Future World Human Genome Project

Genetic tests are already in use today and some people are victims of the ethical and safety issues that come with such tests. It is expected that a lot of changes will be felt as a result of the Human Genome Project. Humans will have unveiled a whole new lot of legal, social, and ethical issues. However what is most important is how they will deal with these issues (Greenberg, 2001).

Years from now, the Human Genome Project will be complete and genetic procedures will be made available to the society and treatment of genetic diseases will be assured. Today genetic diseases can be treated through gene therapy but with low reliability due to the challenges posed by gene mutations. However, safety is the biggest concern of genetic therapy since the procedure is considered risky and it is feared that genetic tools will be misused greatly.

It is argued that if an unborn baby is diagnosed with a genetic disease, it is unethical for the pregnancy to be terminated. A business wire article of 1998 shows that genetic discrimination may also arise as employers, insurers, healthcare providers and society as whole may discriminate against individuals found with genetic diseases.  Insurance companies are more concerned with genetic information of their clients in order to filter those with deadly genetic diseases such as the Huntington disease.

Genetic therapy will also serve to widen the gap between the rich and the poor. It is currently at the clinical stage but when fully implemented, it is expected to cost much for medium income earners to afford.

In conclusion, though faced with vast criticisms, genetic therapy has the capability of eradicating genetic diseases. This is a scientific field that is promising and if given necessary support will help alleviate deaths caused by deadly genetic diseases.

References

Editors, B. (1998, Jul 29). Trends €” genetic profiling to bring about changes in underwriting

process; dr. gary graham discusses the impact of the human genome project on risk

assessment. Business Wire. Retrieved from

http://search.proquest.com/docview/446851855?accountid=45049;

Greenberg, J. (2001). Covering the human genome project. The Quill, 89(3), 33-36. Retrieved

from http://search.proquest.com/docview/219768073?accountid=45049;