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Altering the Gene Pool - Rights and Responsibility
- K R Sethuraman (28 April 2001)
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Potential danger of knowledge
- Gisli Ragnarsson (9 May 2001)
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K R Sethuraman, Professor of Medicine Jawaharlal Institute of PG medical education & research, Pondicherry, India.
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Sir, Owing to spectacular advances in medical treatment, we have managed to keep several members of the community with "sick-genes" live long enough to reproduce and transmit them to the subsequent generations. Several heredo-familial diseases - in which life expectancy has remarkably increased from one of childhood death to one of high quality life well in to adulthood - can be cited as examples. When we are able to perform effective gene-audit, we are likely to realise how poor the human gene pool has become, thanks to bypassing the natural checks and balances which were operative till a century ago. If we have a right to intervene to keep the sick-genes survive and propogate, do we not have an ethical responsibility to find acceptable ways and means of ensuring a healthier gene pool for the future generations? Prof. K.R. Sethuraman. MD, PGDHE.,
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Gisli Ragnarsson, Vice-Principal Fjolbrautaskolinn i Gardabae
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The knowledge written in our DNA is still mostly hidden in clouds. Scientists are now unravelling this knowledge, which our cells have gathered throughout evolution. When humans realize the hidden wonders of nature nothing can stop their attempt to understand and use this knowledge for their own benefits. Human history tells us about how humans have sought and used knowledge, often in questionable motives. Seeking and utilizing knowledge carries danger as well as benefits. Our realization of the knowledge that governs the laws of nature gives the human race supremacy. Increased bulk of knowledge about how to manipulate nature obviously has its benefits but it also has darker sides. Human genetics is a field of knowledge that has great potential in changing human lives for the better. It can help us to understand what goes wrong in disease and how to tailor therapy for each individual according to his genetic make-up. Human genetics can also lead to the development of more efficient and saver drugs. These sides of human genetics are beneficial and hard to see how knowledge of this kind can be harmful. The only ethical questions are how this knowledge is gathered. In the quest for knowledge we always must weigh the potential benefits against the risk of harm. Another side of human genetics are its possibility to predict disease and manipulate human cells in the purpose of creating "healthy" and "desirable" individuals. The practice of this knowledge can of cause be beneficial but it has great potential to be dangerous and even catastrophic. In human cloning, knowledge is used to manipulate human cells in order to create human beings. Most people find this ethically wrong while some say this is only a step from fertilizing an egg in a test tube. We began to change the genetic material of cells, as soon as we discovered the knowledge of genetic engineering. Manipulation of bacterial and plant cells has proven very beneficial but manipulation with human cells must be practiced with utmost care and only after general discussion not only within the population of one nation but worldwide. From the ethical standpoint, genetic tests are another delicate field of human genetics. Within few years it may be possible to predict the likelihood of getting a disease with a fair accuracy. Then we can possibly get the percentage probability that a child or a foetus will develop a disease. This knowledge may have benefits especially if you can influence the development of the disease with therapy or lifestyle, but if you cannot, such knowledge may be very harmful. Genetic testing is an individual knowledge and is only desirable if you can use it can benefit the individual. The hunger for knowledge distinguishes humans from other species. Some of our knowledge is very dangerous such as nuclear power, which can be used in warfare. Such dangers are real and should be realized and respected. The exploitation of genetic knowledge carries great possibility but also potential danger. The unravelling of genetic knowledge can harm individuals if we forget to take great care in how we gather the data. I think it is stupid to try to stop people from gathering data in the purpose of creating knowledge, but that it is equally stupid to allow people to seek knowledge without making sure that their pursuit does not harm others. It is very important that we take great care in protecting personal information about delicate data such as health information. In my opinion the debate about the Icelandic Health Database has been positive in drawing attention to health databases in general and how such databases are managed and used. Gisli Ragnarsson
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