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Health and Wellness

What Is The Human Genome Project?

It's you! And a lot more...

Haley Martin

Sep 14, 2016

Saint Cloud State University

Julie Gold

Have you heard the term genome? Perhaps in class or the news and wondered what it was? Well I'm here to explain it for you. A human genome is the map of every gene in a human body, the entire genetic makeup of single human. The Human Genome Project was an effort to map out all of the genes in human being, the findings were published in 2003. This was done by gathering all knowledge of past genetic information gathered by various scientists throughout history and findings of current scientist who gathered new information to compile a completed human genome.This project identified the different genes, their locations and what they coded for. The completion of this project unveiled many useful.

With this extensive knowledge of the human genetic makeup we are able to pinpoint which genes will cause genetic deformities when they are effected in a certain way. Knowing this also allows for the ability to try to prevent genetic disease since we can determine where there are coming from. This a huge step forward in the medical field, and along with the work of stem cell research genetic disease could potentially be treated in the future. Currently we are able to learn more about these rare diseases and how they occur in humans; for example the loss of one small portion of the 5p chromosome can produce a child with cri-du-chat syndrome. This small portion of one tiny chromosome gives children a cat-like cry and often severe heart defects.

Many people claim decoding the human genetic system and running genetic test is morally wrong. Although there are many benefits to this, it also raises many ethical concerns, many people state that manipulating genes is messing with natural order of living and should not be done. The use of actual human genetics required that all people involved give informed consent that their personal information could and would be released and used in publications. Some people have pointed out that publishing people’s entire genetic makeup is something that is too personal and completely unethical. To help avoid issues the Human Genome Project developed The Ethical, Legal and Social Implications (ELSI) program, this program helped ensure that the work being done by the HGP was following all legal standards and didn’t jump into any grey areas surrounding ethical or social issues. Not only did committee help keep things in order but helped regulate society’s view of The Human Genome project. Society itself, as a whole population of the world, is the voice of the morality in The Human Genome Project.

The goal of the human genome project had good intentions and the benefits that are reaped from this extensive research are very beneficial; however there is always the question of ethical morality. In this case the level of ethicality was very questionable but one must look at the whole picture, The Human Genome project gives us immeasurable benefits and possibilities; these vastly outweigh the negatives.

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