Essay/Term paper: Morality and the human genome project

Essay, term paper, research paper:  Science Reports

Morality and the Human Genome Project


Does the Human Genome Project affect the moral standards of society? Can
the information produced by it become a beneficial asset or a moral evil? For
example, in a genetic race or class distinction the use of the X chromosome
markers can be used for the identification of a persons ethnicity or class
(Murphy,34). A seemingly harmless collection of information from the advancement
of the Human Genome Project. But, lets assume this information is used to
explore ways to deny entry into countries, determine social class, or even who
gets preferential treatment. Can the outcome of this information effect the
moral standards of a society?
The answers to the above and many other questions are relative to the
issues facing the Human Genome Project. To better understand these topics a
careful dissection of the terminology must be made. Websters Dictionary defines
morality as ethics, upright conduct, conduct or attitude judged from the moral
standpoint. It also defines a moral as concerned with right and wrong and the
distinctions between them. A Genome is "the total of an individuals genetic
material," including, "that part of the cell that controls heredity" (Lee,4).
Subsequently, "reasearch and technology efforts aimed at mapping and sequencing
large portions or entire genomes are called genome projects" (Congress,4).
Genome projects are not a single organizations efforts, but instead a group of
organizations working in government and private industry through out the world.
Furthermore, the controversies surrounding the Human Genome Project can be
better explained by the past events leading to the project, the structure of the
project, and the moral discussion of the project.
The major events of genetic history are important to the Human Genome
Project because the structure and most of the project deals with genetics.
Genetics is the study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits
(Congress,202). The basic beginnings of genetic history lay in the ancient
techniques of selective breeding to yield special characteristics in later
generations. This was and still is a form of genetic manipulation by "employing
appropriate selection for physical and behavioral traits" (Gert,2). Futheralong,
the work of Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, on garden peas established the
quantitative discipline of genetics. Mendel's work explained the inheritance of
traits can be stated by factors passed from one generation to the next; a gene.
The complete set of genes for an organism is called it's genome (Congress,3).
These traits can be explained due to the inheritance of single or multiple genes
affected by factors in the environment (3). Mendel also correctly stated that
two copies of every factor exists and that one factor of inheritance could be
dominate over another (Gert,3).The next major events of genetic history involved
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA, as a part of genes, was discovered to be a
double helix that encodes the blueprints for all living things (Congress,3). DNA
was found to be packed into chromosomes, of which 23 pairs existed in each cell
of the human body. Furthermore, one chromosome of each pair is donated from
each parent. DNA was also found to be made of nucleotide chains made of four
bases, commonly represented by A, C, T, and G. Any ordered pair of bases makes
a sequence. These sequences are the instructions that produce molecules,
proteins, for cellular structure and biochemical functions. In relation, a
marker is any location on a chromosome where inheritance can be identified and
tracked (202). Markers can be expressed areas of genes (DNA) or some segment of
DNA with no known coding function but an inheritance could be traced (3). It is
these markers that are used to do genetic mapping. By the use of genetic
mapping isolated areas of DNA are used to find if a person has a specific trait,
inherent factor, or any other numerous genetic information. In conclusion, the
genetic history of ancient selective breeding to Mendel's garden peas to the
current isolation of genes has been reached only through collaborative data of
many organizations and scientist.
The Human Genome Project has several objectives. To better understand
the moral issues that exist the project itself must be examined. Among the many
objectives, DNA databases that include sequences, location markers, genes, and
the function of similar genes (Congress,7). The creation of human chromosome
maps for DNA markers that would allow the location of genes to be found. A
repository of research materials including ordered sets of DNA fragments
representing the complete DNA in chromosomes. New instruments for analysis of
DNA. New methods of analysis of DNA through chemical, physical, and
computational methods. Develop similar research technologies for other organisms.
Finally, to determine the DNA sequence of a large fraction of the human genome
and other organisms. The objectives of the Human Genome Project are carried out
by organizations such as the Department of Energy, National Institutes of Health,
Howard Hughes Medical Institute, and various private organizations. These
organizations all have two shared features, placing "new methods and instruments
into toolkit of molecular biology" and "build reasearch infrastructure for
genetics." Making the directives of the Human Genome Project apparent is
important in making a moral judgment on this genetic technology.
Any attempt to resolve moral issues involving new information from the
Human Genome Project requires direct, clear, and total understanding of common
morality. Subsequently, a moral theory is the attempt to explain, justify, and
make visible "the moral system that people use in making their moral judgments
and how to act when confronting a moral problem" (Gert,31). This theory is based
on rational decisions. With this in mind, the moral system must be known by
everyone who is judged by it. This leads to the rational statement that
"morality must be a public system" (33). The individuals of the public system
must know what morality requires of them, and the judgments and guidelines made
must be rational to them. Just like any game, the players play by a set of
rules and these rules dictate how play is done. The game is played only when
everyone knows how to play. When rules are broken penalties are inforced by the
other players judgment according to the rules allowed. However, if everyone
agrees to change the rules then the game continues without any penalties.
Therefore, "the goal of common morality is to lessen the amount of harm suffered
by those protected by it" and it is constrained by the knowledge and need to be
understood by all it applies to (47). Justified violations also exist in common
morality. Just like in the game, a change in the rules causes acceptance,
morality can be viewed not as an evil by the public perception but as a decision
backed by common morals.
Based on the pattern of common morality the issues of genetic race or
class distinction or any other controversies involving the Human Genome Project
can be put to a set of common moral standards. Just like the moral standard that
says killing is wrong but killing is justifiable in self-defense, the Human
Genome Project can be argued along the same pattern of moral discussion. The
justifiable violations that genetic information is based on depends on the
common morality which is based on the public system which is based on the
decisions of right and wrong. In conclusion, the moral dilemma of genetics is
that will it be an asset to the individuals public perception of common morality
or will it be an evil to the individuals public perception of common morality
based on the right and wrong of the information. This answer is based on the
societies structure. In one time period it may be accepted in another in may not.


Bibliography

Congress of the United States, Office of Technology Assessment, Mapping Our
Genes: Genome Projects: How Big, How Fast?, Johns Hopkins University
Press: Baltimore,1988. Gert, Bernard, Morality and the New Genetics: A
Guide for Students and Health
Care Providers, Jones and Bartlett: Sudbury, Massachusetts,1996. Lee,
Thomas F., The Human Genome Project: Cracking the Genetic Code of Life,
Plenum Press: New York, 1991. Murphy, Timothy F., and Lappe, Marc, ed.,
Justice and the Human Genome
Project, University of California Press: Berkeley, 1994.