Genetic Engineering: The Controversy of Genetic Screening Essay

The Controversy of Genetic cover song Craig Ventor of Celera Genomics, Rockville, MD, and Francis Collins of the National Institutes of Health and Wellcome Trust, London, England, simultaneously presented the sequence of human desoxyribonucleic acid in June of 2000, accomplishing the first major endeavor of the Human Genome Project (HGP) (Ridley 2). As scientists link human characteristics to genes-segments of DNA effect on one or more of the 23 human chromosomes-prospects for familial engineering will join on dramatically. One relatively simple but powerful application of the HGP is genetic screening. By abstracting and analyzing DNA from embryos, fetuses, children or adults, one can detect the front line or absence of specific genes. While some people cypher of genetic screening as a great scientific and medical exam advancement, others see it as a frightening and dangerous enterprise. With careful regulation, I believe genetic screening can affect individuals in a benefic ial manner. Pre-natal genetic screening is currently used in big pregnancies for detection of diseases such as Down Syndrome and Huntingtons chorea (Ridley 55, 98). As scientists pay back the genes for additional genetic conditions, screening of embryos will provide more schooling to potential parents before their fetus is fully developed. If a screened fetus were found to carry genes for a particular disease or disability, its parents might selectively abort it. Many individuals who believe in pro-choice abortion laws advise pre-natal screening for genetic diseases because the abortion of fetuses with undesirable traits may decrease the function of unwanted children. Those against abortion strongly oppose pre-natal screening, predicting an increase in abor... ...guidelines could go by many of these destructive effects. Pre-natal screening should only test for abortion-worthy diseases determined by a national or international bioethics committee. Children and adults should be screened for particular diseases or conditions when/if family medical histories or physical examinations find reason to do so. With such policies, I believe that genetic screening will beneficially urge obstetric and preventative medicine. Works Cited Gibbs, Nancy and Michael Duffy. We Must Proceed With Great Care. Time. Hubbard, compassion and Elijah Wald. Exploring the Gene Myth. Boston Beacon Press. Lemonick, Michael P. Smart Genes? Time 13 Sept. 1999. Ridley, Matt. Genome the narration of a Species in 23 Chapters. Perennial. Snell, Marilyn B. Tempest in a tablet Box. Sierra 85 (2000) 18-19.