Response: Cracking the Code of Life

Cracking the Code of Life

 Genomic science has improved so much in the past decade. From knowing what a nucleus is to finding out which DNA strand can unlock how to prevent illness. The question is would we want our genome to be exposed to the world? After watching Cracking the Code of Life I have thought of ways (and used scientists ways) of negative and positive aspects to revealing our genome to the world. From the movie I learned that illnesses happen when a letter pair is either not in the DNA strand or it is placed. Nowadays researches have searched the human genome in order to find the strands that lead to illnesses and they are now looking for a cure. It has been a race for the scientists to complete it first. In the both private and public organizations came a tie. I also learned that people can be carriers or be effected by illnesses. For example, in the movie when two parents were carriers of a illness which swells up the brain and the infected dies. The child was effected and later on died. The brother of the parent and his wife were also carriers and had one normal child and another which had the same illness. This shows that there is a 20% chance of not having a normal child. In addition to that I learned that I can be tested in order to prevent my children from having those illnesses. Along with those things, I learned many different things about DNA itself. Such as it being our blue print and key to cloning, effects on people and families, how technology advanced in the human genome and what pairs make what illness.

 From the movie I can summarize how the race of finishing the human genome was perused and when it was done people could go get tested for illnesses and the possibility of getting deformed children began to subside. Also the movie talked about how DNA works and which pairs are put together to make up normal people. In addition to that the movie talked about chances and probability of getting an ill child. The movie itself didn’t have a lot of things to summarize but information that made me think about my future and genes. Scientists in Norway have made a data base in which people can see their ancestors through genes. This is public on the internet and people can see if you have a problem in your blood line which you might have inherited. This public genes sharing leads me to my conclusion.

 In conclusion, finishing the human genome was the best thing humanity has ever done. We can now reduce the chances of having ill children or giving diseases and most importantly keeping ourselves healthy. Though, I am not so sure I want my genes and blood line to be put on the internet for everyone to see. I wouldn’t want to lose the chance of getting a good job because I may be sick and people will think I am incapable of doing that specific job. I would love to be tested to see if I had a genetic disease of predisposition because I want to make sure I’m healthy and if I was to die or have no cure, I would live my life to the fullest and make sure I don’t infect anyone. If a company was looking for DNA samples for the use in genetic studies to make a cure for specific bacterial genes and I had that gene, I wouldn’t mind having my DNA in the study because I would be benefiting science and humanity. I am only one person and if I can make a difference then that is what I am willing to do or undergo. I would want royalties due to being the owner of the genes, but it depends how much money or what I will get. I don’t want to greedy, but I would like to be given something because of my “disability”. If I was informed that I might have a health problem later in life I would like to be informed because as I mentioned I want to live life to the fullest and not make anyone sick. I could also contribute to finding a cure. The meaning genetic discrimination means when people are treated differently by their employer or insurance company because they have a gene mutation that causes or increases the risk of an inherited disorder. Genetic privacy means when you can hide your past blood line’s illnesses and no one knows if you have a genetic problem or not. Same ways to protect this type of genetic discrimination is to not publish our genes, but our doctors and trusted people may know about them along with our selves. Also that employers along with schools are fair when giving jobs and don’t look at your genetic make-up.