Human genome

This week’s readings have to do with race and genetics in correlation with biomedicine. In Troy Duster’s Race and Reification in Science, he talked about the ability to use genomic knowledge and apply it to the pharmaceutical field. Anne Fausto-Sterling’s The Bare Bones of Race talked about, the racial difference in bone density and uses and definitions of race in medicine. Joan H. Fujimura, Troy Duster, and Ramya Rajagopalan’s collective piece, Special Issue on race, Genomics, and Biomedicine,…

a topic one that no one had thought to type out and bring to life before. Aldous Huxley published his book, A Brave New World. He writes about our society many years in the future and our advanced technology. Natural reproduction was replaced and humans were created in laboratories. The government constructing a damming caste system. Children are created with specific genetic factors in mind, designing them to do certain jobs, and only those jobs. The result being a huge class divide and leaving…

With all of the technological and medical advancements over simply a few decades, scientists have been able to discover so many mysteries of the brain and how it functions. Even with all of these advancements in mind, many remain convinced that one's intelligence is tied to their DNA. People remain convinced that genius and genes go hand-in-hand. In Shenk's (2011) book, he delves into some of the misconceptions people have when it comes to intellectual capabilities. Shenk challenges people to…

The genetic make-up of the human race is supposed to be “natural,” untouched you could say. At least that is how it used to be. The only way some could have their future unborn child with the genetics they wanted is to have their husband or “baby daddy” with the make-up of their choice. Some would only reproduce with guys who have green eyes, hoping their baby would inherit green eyes. Nothing could come out 100% guaranteed. Others would go to sperm banks and be able to look at the genetic side…

genetic modification. Gene modification usually brings the thought of produce into mind, but this also applies to human genomes. I viewed a TED Talk led by speaker Paul Knoepfler that delves into concerns of these modifications, particularly that of designer babies. Chosen out of a plethora of videos, the subject matter of genetic modification appealed to my interests in health science and human development. In his presentation, Paul reasons why these modified children might be an ethical issue.…

by abundant number of scientists, such as Jennifer Doudna, Dana Carroll, Steven Martin, Michael Botchan, and Anthony Perry. This movement is the intermediary between both extremes. Regulation still has scientists working with CRISPR in the lab with human subjects, but there are restrictions that limit what they can do, such as bans on experiments that are deemed hazardous, petty or for the purpose of beautifying the subject1 (p.483). There should be regulation regardless of the outcome of this…

President Bill Clinton once said, we must “recognize that this extraordinary march of human understanding imposes on us profound responsibilities, to make sure that the age of discovery can continue to reflect our most cherished values” ("President Clinton 's Comments on the Signing," 2013). Because of its nature, genetic testing leads to a whole host of potential problems including genetic discrimination, the use of human subjects, informed consent from subjects, privacy concerns, regulation of…

It could either set up the human race up for success in the future or failure when you consider the pros and cons of genetic alterations in a human beings DNA. Humans could live longer resulting in a population explosion, and the Earth would soon be even more overpopulated as it is already is. However with all of the genetically advanced humans, there would be a greater chance someone can come up with some way to get to another planet…

GATTACA is a movie about a dystopian future in the United States, many years from now, where people are judged based on their Genetics. Parents are able to visit Genetic Clinics where the sperm and egg are fertilized, and pick what traits they want their children to have, including resistance to disease, and genetic abnormalities. If I were President of the United States of America and was given a bill to allow Genetic Engineering, my decision would be to veto it immediately. I would veto…

Procreative Beneficence Definition Procreative Beneficence is a term coined by Julian Savulescu and is stated as, “Couples (or single reproducers) should select the child they could have who is expected to have the best life, or at least as good a life as the others, based on the relevant, available information” (Savulescu, 2001, 295). Breaking this principle down, it says reproducers should select a child that is likely to have the “best life.” The word, “should,” is explained by Savulescu to…