The Human Genome Project

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Does the Human Genome Project effect the moral standards of society? Can the information produced by it become a beneficial asset or a moral evil? For example, X chromosome markers can be used to identify ethnicity. A seemingly harmless collection of information from the Human Genome Project. But let's assume this information is used to explore ways to deny entry into countries, determine social class, or who gets preferential treatment. Whether or not this type of treatment is acceptable to a moral society remains to be seen.

The major events of genetic history are important to understanding the Human Genome Project. Genetics is the study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits. The basic beginnings of genetic history lay in the ancient techniques of selective breeding to yield special characteristics in later generations. This was and still is a form of genetic manipulation by "employing appropriate selection for physical and behavioral traits"(Gert, 93). Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, completed experiments on garden peas so as to establish the quantitative discipline of genetics. Mendel's work explained that the inheritance of traits can be stated by factors passed from one generation to the next; a gene.

The complete set of genes for an organism is called it's genome. A genome creates traits that can be explained due to the inheritance of single or multiple genes affected by factors in the environment. Mendel also correctly stated that two copies of every factor exists and that one factor of inheritance could be dominate over another. The next major events of genetic history involved the discovery DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA is a double helix of amino acids and proteins that are encode the blueprint for all living things. DNA was found to be packed into chromosomes, of which 23 pairs existed in each cell of the human body.

DNA was also found to be made of nucleotide chains consisting of four amino acid bases known as Adenine, Cytosine, Thymine, and Guanine (A, C, T, and G). Any ordered pair of bases makes a sequence. Sequences are the instructions that produce molecules and proteins for cellular structure and biochemical functions. A marker is any location on a chromosome where inheritance can be identified and tracked. Markers can be expressed areas of genes (DNA) or some segment of DNA with no known coding function but...

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...inical issues including education of health service providers, patients, and the general public; and implementation of standards and quality control measures in testing procedures 7) Commercialization of products: issues include property rights (patents, copyrights, and trade secrets) and accessibility of data and materials. 8) Conceptual and philosophical implications regarding human responsibility, free will versus genetic determinism, and concepts of disease and health.The Human Genome Project in itself is an extremely productive endeavor.

While it's focus is on creating an entire map of the human Genome, it is constantly publishing the steadily increasing volumes of information that are produced every year. So we return to the question of whether or not the Human Genome Project is an imminent breach of good conscience and morals. There is no doubt that the project can be seen from both sides of the fence. While the data could be manipulated for the wrong purposes, it could also help to accomplish seemingly impossible medical miracles. And so, no doubt, we will fall as a nation into division. However, you are left to decide for yourself, what side of the fence you will be on.

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