1. Sequencing the human genome may bring to light a number of genes that are the basis for known genetic diseases or that predispose a person to a condition such as heart disease, cancer, or Alzheimer's genetic disease. Yet finding a gene for an illness may not lead to an immediate cure. Would you want to be tested to learn whether they had a genetic disease of predisposition if no cure was available? Why or why not?
If a gene for a genetic disease was discovered, I would want to be tested and to know whether or not I have the gene that causes the disease. Even if there was no cure available. I would like to know so that if and when I decide to have children, I would know that they will carry the gene of the disease and there is a chance they will get the disease. My children would carry the gene and then it would be their decision to have children or not. I find this very logical but many people are probably going to argue with me and say that they would prefer not knowing that they carried the gene so that they wouldn't have to worry all their life about when they will turn sick. I would prefer to know before I become sick so I can live my life to thefullest and enjoy the little things. I also think it would be practical for the following geberations to know if I had a certain gene or not.
But this is only my opinion and I cannot make the decision for someone else. Everybody has their own opinion and this is why I find it very important that they make the tests available without making them obligatory. People ahould have the right to decide for themselves if they would like to know. Just like the gender of a baby when a women is pregnant, some people decide to wait and see when the time comes, it is their own decision and no one told them what to do.
2. Consider a scenario in which a lab need DNA samples for use in genetic testing studies. Researchers are searching for a variant of a gene that provides resistance to specific bacteria diseases. If the company finds this gene, it may be able to produce a drug to sell to people who have these diseases.
Would you agree to have your DNA be part of the study? Why or why not? Would you want royalties for your part in finding the gene? What if during the testing, the company discovered you had a gene that might result in a health problem later in life? Would you want to be informed? Why or why not?
I don't see why I wouldn't allow them to use a sample of my DNA as it would not harm me. I would donate a sample of my DNA to help the study, it may help someone who is suffering from the disease without harming me. I hadn't thought about asking for royalties for my part in discovering the gene. I guess I could ask for royalties because they used my DNA but on the other hand, I didn't contribute in in the research. So, as a conclusion, I would probably ask for royalties but I wouldn't be very concerned if they refused to give it to me.
If they found out that I had the gene for the disease, I would like them to tell me so I would know. As explained in the previous question, I would like to know so that I can 'live my life to the fullest'.
3. As more is learned about genes, there is a risk that the information will be used to define certain members of society by their genetic makeup. Identify the meaning of the terms genetic discrimination and genetic privacy. What are some ways to protect against this type of genetic discrimination?
In my opinion, genetic discrimination would be when someone is being put in a group because o certain genes that they have, this kind of discrimination could start off as teasing because the person is different, to getting insulted, not getting a certain job, not being able to go to certain places, etc. An example of genetic discrimination was when Hitler decided to kill everyone who did not have blond hair and blue eyes. I think the only way to protect people against genetic discrimination is for the files containing the information about the genes of someone should be kept private and safe. These files should not be available for everyone to see and browse through.
Notes and Thoughts about the movie:
I learned many new things during the movie/video as I wasn't even aware that there was a human genome project. I found it interesting that the goal of the project was to be able to create a warning system for a host of diseases.
Another thing that surprised me was that all humans are 99.9% identical. Apparently, we all have the same genetic variation as the people that lived thousands of years ago. I also found it funny and surprising that humans were 50% similar with a banana and 97% alike with yeast.
I find it impressive that even if only one of our proteins is misfolded, it may create a life-threatening or deadly disease. :'(
If a gene for a genetic disease was discovered, I would want to be tested and to know whether or not I have the gene that causes the disease. Even if there was no cure available. I would like to know so that if and when I decide to have children, I would know that they will carry the gene of the disease and there is a chance they will get the disease. My children would carry the gene and then it would be their decision to have children or not. I find this very logical but many people are probably going to argue with me and say that they would prefer not knowing that they carried the gene so that they wouldn't have to worry all their life about when they will turn sick. I would prefer to know before I become sick so I can live my life to thefullest and enjoy the little things. I also think it would be practical for the following geberations to know if I had a certain gene or not.
But this is only my opinion and I cannot make the decision for someone else. Everybody has their own opinion and this is why I find it very important that they make the tests available without making them obligatory. People ahould have the right to decide for themselves if they would like to know. Just like the gender of a baby when a women is pregnant, some people decide to wait and see when the time comes, it is their own decision and no one told them what to do.
2. Consider a scenario in which a lab need DNA samples for use in genetic testing studies. Researchers are searching for a variant of a gene that provides resistance to specific bacteria diseases. If the company finds this gene, it may be able to produce a drug to sell to people who have these diseases.
Would you agree to have your DNA be part of the study? Why or why not? Would you want royalties for your part in finding the gene? What if during the testing, the company discovered you had a gene that might result in a health problem later in life? Would you want to be informed? Why or why not?
I don't see why I wouldn't allow them to use a sample of my DNA as it would not harm me. I would donate a sample of my DNA to help the study, it may help someone who is suffering from the disease without harming me. I hadn't thought about asking for royalties for my part in discovering the gene. I guess I could ask for royalties because they used my DNA but on the other hand, I didn't contribute in in the research. So, as a conclusion, I would probably ask for royalties but I wouldn't be very concerned if they refused to give it to me.
If they found out that I had the gene for the disease, I would like them to tell me so I would know. As explained in the previous question, I would like to know so that I can 'live my life to the fullest'.
3. As more is learned about genes, there is a risk that the information will be used to define certain members of society by their genetic makeup. Identify the meaning of the terms genetic discrimination and genetic privacy. What are some ways to protect against this type of genetic discrimination?
In my opinion, genetic discrimination would be when someone is being put in a group because o certain genes that they have, this kind of discrimination could start off as teasing because the person is different, to getting insulted, not getting a certain job, not being able to go to certain places, etc. An example of genetic discrimination was when Hitler decided to kill everyone who did not have blond hair and blue eyes. I think the only way to protect people against genetic discrimination is for the files containing the information about the genes of someone should be kept private and safe. These files should not be available for everyone to see and browse through.
Notes and Thoughts about the movie:
I learned many new things during the movie/video as I wasn't even aware that there was a human genome project. I found it interesting that the goal of the project was to be able to create a warning system for a host of diseases.
Another thing that surprised me was that all humans are 99.9% identical. Apparently, we all have the same genetic variation as the people that lived thousands of years ago. I also found it funny and surprising that humans were 50% similar with a banana and 97% alike with yeast.
I find it impressive that even if only one of our proteins is misfolded, it may create a life-threatening or deadly disease. :'(
