Cracking the Code of Life

1. Sequencing the human genome may bring to light a number of genes that are the basis for known genetic diseases or that predispose a person to a condition sch as heart disease, cancer, or Alzheimer's genetic disease. Yet finding a gene for an illness may not lead to an immediate cure. Would you want to be tested to learn whether they had a genetic disease of predisposition if no cure was available? Why or why not? 

Personally, yes I would want to be tested because by knowing whether I am liable for a disease may change how I treat my body and the daily diet of food that I intake. Also even if I couldn't change the fact about whether i would get the disease of not i would still want to know about it. Because there are some diseases where you don't find out about them until much later, when it is to late. For example, cancer, i have a liability for getting skin cancer and i like knowing that because i can do things like taking care of my skin as well as if i do get cancer i am prepared for that sort of thing. For of course there isn't a cure for cancer but there are ways that you can prolong how quickly it 'takes you'. So yes i would want to know my liability for genetic diseases however, if some people don't I can see their reasons. 

2. Consider a scenario in which a lab need DNA samples for use in genetic testing studies. Researchers are searching for a variant of a gene that provides resistance to specific bacteria diseases. If the company finds this gene, it may be able to produce a drug to sell to people who have these diseases.

Would you agree to have your DNA be part of the study? Why or why not? Would you want royalties for your part in finding the gene? What if during the testing, the company discovered you had a gene that might result in a health problem later in life? Would you want to be informed? Why or why not?

Yes, i would definitely be willing to submit my DNA for testing. I would have been scared if i found this out but definitely pleased the i know, i think knowing is better than not knowing. Because as i said before in question one i would try and do something about it and i would just deal with it and though i may spend some time dreading it i would treat it the same as death, everybody dies and that idea doesn't affect most people so i don't think that finding out about a health problem in later life would affect the way i live very much either.

3. As more is learnt about genes, there is a risk that the information will be used to define certain members of society by their genetic makeup. Identify the meaning of the terms genetic discrimination and genetic privacy. What are some ways to protect against this type of genetic discrimination?

I think the discrimination about a persons genetic makeup would be unusual however we treat it the same way we treat other discrimination's and though its hard and sometimes violent and sad that's life, however, genetic makeup is not something you can really see so you would have to really get to know a person to learn about that and if you didn't like them then the genetic makeup wouldn't change that and if you did life them the genetic makeup probably wouldn't change you idea of them either. The only time in which i think there may be discrimination about such a thing would be for reproduction and then it is understandable you don't want your child to turn out with some horrible disease that would cause you and the child immense pain and disruption.