Yowis Arias

Science

12/3/15
802

Genetics the study of heredity and the variation of inherited characteristics. Inheritance is
transmitted through genes that have been from parents to their offspring (children). But
inheritance is based on many variables like if a gene is dominant. A dominant trait is divergent to
a recessive trait which is conveyed only when two duplicates of the gene are present. (In genetic
terms, a recessive trait is phenotypically expressed only in homozygotes). Or whether a gene is
receive, when a gene that gets trumped by a dominant gene. For example, your mom's recessive
gene for blue eyes was trumped by your dad's dominant gene for brown eyes. That's how you got
stuck with brown eyes. A pedigree chart is to see how the genetics were distributed to the
offspring. Genetics or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) tells the makeup of the holder of the DNA.
It is important to study DNA because of two reasons: the first is to see how the DNA looks
normally to see if any mutations occur the second is DNA extraction can make hybrids for future
testing, but genetic testing should have limitations because of the ethics involved.
Genetic testing has many benefits and a vast amount of space for research. Animal cloning,
genetically modified fruits and vegetables, and also for medical practices. What makes the
current surrounding efforts different is that the purpose for early for early screening gives the
embryo (a more developed zygote) a better chance of birth. (Should we choose our children
paragraph 2: article). The same article also states that screening embryos before implantation is
a way a problem can be avoided (paragraph 4). Not only birth rates can be safer and secure,
genetic testing also lowers a risk of birth defects. In the article Firm Brings Gene Test to
Masses it states The trend shows that the new technology could make possible widespread
screening for the risk of passing on rare diseases, something that wasnt practical before. This
affects people by streamlining the way screening for diseases is done making it easy for
preventing epidemics. This should be as far as testing should go because it is not affecting
anybody negatively but is still making a significant impact.
However, there are many drawbacks when it comes to genetic testing. A woman diagnosed
with hereditary hemochromatosis a condition that causes excessive iron storage, but the
symptoms of which are preventable, loses her health insurance despite clear medical evidence
that she is healthy. (Genetic Testing Privacy and Discrimination paragraph 2) This shows that
people are badly affected by genetic testing if they get a disorder and if their health insurance
company is aware of the disorder. This would make screening a reluctant procedure because of
the way insurance companies react to any negative findings. But only for a few diseases like
cystic fibrosis and Tay-Sachs, and only for certain ethnic groups. Each test can cost hundreds or
even thousands of dollars (Firm Brings Gene Test to Masses paragraph 5) another downside to
genetic testing is it excludes people and gives the included people a huge price. The last
downside is Premiums are set using information about individuals health, lifestyle, family
history, and diagnostic tests (Health Genetic Testing and Insurance paragraph 10). Since a
premium is an amount to be paid for an insurance policy then people without an illness has a
different fee of someone without one.

In my opinion, genetic testing should be allowed but should be limited given the ethics
involved. The logic is that even if embryos appear normal in the lab, subtle chromosomal
abnormalities can prevent a pregnancy from continuing past a certain point. (Should we choose
our Kids paragraph 3) this shows that genetic testing is good for medical science and genetic
foresight. But there are clearly limitations to this genetic foresight. One example of
discrimination faced by workers in the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company, which
the equal Employment Commission revealed to be conducting genetic tests on its employees
without their informed consent, as a means of counteracting worker compensation claims for job
related stress injuries ( Genetic Testing, Privacy and Discrimination paragraph 1). The limitation
is discrimination and people using that for personal gain like using genetic testing against the
unknowing populous. But this limitation may not be permanent On May 21, President Bush
signed the Genetic Information Act (GINA) of 2008 into law. (Genetic Testing, Privacy and
Discrimination paragraph 3) This shows that legal action is going against genetic discrimination
leaving my final verdict altered.
In conclusion, despite what many might think, genetic testing ethics is well known across
hundreds of nations all over the world. Genetic testing ethics has been around for several
centuries and has a very important meaning in the lives of many. It would be safe to assume that
genetic testing ethics is going to be around for a long time and have an enormous impact on the
lives of many people. My ethics are that it should be allowed as long as cautionary steps are
taken first. My point is similar as it plays out in a Sci-fi movie GATTACA about Vincent
Freeman a man who always fantasized about traveling into outer space, but is grounded by his
status as a genetically inferior "in-valid." He decides to fight his fate by purchasing the genes of
Jerome Morrow a laboratory-engineered "valid." He goes through great lengths to not be
discriminated which might be our society if we continue using genetic testing for an excuse to
discriminate.