Sunday 19 January 2014

The Human Genome project is said to be the biggest project in the history of science. It all began when James Watson and his partner Francis Crick discovered the structure of DNA. This revolutionized science, and all research to come along with it. James Watson was chosen to be the leader/president of this enormous project, and with that title, he applied for a three billion dollar grant from the U.S government. The large grant was given, and the Human Genome was on its way to be sequenced. After a long and controversial race, the Human Genome was discovered and available to the public. Now the debate starts; Pandora's box is already open, should the scientists of the world fiddle with it or should they close it right back up? The answer is to investigate and manipulate it for medical health reasons.
            It is clear and simple that the Human Genome should be manipulated for medical health reasons. Scientists have come up with an autism test to check if the offspring will be born with the disability. This is a sad but subliminal message of saying "here's your chance/reason to have an abortion" that many parents would have to face. Instead of being able to determine whether the child will be autistic, might as well be able to avoid the disability. Removing the disability from a child could save its life, and effectively reduce the rate of abortions. Any parent of a disabled child can admit that it is much more difficult to raise and take care of one rather than a healthy child. Why make it harder on parents when you don't have to? The point of the Human Genome is to facilitate life, and that would do the trick. There's absolutely no point in keeping a three billion dollar project locked up without further research. Everybody cries for cures for mental illnesses but when the potential cure is right in front of their eyes they're too scared to go for it. Science is all about taking a risk; if scientists were too scared of the outcome our world would not be where we are today. If Thomas Edison had decided that the lightning bolt that hit him frightened him, and didn't want to investigate it, we would not have electricity. Science is about exploring the potential of creating a better life. The entire world gives millions upon millions of dollars for cancer research. The cure for cancer could possibly be in Pandora's box; but if the world is too scared to look, we'll never find out. Closing Pandora's box will be a larger waste of money than Kim Kardashian's 72 day marriage with Kris Humphries.
            The manipulation of the Human Genome will be used strictly for medical purposes. For those wondering if it will become out of control and the public will request traits pertaining to their look will not happen. The decision of where the line is made will be determined by an international discussion amongst countries of the world. It should be agreed upon that it will be strictly to cure the world of mental and physical disabilities. There is an argument of the mentally ill contribute to society in way nobody could predict, but if it was up to that person, they would probably prefer to be healthy than mentally ill. It is obviously not easy to deal with the disabilities; for the most part we think it's a onetime thing, but the reality is that those people have to cope with their illnesses for the rest of their lives, and that's a handful for most.

            Everybody should have the right to live a healthy life. The manipulation of Pandora's box is very important in the future success of the human race. There is no point in funding research so heavily just so that it could be shutdown because of uncertainty. Science is way of improving our earth, and it would be pointless to throw away the most important discovery in history. it will give the potentially disabled a fighting chance, a chance to be a healthy human, to feel just like everybody else, not an outcast. 

1 comment:

  1. Anthony,
    After analyzing your blog post, I must acknowledge that you do have some very strong points as to why Pandora's box should not be closed. Yes, billions of dollars have already been invested into this project, so it could be seen as a waste if not utilized. The importance in this topic is to look at the big picture. You said that the controlling of alterations of the genetic codes could be determined by an international discussion amongst countries of the world. I believe this is easier said than done. Have you taken in account for dictatorships or even countries ruled under a communist government. What if a certain country starts doing alterations ‘secretly’ in order to make their people of great intelligence? There is no way of having control over issues like these. If the alterations of genetic codes could be strictly used for medical purposes, then that would be great, but there is absolutely no certainty in saying that will happen. The risks outweigh the benefits in this case; therefore I strongly believe Pandora’s box should be closed.

    Adrienne Symons

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