Discussion: Human Genome Project

Discussion: Human Genome Project

· Started in the early 1990’s as a research program by the federal government.

· The project was estimated to cost between $3 and $5 billion dollars.

· Completed in the year 2000.

· The purpose was to “map” and sequence, the total number of genes, estimated at 100,000, within the 23 pairs of human chromosomes or 46 chromosomes

· This complete set of genes is known as the human genome.

· It resembles a set of blueprints for the human being that is stored in the nucleus of each cell.

· Provides a better understanding of the process of human evolution.

· Provides an improved understanding of the relationship between certain genes and particular diseases.

· The application of the knowledge gained from the human genome project is likely to be in the field of recombinant DNA,

· Scientists recombine the genetic material from one organism to another for various reasons.

· Sometimes it is applied to botany where the plant could be improved in some way such as making it more resistant to frost or less susceptible to spoilage and damage.

· There a many prospects of genetic intervention in humans, to combat disease or to eliminate the propensity for disease.

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· The key to posthumanism is that the cyberbog existence is not to be resisted.

· Post humanists are willing to embrace the future and see the dangers that technology raises as an ongoing marketing problem.

· In regard to ethical decision making, the world of the post humanist will still be able to rely on duty, utilitarian and virtue models to examine problems.

· Concepts such as natural rights and human rights would become obsolete.

· There is currently an astonishing list of genes identified as gene markers that are responsible for disease.

· They include the following diseases:

· Colon cancer

· Amylotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

· Type II (adult onset) diabetes

· Alzheimer’s Disease

· Huntington’s Disease

· Achondroplastic dwarfism