The Biological Revolution

The Biological Revolution

The year is 2025, parents can now ensure that their children will not be prone to addictions, mental illness and are even resistant to AIDS. Diseases are considered a burden of previous generations. Even the process of aging can be manipulated to suit man. No longer will people worry about looking or feeling old. Science has now found a way around the clock. Human genetic engineering, which is just fiction now may not remain fiction in the future. Recently the multi-billion dollar Human Genome Project has made astonishing gains in mapping the entire human genome. Once complete the Human Genome Project has the potential to open doors once thought to be locked. It will allow scientist to bring ideas that were once fiction into reality (Deneen 1). Genetic engineering is a powerful tool that will yield unprecedented results in the field of medicine. This tool of the future will be the result of many years of study and experiment. To fully grasp the possibilities of GE one must have a solid understanding of genetics, the study of heredity and DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid).

People often say "it runs in the family." If it runs in the family it also runs in the genes. "Genes - a specific sequence of nucleotides in DNA or RNA that is located in the germ plasma usually on a chromosome and that is the functional unit of inheritance controlling the transmission and expression of one or more traits by specifying the structure of a particular polypeptide and especially a protein or controlling the function of other genetic material" (Webster's Dictionary). In layman's terms genes are what are

Fisher 2

transferred between two people. Genes can be can be compared to a deck of cards each parent has a set containing the same instructions for his or her bodily features, but when traded they combine to make whole new person (offspring). Thus, this trading of cards (genes) is called heredity. Heredity is the transmission of traits from one generation to another. If both parents have brown eyes, are alcoholics, or are prone to cancer, their children will more than likely have brown eyes or be especially acceptable to alcoholism or cancer (Webster's Dictionary "heredity"). Both genes and heredity are the directly related to DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid.

In 1990, The Arizona Republic stated that "All genetic information is contained in deoxyribonucleic acid, or DNA, and that the information is faithfully copied in the production of proteins and other cellular components." This startling realization was just the first in the study of DNA. Most recently the study of DNA has become so fast paced that it almost impossible to stay current with its present state. New ground breaking discoveries are made almost every day. DNA is formed in a double helix structure, it is comprised of four bases: Adenine (A), Cytosine (C), Guanine (G), and Thymine (T). together A, C, G, and T make up the alphabet of all living things. Words in this language are formed in pairs. A and T can only pair up with each other, similarly C and G also can only pair with each other (Kitcher 29,30). This knowledge has become extremely important to scientist who now regularly read DNA, and can pick out deformities by using the pairs to identify all kinds of potential health hazards. The technique of identifying potential health hazards has recently received much media coverage as genetic testing has become more popular.

Fisher 3

"This new ability raises both high hopes and grave concerns. On the one hand, predictive gene testing holds out the possibility of saving thousands of lives through prevention or early detection. On the other, the implications of test results are enormous, not only for the individual but also for relatives who share this genetic legacy, and for society as a whole." (Access 1,2). These hopes and fears are very real for people who undergo these new types of tests. What make genetic testing so much different from any other kind of testing is how accurately it can predict if a person is at high risk for a certain type of disease or even when it will set in. Tests results have devastated people's lives by this accuracy. On the contrary it has also saved many lives by helping people identify possible health hazards and thus avoid illness by lifestyle changes or early treatment. This new technology and future technologies will rapidly change every day life. Sooner than later people will have many different choices when it concerns the field of medicine and their personal health thanks to technology.

Amniocentesis, for instance, is a "procedure for diagnosing certain genetic disorders early in pregnancy" (National Genetics Foundation). Technology currently in use in the field of genetics has increasingly become important in helping people make difficult choices. For a family with a history of a genetic disease such as Down syndrome or chromosomal abnormalities, tests using technology similar to amniocentesis can be extremely helpful in tough decisions such as abortion or risky medical treatments concerning an unborn child. Another technology that is currently in use is DNA testing. DNA testing has become famous because of its recent use the judicial system. Forensic DNA testing which is used in the judicial system aids in the conviction criminals of

Fisher 4

violent crimes, rapes, murder, and has many other uses. Another such use of DNA tests is paternity testing. This is a test where DNA is used to prove with out question who is the biological mother of father of a child. A blood sample or a mouth swab is taken from the mother or father and is used to determine the child's biological parents with a 99.9% certainty. This test is very useful in court where people are fighting for custody or child support (DNA 1). In brief, most of the current technologies concentrate on testing and or prevention. Although current technologies are very effective and useable, the next step in genetics is engineering.

Human genetic engineering, will be the largest turning point medicine will see in our life time. It will affect the way people perceive the world. Engineering of humans will almost certainly be the largest controversy man will have to face, both religiously and politically. With the recent accomplishments in cloning it is not such a far off reality that people will be able to manipulate future man. Although genetic engineering's possibilities are so far reached that it would be impossible at this time to predict an outcome, many scientists have their own ideas of what future man could experience.