The Human Genome Project Essay -- Genetics DNA Science Essays

The mankind Genome ProjectThe human genome project is something that I have been very fire with ever since first studying of it. I had heard bits and pieces of what it is about, but my post was greatly stimulated by Dr. Whited in basic genetics 311 sustain spring. The discussion that we had regarding the project left me with several ideas and questions about not merely the process and ethics involved, but the future of the study of genetics as a whole.To begin discussion about the HGP, we first must envision what it is. It is a massive undertaking of collaboration of geneticists that begin in 1990. Their goals be to identify all the estimated 80,000 to 100,000 genes in human DNA and determine the sequences of 3 billion bases composed of adenine, thymine, cytosine, and guanine. The project is being funded jointly by the discussion section of Energy and the National Institute of Health. This massive undertaking is estimated at a cost of three billion dollars, with the most cur rent target understand for the projects completion at the year 2003. They will then store this instruction in a centralized database so it can be apply as tools for their analysis. Also as a first for science, they are dismissal to address the logical, ethical, and social issues that the project will give rise to.What is a genome and why is it important? A genome is the DNA that an being possesses. The DNA is make up of combinations of the four bases (A,T,C,&G) that I listed above. The sequence of these bases code for proteins that determine how an organism looks, its viability, and sometimes even how it behaves. That is why this project is so important. The possibilities of what we can learn about ourselves are endless.The benefits of this project ar... ...ts of what the public can handle. If tomorrow the scientific community released the first genetically perfect human, how would people respond? If 25 years from now the first genetically perfect human were to be introduced, how would we respond? I do have a fear of mimicking the ikon Gattaca. That is why I believe in a panel of geneticists and nonscientists to eer monitor and review just how far we are taking our innovative knowledge. I know that when I have children, I dont want a doctor asking me to select everything about my child. I prefer to grant it up to chance.Referenceshttp//www.ornl.gov/TechResources/Human_Genomehttp//www.ornl.gov/hgmis/resource/info.htmlConsulting Resources Corporation Newsletter. Spring 1999.http//www.geneletter.orgGattaca. 1998Whited, D.A. Genetics 311. North Dakota plead University. Spring 1999.