I read the article. Supposedly, this breakthrough is going to be used to "start teasing out the secrets of human health and disease at the molecular level--secrets that will lead at the very least to a revolution in diagnosing and treating everything from Alzheimer's to heart disease to cancer, and more." (Time magazine). However, I'm curious as to how scientists plan on correcting or treating the breakdown once they find it.
As far as security goes, I would hope that extracting someone's personal genetic information would be initiated by a Dr.'s visit pertaining to complications that someone may be experiencing and that one would have to sign a form giving permission. There would be alot of controversy if this is presented as a practice at birth.
While the disease treatment side sounds exciting (I have a parent with Alzheimer's), I'm looking at the discriminitory implications also. And as for cloning, who is to say what will happen once we start to dabble and change codings in the DNA design to prevent diseases? Perhaps once we attempt to correct one problem, we could create a whole new unseen problem.
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>>>"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised... Proverbs 31:29-30
[This message has been edited by tickledpink (edited June 29, 2000).]
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