Genetic Testing

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how the debate over whether mankind should attempt to manipulate the natural order of things by picking and choosing which embryos are allowed to mature to term has received an increasing amount of attention in recent years. It looks at how even though the incidence of many inherited diseases has declined as a result, critics of such practices suggest that what is considered "socially undesirable" in terms of the inherited diseases could easily be extended to other considerations as well, leading to "Brave New World" in which social engineering dictates who will be allowed to live and who must die. This paper provides an analysis of the pros and cons of genetic testing, followed by a summary of the research in the conclusion.

From the Paper:

"Genetic tests have existed for more than three decades in prenatal testing and are used for diseases such as sickle cell anemia; however, only in recent years have genetic tests been able to determine whether one is likely, or even certain, to contract breast, colon, or ovarian cancer or dozens of other serious medical conditions (Cabot 2001). Although laboratories in the United States were only conducting a few such tests a year a decade ago, they are performing more than 200,000 tests annually today (Cabot 2001). The completion of the Human Genome Project represents the beginnings of a new era; however, this vast increase in genetic information will also magnify issues related to privacy, confidentiality, and the potential for discrimination in employment, life insurance, and access to healthcare services (Churchill 2001)."

More papers on Genetic Testing:

• Analytical Essay # 141603 : "Genetic Testing"
• Argumentative Essay # 141735 : "The Problems with Genetic Testing"
• Term Paper # 91683 : "Genetic Testing of Workers"
• Term Paper # 45216 : "Genetic Testing: Is It Really Cutting Edge?"

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