Nowadays it is possible to inhibit the destruction of protein in escherichia coli by expressing of viral enzyme inhibitor gene i.e. protease inhibitor gene.
In today’s modern age science is moving at a rapid pace; one of those scientific fields that has taken the largest leaps is that of genetics. When genetics first comes to mind, many of us think of it as a type of science fiction, or a mystical dream. Yet genetics is here, it is real, and has numerous ethical implications.
Our body obtains the energy by digesting the carbohydrates into glucose. Volumes of glucose are required by the body to create ATP. ATP is short for 'Adenosine Triphosphate ' and is an energy carrier. When we consume too many carbohydrates our body produces a lot of glucose and as a result blood glucose levels rise and sometimes they may rise over the normal range of blood glucose concentration. To bring it back within the healthy range, the homeostatic system of blood glucose regulation is used. The blood flows through the pancreas where the beta cells, receptors, detect the high blood glucose level. To counteract this stimuli beta cells alert the control centre, which are also the beta cells located in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. The secretion of insulin has to be done quickly but can only be carried out when insulin gene is switched on. Turning on the insulin gene switch can take 30 minutes to an hour therefore, the production of insulin by beta cells are done in advance and are packaged in vesicles right until blood glucose rises. Glucose comes into the beta cell to trigger the vesicle that contains the insulin to move towards the plasma membrane and fuse. This releases the insulin into the bloodstream where they are distributed throughout the body and only affect specific target cells. The receptor, a protein, on the target cell’s plasma membrane recognises and connects
Insulin: a hormone made by the pancreas that allows your body to use sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates in the food that you eat for energy or to store glucose for future use. Insulin helps keeps your blood sugar level from getting too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). Before insulin Diabetes mellitus was a chronic disease that affected thousands of people in Canada and beyond. In the first half of the 20th century, medical professionals understood that diabetes mellitus involved the body’s inability to metabolize food, especially carbohydrates. “Insuline” was already in development as many medical professionals like Joseph Freiherr and Oscar Minkowski, isolated its properties before Banting had his ideas. As well Ancient Greek
The pancreas is composed of exocrine and endocrine tissues. The exocrine portion of the pancreas synthesizes and secretes pancreatic juices. The endocrine portion is composed of miniscule islands of cells, called the islets of Langerhans. These islets of Langerhans do not release their secretions into the pancreatic ducts. Instead, they release hormones into the blood stream, and these hormones in turn help control blood glucose levels (Function of the Pancreas). Beta cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete insulin, which
The hormones produced from the endocrine system come from a wide range of different places. Among those responsible for hormone production are the glands and a few organs as well. The glands that are involved are the pituitary, thyroid, thymus, parathyroid, and adrenal. The organs, which also play a vital part, are the pancreas, gonads, kidneys, heart, and parts of the digestive tract. All these different glands or organs work together in the production of certain hormones. Those produced in one location will almost always have an effect on many other areas of the body, not just the surrounding tissues.
Diabetes is a disease in which a person’s body in unable to make or utilize insulin properly which affects blood sugar levels. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas, which helps to regulate glucose (sugar) levels, break down carbohydrates and fats, and is essential to produce the body’s energy. The CDC (2013) offers reliable insight, summarized here, into the different types of diabetes, some causes, and health complications that may arise from the disease.
Insulin is released when the β cells of the islets of langerhans in the pancreas detect an increase in blood sugar levels. Insulin’s release is also stimulated by increased levels of amino acids and acetylcholine denoting activation of the parasympathetic nervous system. Both of these things signify digestion, which is usually responsible for increases in blood sugar. In...
...hich inherited traits, such as those for genetic disease, can be tracked over generations. Throughout out the course of human development, scientists will continue to find new new ways to help the human race through the discovery of the human gene inside of each of us, its uses, as well as complications, that can help the survival of our species.
The history of harmful eugenic practices, spurring from the Nazi implementations of discrimination towards biologically inferior people has given eugenics a negative stigma (1,Kitcher, 190). Genetic testing, as Kitcher sees it through a minimalistic perspective, should be restrained to aiding future children with extremely low qualities of life (2,Kitcher, 190). He believes that genetic engineering should only be used to avoid disease and illness serving the role of creating a healthier human race. He promotes laissez-faire eugenics, a “hands off” concept that corresponds to three components of eugenic practice, discrimination, coercion and division of traits. It holds the underlying works of genetic testing, accurate information, open access, and freedom of choice. Laissez-faire eugenics promises to enhance reproductive freedom preventing early child death due to genetic disease (3,Kitcher, 198). However there are dangers in Laissez-faire that Kitcher wants to avoid. The first is the historical tendency of population control, eugenics can go from avoiding suffering, to catering to a set of social values that will cause the practice of genetics to become prejudiced, insensitive and superficial. The second is that prenatal testing will become limited to the upper class, leaving the lower class with fewer options, creating biologically driven social barriers. Furthermore the decay of disability support systems due to prenatal testing can lead to an increased pressure to eliminate those unfit for society (4,Kitcher, 214).
In the 1920s, a company in New York started a movement known as “The Eugenics Movement.” The idea of eugenics was eventually picked up by Germany, China, Peru, India and Bangladesh. The movement is still in effect till this day; however, it is not as prevalent as it once was.
Genetic engineering is now being used to create new medicines and therapies for many disorders and diseases, and also to improve agricultural plants and animals to produce bigger yields or enhanced nutrient composition and food quality. In Gene therapy, copies of healthy human genes produced in bacteria can be inserted into human cells with defective or missing genes, to fix the problem. Gene therapy is promising because it can use to treat genetic
The pancreas has two functions; to make enzymes that help digest fats and proteins and the other, to produce insulin that controls the blood sugar level called glucose. It consists of Islet cells (1 of 3 types), which are endocrine glands. This means the Islet cells secret the insulin directly into the blood stream. The pancreas contains many more of these Islet cells than the body needs to maintain a normal insulin level. Even when half of the pancreas is removed, the blood sugar level can still remain normal. The pancreas is also made up of exocrine glands, which produce enzymes for digestion.
Gene cloning works by first isolating the desired gene and ‘cutting’ it from the original chromosome using restriction enzymes. The piece of DNA is ‘pasted’ into a vector and the ends of the DNA are joined with the vector DNA by ligation. The vector is introduced into a host cell, often a bactera or yeast, by a process called transformation. The host cells copy the vector DNA along with their own DNA, creating multiple copies of the inserted DNA. The vector DNA is separated from the host cells’ DNA and purified. Gene cloning is used to create a large number of copies of a gene. The cloned DNA can be used to decipher the function of the gene, Investigate a gene’s characteristics like size, or expression, look at how mutations may affect a gene’s function or make large concentrations of the protein coded for by the gene.
The evolution of technology has been hand in hand with the human subjugation of earth, but the question persists, when does the use of technology go too far? Advances in medical science have increased the average human lifespan and improved the quality of life for individuals. Medical science and biology are steadily arriving at new ways to alter humans by the use of advanced genetic alteration. This technology gives rise to the question of how this new technology ought to be used, if at all. The idea of human enhancement is a very general topic, since humans are constantly “enhancing” themselves through the use of tools. In referring to human enhancement, I am referring specifically to the use of genetic intervention prior to birth. Julian Savulescu, in his, “Genetic Interventions and the Ethics of Enhancement of Human Beings,” argues that it is not only permissible to intervene genetically, but is a morally obligatory. In this paper, I will argue that it is not morally obligatory to intervene genetically even if such intervention may be permissible under certain criteria. I will show, in contrast to Savulescu’s view, that the moral obligation to intervene is not the same as the moral obligation to prevent and treat disease. In short, I will show that the ability of humans to intervene genetically is not sufficient to establish a moral obligation.
The pancreas, in addition to its digestive process has two important hormones, Insulin and Glucagon which are important for the maintenance of blood glucose level at a narrow range. Not only glucose, but also they are important for protein and lipid metabolism. Glucagon is secreted by the alpha cells of the islet of Langerhans and Insulin is secreted by the beta cells of Langerhans. Both are secreted to portal vein. (8)