Morality And The Human Genome Project

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Term Paper Title	Morality And The Human Genome Project
# of Words	1291
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.16

Morality and the Human Genome Project

Morality and the Human Genome Project

     Does the Human Genome Project affect the moral standards of society? Can
the information produced by it become a beneficial asset or a moral evil? For
example, in a genetic race or class distinction the use of the X chromosome
markers can be used for the identification of a persons ethnicity or class
(Murphy,34). A seemingly harmless collection of information from the advancement
of the Human Genome Project. But, lets assume this information is used to
explore ways to deny entry into countries, determine social class, or even who
gets preferential treatment.  Can the outcome of this information effect the
moral standards of a society?
     The answers to the above and many other questions are relative to the
issues facing the Human Genome Project.  To better understand these topics a
careful dissection of the terminology must be made. Websters Dictionary defines
morality as ethics, upright conduct, conduct or attitude judged from the moral
standpoint.  It also defines a moral as concerned with right and wrong and the
distinctions between them. A Genome is "the total of an individuals genetic
material," including, "that part of the cell that controls heredity" (Lee,4).
Subsequently, "reasearch and technology efforts aimed at mapping and sequencing
large portions or entire genomes are called genome projects" (Congress,4).
Genome projects are not a single organizations efforts, but instead a group of
organizations working in government and private industry through out the world.
Furthermore, the controversies surrounding the Human Genome Project can be
better explained by the past events leading to the project, the structure of the
project, and the moral discussion of the project.
     The major events of genetic history are important to the Human Genome
Project because the structure and most of the project deals with genetics.
Genetics is the study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits
(Congress,202). The basic beginnings of genetic history lay in the ancient
techniques of selective breeding to yield special characteristics in later
generations. This was and still is a form of genetic manipulation by "employing
appropriate selection for physical and behavioral traits" (Gert,2).  Futheralong,
the work of Gregor Mendel, an Austrian monk, on garden peas established the
quantitative discipline of genetics.  Mendel's work explained the inheritance of
traits can be stated by factor...

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