4. Should we sequence everybody’s DNA at birth and keep the information in a database? If so, who should have access to that information? Discuss some of the ethical implications that have arisen about how it could be used?
Yes, we should. We could find a similarity between people with the same disease and use this info to potentially find a cure. Scientists should have access to this so they can find cures for others and work to understand genes. There are many ethical implications that this science could raise. If everyone had their DNA mapped out, then their entire unique human code would be revealed for the world to see, and in the future, if the technology is present, it could create complicated issues. Copies could be made of people, and their diseases and unique problems would be open for manipulation. Although this science is promising in the fact that it could make the process of curing or recognizing diseases easier for the individual, the lack of privacy will result in disastorous results.
John Lucke, Campbell Housh, Kyle Wagener
http://www.bioethics.gov/background/humangenetic.html
Friday, January 22, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)