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Chapter 22: Problem 20

Would you have your genome sequenced, if the price was affordable? Why or why not? If you answered yes, would you make your genome sequence publicly available? How might such information be misused?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Explain your personal stance and reasons for your decision, considering potential misuse of the information. Answer: If the price was affordable, I would consider having my genome sequenced for the potential health benefits and better understanding of my ancestral lineage. However, due to privacy concerns and the potential misuse of my genome sequence information, I would not make it publicly available. Potential risks include discrimination, unauthorized access to personal data, and misuse for unethical purposes.

Step by step solution

01

Personal Stance on Genome Sequencing

If the price was affordable, I would consider having my genome sequenced. The information gained from genome sequencing could provide helpful insights into my genetic predispositions, potential health risks, and ancestral lineage.
02

Reasons for Decision

My decision is based on the potential benefits of genome sequencing, such as better understanding of my genetic makeup and predispositions to certain diseases and conditions. This information would allow me to take preventive measures to maintain my health and well-being. Additionally, knowledge of my ancestral lineage would give me a better understanding of my family's history and origins.
03

Sharing Genome Sequence Publicly

While I see the benefits of genome sequencing, I would not make my genome sequence publicly available. Privacy concerns and the potential for misuse of such sensitive information would deter me from doing so.
04

Potential Misuse of Genome Sequence Information

There are numerous ways in which genome sequence information could be misused. Some potential risks include discrimination by employers or insurance companies, unauthorized access to personal data by hackers or other malicious individuals, and misuse of genetic information for cloning or other unethical purposes. While there are significant benefits to genome sequencing, it's essential to weigh these against the potential risks and make an informed decision about sharing genetic information.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

What limits the use of differences in restriction enzyme sites as a way of detecting point mutations in human genes?

In this chapter, we focused on a number of interesting applications of genetic engineering, genomics, and biotechnology. At the same time, we found many opportunities to consider the methods and reasoning by which much of this information was acquired. From the explanations given in the chapter, what answers would you propose to the following fundamental questions: (a) What experimental evidence confirms that we have introduced a useful gene into a transgenic organism and that it performs as we anticipate? (b) How can we use DNA analysis to determine that a human fetus has sickle- cell anemia? (c) How can DNA microarray analysis be used to identify specific genes that are being expressed in a specific tissue? (d) How are GWAS carried out, and what information do they provide? (e) What are some of the technical reasons why gene therapy is difficult to carry out effectively?

There are more than 1000 cloned farm animals in the United States. In the near future, milk from cloned cows and their offspring (born naturally) may be available in supermarkets. These cloned animals have not been transgenically modified, and they are no different than identical twins. Should milk from such animals and their natural-born offspring be labeled as coming from cloned cows or their descendants? Why?

The first attempts at gene therapy began in 1990 with the treatment of a young girl with a genetic disorder abbreviated SCID. What does SCID stand for? In the context of SCID, what does ADA stand for?

Dominant mutations can be categorized according to whether they increase or decrease the overall activity of a gene or gene product. Although a loss-of- function mutation (a mutation that inactivates the gene product) is usually recessive, for some genes, one dose of the normal gene product, encoded by the normal allele, is not sufficient to produce a normal phenotype. In this case, a loss-of-function mutation in the gene will be dominant, and the gene is said to be haploinsufficient. A second category of dominant mutation is the gain- of-function mutation, which results in a new activity or increased activity or expression of a gene or gene product. The gene therapy technique currently used in clinical trials involves the "addition" to somatic cells of a normal copy of a gene. In other words, a normal copy of the gene is inserted into the genome of the mutant somatic cell, but the mutated copy of the gene is not removed or replaced. Will this strategy work for either of the two aforementioned types of dominant mutations?
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