Genetic Modification - The Human Genome Project

The human genome project

• Completed in 2003

• International, collaborative research effort to determine DNA sequence of entire human genome + record every gene in human beings

• Important breakthrough because:

  • prediction + prevention of diseases, testing + treatment for inherited disorders, development of new + improved medicines

Prediction + prevention of diseases

• diseases (cancers/heart disease) partially caused by genes (+lifestyle factors)

• enable doctors to provide ppl w more specific advice on best lifestyle + diet to avoid disease

• doctors would be better at predicting what diseases someone might develop + ensure early treatment if someone develops disease

Testing + treatment for inherited disorders

• happen due to faulty allele(s) in persons genome

• HGP allowed doctors to identify faulty alleles quicker

• Once faulty allele identified, ppl can be tested for them + possible to develop treatments

Development of new + improved medicines

• Better understanding of how genetic variation can make ppl vulnerable to certain diseases, doctors able to design new drugs, affect how they reach to specific diseases + treatments

• Drugs/treatments more effective + fewer side-effects

• Doctors able to predict how ell existing drug/treatment will work on specific person better

Disadvantages of the HGP

• someone told they have high chance of developing disease, increased anxiety + stress (unnecessary if they don’t even get it)

• ppl w genetic disease/disorders pressured into having no kids

• ppl may be discriminated by employers