Question

The Human Genome Project (HGP) is an international scientific research project with the goal of determining the sequence of nucleotide base pairs which make up human DNA, and of identifying and mapping all of the genes of the human genome from both a physical and a functional standpoint. Some people advocate the use of this knowledge to ultimately develop gene therapy. The goal of gene therapy would be to find alleles that are “faulty” and to correct them with normal alleles. Ideally, to “fix” every cell in an individual, this process would need to occur in embryos. Presume a couple found out their embryo has a gene mutation that has a high success rate of causing cancer later on in the baby’s life. Would you advocate the use of gene therapy in the embryo to correct the problem before the child was ever born? What if the embryo did not appear likely to develop a genetic disease, but the parents decided that they would really prefer that their child have blue eyes as opposed to brown? Would you advocate the use of gene therapy in this case? Should the use of this therapy be limited? Who should decide those limits?

Answer 1

Answers:

1. Presume a couple found out their embryo has a gene mutation that has a high success rate of causing cancer later on in the baby’s life. Would you advocate the use of gene therapy in the embryo to correct the problem before the child was ever born?

Human genome project was a mega project that aimed to sequence every base in human genome. This project has yielded much new information like knowledge about the effects of DNA variations among individuals (gene therapy ) can lead to revolutionary new ways to diagnose, treat and prevent thousands of disorders that affect human beings.

In view of the above, if a couple found out their embryo has a gene mutation that has a high success rate of causing cancer later on in the baby’s life, I would certainly advocate the use of gene therapy in the embryo to correct the problem before the child was ever born as it helps the couple to have a healthy child & avoid all the hardships associated in treating / bringing up child prone to cancer.

2. What if the embryo did not appear likely to develop a genetic disease, but the parents decided that they would really prefer that their child have blue eyes as opposed to brown? Would you advocate the use of gene therapy in this case?

I would certainly not advocate gene therapy for the above mentioned case scenario as it is for looks / cosmetic purposes and for not addressing the to one if the mains of HGP i.e. ethical issues. Also here, the goal of gene therapy is to find alleles that are “faulty” and to correct them with normal alleles not for personal cosmetic preferences of their child having blue eyes.

3. Should the use of this therapy be limited? Who should decide those limits?

Yes the use of this therapy must be limited to prevent disorders that affect human beings. Also HGP should be used in other areas for solving challenges in health care, agriculture, energy production, environmental remediation, etc.,

Though the ELSI (Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications) program, an integral part of HGP addresses the issue to some extent, suggest international organizations like WHO, UN, etc., should also decide the limits and be enforced world wide.