The Ethics of Genetics

A Research paper by Sydney Wright 2-2-98

With the advent of cloning, and the continued progress of the Human Genome Project, the scientific field of genetics is advancing at a breakneck pace. Our society’s ethics and laws must race to keep up the pace. One of the primary benefits of human genetic technologies is the ability to determine the likelihood of developing genetic diseases. Prenatal genetic testing has made it possible for parents to learn much about their child’s genetic makeup even when “Junior” is just an embryo composed of eight cells. With this knowledge, parents can learn beforehand whether their child will suffer from a debilitating disease such as Tay-Sach’s , Down’s Syndrome, Cystic Fibrosis , or Huntington’s. Some parents choose to abort fetuses that carry two recessive genes. But in the case of Huntington’s disease , which usually doesn’t appear until age 30 or up, what do you do? Where do you draw the line between life-threatening diseases and “preference”? We can easily determine the sex, eye color, or height of the unborn fetus. Would some babies never get a chance to live because they will be short and brunette, while their parents want a tall blond? Reproductive regulation is not a new concept. In the early 20th century more than 30,000 people were involuntarily sterilized so that they couldn’t pass on unwanted traits such as feeblemindedness and criminality. China has already started a program to prevent people with mental illnesses or serious genetic defects from getting married unless first sterilized. Our society has always been obsessed with heredity. New scientific evidence only continues to fuel the debate between Nature and Nurture. Our glamorous dreams of a genetic “store” where we can pick out just the kind of talents and traits we prefer for our children are probably part of the problem. As for how our legal system portends to deal with these scientific advances, we need to pick up the pace. Some steps are being taken. 10 states have passed laws banning insurance discrimination based on genetic information. The Americans With Disabilities act protects people with disabilities from job discrimination , but is genetic predisposition a disability? Genetic Engineering also could serve to weaken the human race’s defenses against new and deadly pathogens. With people becoming genetically similar, one virus could wreak immense havoc. The National Institutes of Health created a body of rules governing the handling of microorganisms in DNA experiments in an effort to prevent just that. Genetics is a very important realm of ethics, and it requires that we devote time and effort in deciding the correct plans to implement. Let us welcome the dawn of a new millennium by striving ever harder to ethically proceed.

“What will be the impact of new discoveries that lead to genetic testing and gene therapy? It’s the most important ethical issue in America in the next decade.” - Thomas Raffin

Bibliography:

1. Article- Exploring the Ethics of Genetics - Internet Source http://www.service.com/PAW/morgue/cover/1996_Jan_3.COVER03.html
2. Encyclopedia - Microsoft Encarta ‘97 - Ethical Controversies
3. Biology Book - Pages 257-259- The New Human Genetics

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