August 26th, 2010
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The Human Genome Project was one of the biggest breakthroughs ever in science. However the project resulted in some very interesting legal and ethical debates ranging across a wide array of topics. GINA was a bill passed in 2008 to address just one of these topics.
The main focus of the Human Genome Project was to study, understand and be able to use human genetics for the betterment of all mankind. By breaking down the essence of human life, scientists were able to better understand exactly what percentage of appearance, health, personality and more are the result of genetics. They became better able to understand the exact chemistry of the human body, and what kind of role genetics plays. The project lasted 13 years (from 1990-2003) and was an overwhelming success.
One of the benefits of the Human Genome Project was that for the first time, it gave scientists the ability to determine the likelihood of illness in human patients. Genes for all types of hereditary diseases were studied, identified, and could be accurately identified in people who carried the gene years before the first symptoms presented. While this could be beneficial for an individual to know, it’s detrimental for an insurance company to know.
In May of 2008, President Bush signed GINA, the Genetics Information Nondiscriminationn Act into law, thereby making it illegal for insurance companies to refuse or revoke coverage based on the results of genetics tests. Many insurance companies argued that the results of these tests could count as pre-existing conditions. However this law protects Americans on the basis that a condition does not become a documented condition until it presents itself. Simply carrying the gene is not enough to legally be able to negatively affect insurance plans.
GINA is a triumph for Americans everywhere who have had genetics tests because they are concerned about their family history of health. By having this act signed into law, people around the country can rest easy knowing that their health care will not be removed or go up in price, regardless of their genetics testing.
August 26th, 2010
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The Human Genome Project was a multi-year, multi-billion dollar international research project. It was arguably the largest and most important of its kind ever performed. However many people don’t understand what the benefits to studying the human genome was, let alone how the findings are applied to anything practical today. Nevertheless, there are many uses for that information, all of them incredibly important.
The Human Genome Project gave scientists a working roadmap of human life. One area this is particularly helpful for was the area of disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment. By studying the genes that cause certain diseases and how they behave inside the human body, scientists are now able to better predict, prevent and in some cases pre-treat the disease before it even presents itself. This sort of advancement in medicine happens once in a generation, and the HGP provided enough information to last for years to come.
Another area where the study of DNA has become crucial is the study of crime forensics. DNA has become one million times more incriminating and accurate that fingerprints or other types of evidence. Because a person’s DNA is specific to them and only them, finding DNA at the scene of a crime is about as close as it gets to being caught red-handed. This sort of criminal acccuracy would not have been possible without the Human Genome Project.
Finally, the data collected in the Human Genome Project has served as the inspriation and cause of many of today’s leading solutions in the area of biofuel. By studying the genomes of plants and other naturally occuring living organisms, scientist have been able to make advancements in the way we power our cars, businesses and lives.
Although the Human Genome Project sounds like science fiction, or like research that has little practical application, nothing could be farther from the truth. By studying the human genome, scientists have been able to better understand diseases, fuels, and criminal evidence, and advancements in those fields as well as many others continue even today.
August 26th, 2010
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The Human Genome Project was not only a success for the scientists involved, it has also proven to be an overwhelming success for doctors and medical researchers everwhere. Advancements in medicine have come in various different forms, all thanks to the Human Genome Project, and those advances continue even today.
One of the ways the Human Genome Project has positively affected medical research is by providing us with a link to the past. By being able to study the history and timelines of diseases through various different experiments, scientists are able to see precisely how, when and in some cases why a particular disease may have mutated or spread to the masses. By getting a working understanding of these diseases and epidemics from the past, scientists can better understand and apply that knowledge to the present and future.
Another way the Human Genome Project has helped advancements in medicine is by giving scientists a clear view of the present. By being able to study the genetics and DNA of people with diseases now, as well as the DNA of their children and parents, they can get a good idea of how a disease functions in the present and can therefore better treat it.
Finally, the Human Genome Project helps provide scientists with a link to the future. Not only can scientists break down a disease and examine its precises causes and behaviors, but scientists can also compare the human DNA stucture to that of other animals and living things, such as lab rats. Some animals have similar genetics as humans with higher or different resistancies to diseases. By being able to study the disease in other, similar species, scientists are able to discover breakthroughs that could mean big things for the future of mankind.
Because the Human Genome Project provides researchers with a clear link to the past, present and future, scientists are able to study where a disease is, trace it back from whence it came, and predict the way it will move in the future. Having this information is crucial, and makes the Human Genome Project one of the greatest scientific advancements ever.
August 26th, 2010
admin
While the positive effects of the human genome project are astounding to anyone interested in science, the rest of the world may find it a little dull. However there is one common denominator amongst the masses; television. Some of the most popular television shows on the air would not exist without the success of the Human Genome Project.
The CSI franchise is one show that relies heavily on the advancements provided by the Human Genome Project. A show about crime told from the perspective of the detectives who investigate them, CSI uses DNA samples taken from blood, fingernails, hair or bodily fluids in nearly every episode. This capability would not exist, either on television or in real live, without the success of the Human Genome Project.
Another television show that exists because of the Human Genome Project is Bones. This crime drama is told from the perspectives of the scientists who are called in to investigate crimes. Since the show typically deals with horribly mutilated or disfigured corpses, the only way to get a positive ID on these victims is though DNA testing and evidence. Not only can DNA be used to implicate suspects, it can also be used to identify victims.
Finally, and perhaps most popularly, Maury Povich’s weekly “who is my baby’s daddy” episodes are exclusively made possible thanks to the Human Genome Project. Now that DNA can be easily and accurately collected and tested, determining the paternitiy of a child is easy and foolproof. Because of the high cost of DNA testing, a paternity test is not for everyone, but those who agree to have one performed on national television have the added bonus of getting their tests done for free.
Although the Human Genome Project has made invaluable contributions to the fields of justice, medicine and paternity, perhaps its biggest impact can be found on television. Thanks to the conclusions made by this project, there is an entirely new and untapped market for television shows which are currently thriving.
August 26th, 2010
admin
Now that the Human Genome Project has provided the world with the ability to test their genetic code and determine whether or not there is anything they should be concerned about lurking in their future, the obvious question is this; “should I get genetic testing?” On the one hand, genetic testing can be the window into the future and could help save or greatly prolong your life. On the other hand, the tests are not always accurate, and the results are not always good news. There are many factors to consider when contemplating a genetic test.
For certain diseases such as colon cancer, early detection can be the difference between a full recovery and death. This disease also has a very strong genetic link, meaning if your parents or grandparents had it, there is a good chance you could have it, particularly in men. In this instance, genetic testing may be incredibly beneficial, as locating and identifying the gene means doctors can take a closer look and keep a watchful eye for even the slightest symptom. In situation where the genetics are strong and early detection is key, genetic testing is a good idea.
However not all diseases are as treatable with early detection as colon cancer. One such disease that has similarly strong genetic links is Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s can be identified just as easily on a genetics test, but unfortunately can not be cured. In situations like this, having a genetics test performed could potentially do more harm than good. Discovering that there is a significantly large chance that you could develop a life altering, debilitating and ultimately fatal disease, with nothing to do but wait for it to arrive, can be incredibly damaging. For that reason, genetics tests are not appropriate in every situation.
Although having a genetics test performed can be of great assistance to some, it can be a great hindrance to others. The decision to have a genetics test performed rest solely on whether or not you truly want to know the answers.
August 11th, 2010
admin
Have you ever heard of gene therapy? Aside from being the most incredible form of medicine since penicillin put bacteria on its back, gene therapy is a sort of prescription drug treatment for having bad genes. While it is not anybody’s conscious fault when a person is born with something being wrong or missing, until very recently we barely even understood the problem, much less how we could ever solve it. But with gene therapy, the ability to fix genetic problems has become more than just “a shot in the dark.” Every day, some new tidbit is pieced together by some of the most brilliant minds on Earth.
And every day, we move just a little bit closer to a time when people can just hit the hospital and get anything that is wrong with them made right, perhaps even on an outpatient basis. While these programs are only reasonably funded, they are still able to produce some exceptional results. In cases such as with a rare skin disease which inhibits collagen production, the use of stem cells has been shown to undo the damage that naturally bad genes can cause. Instead of a short, miserable life of trying desperately to avoid any kind of skin damage (such as brushing up against something) followed by horrifying cancers, these people can live long, full lives.
While not every experiment ends with the potential to essentially eradicate an existing disease, the promise goes even deeper than that. Can you imagine a time when the doctor can point to your unborn baby’s image on a monitor and say, “Yep, there was a genetic defect in there, but we took care of it. No problem.” Obviously, you would want to provide informed consent before anything of that nature took place… but the idea alone is pretty unbelievable. We stand on the cusp of an age where nobody hurts anymore.
August 2nd, 2010
admin
A genome is basically a CD carrying case containing DNA code. When speaking of the human genome, this “case” contains 46 CDs. These “CDs” are, you guessed it, chromosomes. In humans, chromosomes are paired up. Each person has 22 sets of autosomal chromosomes along with an additional set of chromosomes which determines gender. The study of these chromosomes have captured the interest of scientists and geneticists for many years.
A person that is interested in genetics wants to define what makes us tick. They want to know why one group of people chooses to wear Michele watches while another group is comfortable slipping on less stylish timepieces. It all comes down to our inner workings, the foundation of our system. Our decision-making processes, our feelings and our actions are said to stem from a combination of our genetics and our experiences.
Researchers want to find the reason behind these actions, misguided and otherwise. Two individuals raised in the same household to the same biological parents, having had the same experiences in life will often make differing decisions when it comes to a choice presented mutually. There is a reason behind this and the answer lies within the human genome.
The human genome is an enigma begging to be solved. There tends to be controversy over this subject, though. The main point of the controversy is that if humans discover the exact code which uniquely lies in each of us, then we will begin to engineer humans that only meet a specific standard. This is why the human genome project has been under fire from numerous organizations across the world. If genetic engineering is allowed to take place within the human race, what is left to happen to those individuals who were not scientifically engineered? This issue raises questions on each side of the fence and will continue to do so for years to come.
