Hyoji genetic testing essay

GENTIC TESTING10 Hyo Ji Kim Every person inherits two copies of every gene from his or her parents. During the inheritance process, faulty genes can be carried if at least one of parents has faulty genes as well. Therefore, a modern way of examining DNA called Gene Testing is discovered. Gene testing is greatly rising these days since it can inform us individual’s genetic information, mainly including health conditions. This essay will talk about background information about genes, how gene testing works, benefits and limitations, social issues and ethical issues of gene testing. Genes are long pieces of DNA that carry information necessary to produce protein. Genes are also important elements in human body because they determines our characteristics inherited from parents. Each cell in the human body contains about 25,000 to 35,000 genes (Dowshen, 2007). Genes consist of 4 bases, including Adenine(A), Thymine (T), Guanine (G) and Cytosine (C). A diagram in figure 1 below shows how these bases are organized into genes. Figure 1 : A diagram of what a cell to genes are composed (Vachani, 2010) The Technology of Gene Testing is performed using major two methods ; Molecular Genetic Testing and Cytogenetic Testing. Molecular genetic testing aims to detect specific mutation of DNA sequence. While genetic information is coded by a sequence of nucleic acids, a patient's DNA sample is extracted from blood, semen hair roots, born and other body tissues for mutated sequence. Because DNA is always double-stranded, scientists design short pieces of DNA called probes that sequences are complementary to the mutated sequences. These probes then look for their complement among three billion base pairs of an individual's genome If the mutated sequence is present in the patient's genome, the probe will bind to it and will indicate the mutation. Finally, this mutation presents millions of copies ready for analysis. Cytogenetic testing seeks some changes in individual's chromosomes. Chromosomes contain a large DNA structure in the nucleus of a cell. While examining chromosomes, pieces of a chromosome is deleted, expanded, or shifted to a different chromosomal location. Cytogenetic testing therefore identifies one’s genetic information by examining how chromosomes react or alter. There are many advantages associated with gene testing. To begin with, gene testing saves many people dying from inherited diseases or future diseases. Scientists estimate that about 3,000 to 4,000 diseases occur from inheritance of faulty genes, including Huntington's disease, cystic fibrosis, neurofibromatosis, and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (Genetic Inforamtion and the Workplace, 2010). However, gene testing gives people opportunitiy to test their DNA and to check their genetic disorders. As a result, gene testing allows patients to treat their diseases earlier and faster. In fact, about 75% of patients find out their genetic abnormality from results of gene testing (Etheridge, 2006). In addition, genetic testing is very durable. DNA can last for a thousand of years, even can be recovered from human body 150 years after death (Radford, 2005). Gene testing is also available when there are only skeletal remains because human bone contains DNA. Therefore, gene testing is a very useful tool for tracing important historical events. Finally, genet testing is very versatile, solving many criminal cases, including rape and kidnapping. In forcible rape cases, gene testing can help to identify a perpetrator from examining a semen sample. In kidnapping cases, gene testing examines DNA left at a crime scene, and finally informs a perpetrator’s appearance, such as race, eye and hair color. A lot of benefits are involved in gene testing. There are many disadvantages related with gene testing. First of all, gene testing is too expensive. The cost of gene testing therefore can range between $620 and $3,456 (The Pros and Cons of DNA…, 2010). The cost has a wide range, depending on size and number of genes that are tested and type of laboratory procedure used. A table in figure 2 below shows a big difference in costs based on type of tests. Gene testing costs so high because it is rare and involves additional procedures, such as counseling or physician fees. Furthermore, genetic tests cannot be performed in a short period. Since most of the tests are done in special or private labs, specimens must be shipped and therefore, take a long time to process. In addition, gene testing is a complex and delicate process, requiring considerable expertise and many expensive equipments. On average, we may wait 3 to 10 weeks to get the result of gene tests, and still depend on the type of tests (Toland, 2000). A table in figure 3 below shows how long each type of gene testing takes. Figure 2 : Costs for Selected Genetic Tests by Disorder and Type of Test (Toland, 2000) Figure 3 : Range of Turn Around Time for Genetic Tests (Toland, 2000) Testing genes have many ethical issues to consider. First of all, gene testing violates a right of individuals to keep privacy. These days, there is a need of gene testing for criminal analysis, developing newborn babies and employment (Berkeley National Laboratory, 2010). Therefore, genetic information that includes the information of inherited diseases may influence one's future employability and insurability. Genetic information also has implications for family members and future generations, and thus, it brings negative intergenerational effects when one's genetic information is misused. Moreover, gene testing causes selective breeding since it allows parents to examine DNA of their unborn fetus. If they find out any genetic disorders in their fetus from test result, they just abort the child. No one wants to raise disabled baby due to problems related with money, mental pain, etc. However, the abortion following the issue of selective breeding is very immoral not only as we've changed nature in force, but also as we've killed a life. A growing embryo is considered human with heartbeats initiating as early as 21st day of conception (Maisie, 2010). Therefore, except rape cases, such unethcial action is concerned with gene testing. Gene Testing has many social considerations to think about. First of all, gene testing deals with negative psychological impacts. Gene testing checks if there is a risk of inherited diseases or any other faulty characteristics. However, gene carriers identified from genetic testing suffer from constant worries, depression, confusion and sleep disturbance (NIH, 2007). This is because they are genetically predisposed to future diseases. Even gene carriers are ignored by society since people already know about their genetic diseases and nobody wants to have relationship. Furthermore, gene testing leads discrimination in workplace. Furthermore, it leads discrimination in workplace. Employers never hire people who have risk of developing future diseases despite they are healthy. This is because employers pay much money for such people's health insurance. In one case reported by the Council for Responsible Genetics, a social worker was fired after saying that her mother died of Huntington’s disease and that she may develop it. Gene testing therefore limits one's employment and health insurance. In the current genetic revolution, genetic testing is emerging as a high tech tool of detecting genes in DNA. While it takes many advantages, genetic testing can be used in various fields, such as crime analysis and investigation of genetic disorders. However, genetic testing still involves social and ethical issues that need to be considered. After these concerns are cleared up, we will be able to push ahead with genetic testing for only good purposes. Bibliography : ,[object Object]

Hyoji genetic testing essay

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