Thoraiya DyerGenetic code access by Insurance Companies: No-Win situation?
December 3rd 2006 08:38
filed under FREEWARE FUTURE
The Human Genome Project (October 1990 to 2003) headed by Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D has opened doors for further study of 20,000-25,000 human genes. The goal is to discover what lies inside these genes and how this new knowledge will help improve our health.
Scientists and doctors will have access to these genes and decode them in order to facilitate the understanding of the genetic basis of human existence, especially in relation to diseases. In the future, it will be necessary for doctors to take our genetic samples, keep a record of them, and basically have access to what makes us "us".
In short, these records will find their way into social institutions that require a "background" of our health, whether they be in school, day care, or insurance companies.
This got me to asking, what if virtually everyone in the world gets access to each other's genetic codes in the future? If Adolf Hitler were alive by then, he'd be greatly disillusioned. Scientists will find out that 99% of his DNA components were riddled with megalomaniac tendencies, and not necessarily superior genes.
By the time our insurance providers get access to our genetic codes and find faulty wiring, we must make sure they cover the expenses for genetically manipulating our genes and making us less prone to disease. Otherwise, we'd be unhappy victims of our own natural DNA structure. That's a hell of a disgrace.
LINKS
futureforall.org
http://www.genome.gov/10001018
The Human Genome Project (October 1990 to 2003) headed by Francis S. Collins, M.D., Ph.D has opened doors for further study of 20,000-25,000 human genes. The goal is to discover what lies inside these genes and how this new knowledge will help improve our health.
Scientists and doctors will have access to these genes and decode them in order to facilitate the understanding of the genetic basis of human existence, especially in relation to diseases. In the future, it will be necessary for doctors to take our genetic samples, keep a record of them, and basically have access to what makes us "us".
In short, these records will find their way into social institutions that require a "background" of our health, whether they be in school, day care, or insurance companies.
This got me to asking, what if virtually everyone in the world gets access to each other's genetic codes in the future? If Adolf Hitler were alive by then, he'd be greatly disillusioned. Scientists will find out that 99% of his DNA components were riddled with megalomaniac tendencies, and not necessarily superior genes.
By the time our insurance providers get access to our genetic codes and find faulty wiring, we must make sure they cover the expenses for genetically manipulating our genes and making us less prone to disease. Otherwise, we'd be unhappy victims of our own natural DNA structure. That's a hell of a disgrace.
LINKS
futureforall.org
http://www.genome.gov/10001018
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