Topic Isolating Cloning DNA Essay - Main Points!

Q) Discuss the ethical issues that may arise from the Human Genome Project

Main points
Key idea:	Loss of personal privacy + potential for discrimination
· Ref to risk profiles of ind (to certain diseases) become available to insurers, employers, schools · Results: Infringes on the individual’s privacy + discriminate ind · E.g. Reduced coverage by insurance companies · E.g. Employment by individual’s genetic profile · E.g. Stigmatization in schools or workplace, lead to psychological distress
Key idea:	Reproduction issues or decisions based on genetic profile
· E.g. Fetal genetic testing obviously carried out w/o seeking approval fr unborn ind · E.g. Possible eugenics - persons w genetic defects or heritable ‘undesirable’ traits discouraged or forced to be sterilized while others w heritable ‘desirable’ traits encouraged to reproduce by authorities · Furthermore genetic tests not always reliable / accurate · Decisions made solely on genetic tests - undesirable consequences (e.g. termination of pregnancy believing fetus has predisposition to an incurable disease)
Key idea:	Widening social divide
· Ref to making use of genetic info fr ind to develop + commercialize products and technologies, become intellectual properties of companies throu patenting · Result: lower income ind cannot afford + benefit fr products (e.g. custom drugs and gene therapy) or technologies (e.g. genetic tests) - widen social divide in society
Comments: (i) Verbalize the answer + write down the main points w/o referring to the answer (use abbreviations) (ii) Read again within the next 24h & once more within 72h (do not spend more than 10min)