When you hear
the term genetic testing it immediately brings to mind the debates over ethics surrounding the topic. Controversies
over genetic manipulation, testing and procedures that have long been and continue
to be debated because of ethical and scientific concern. The general concept of
genetic testing involves the direct examinations of DNA molecules. This is done
by a scientist who scans a DNA sample from a patient and detects any mutated
sequences.
There are two main types of genetic
testing:
1. Designing short pieces or probes of DNA
that contain complementary sequences to other mutated sequences of the DNA. The
probes look for the complementary sequence in the base pair of a person’s
genome. If the mutated sequence is detected, the DNA probe will be able to bind
it and therefore flag the mutation.
2. Comparing the DNA base sequences of
patient’s genes to that of a healthy person’s genes.
Questions that have caused a great debate
with genetic testing and continue to remain unanswered include:
1. Absence of a cure: There is a lack of
treatment and preventative measures for a lot of diseases and conditions that
are now being diagnoses and predicted through genetic testing.
2. Ownership of genetic information: Who
will be able to control and own the genetic information, including information about gene
products or characteristics that are inherited and derived from an
individual. There is a possibility of a divide in genetics and it can pose a
risk for minority populations who do not have access to genetic testing.
3. Reproductive issues: These issues include
the use of the information derived from genetic testing that can result in
reproductive decision making and the possibility of altering genetic information
that can be passed on to future generations. Human cloning is an ongoing debate
of ethical proportions.
4. Clinical issues: These clinical issues
revolve around the capabilities and limitations of the health service providers
and doctors, the people identified with the genetic conditions and the public
that deals with the genetic data.
5. Effects on social institutions: Since
genetic tests seem to reveal certain information about individuals, the results
of these tests can affect the way the family and society respond.
6. Conceptual implications: These include
both philosophical and conceptual implications that are regarding the
responsibility of humans and the basic concepts of determinism of health and
disease.
