Human Genome Project One of the Primary

Human Genome Project One of the primary concerns of the biological sciences today is human health. The more information is made known about the human body, the more curative and preventive steps can be taken to ensure the longevity and health of the human body. This is one of the ends of the Human Genome Project (HGP), which was concluded in 2003. The project ran for 13 years and was coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health. US Department of Energy (2012).

In addition, the Wellcome Trust in the U.K. became amajor partner in this effort, while contributions were also received from Japan, France, Germany, China, and other countries. The HGP's main goals were to gather information and apply the findings to human health. It should, however, also be noted that the project has several ethical and social implications. Several main goals were identified for the Human Genome Project (U.S. Department of Energy, 2012). One of these was to identify the 20,000-25,000 genes that might found in human DNA).

It also aimed to determine the sequence of 3 billion chemical base pairs that function as the building blocks of human DNA. This information was then to be stored in databases and tools for analysis of such data were to be improved. Related technologies were to be transferred to the private sector, while ethical, legal, and social issues were to be identified and addressed.

While the initial goals of the project have been achieved and the project is said to have been completed, the analyses of data will continue for some years to come. These analyses have significant implications for health care. According to Green (n.d., p. 33), the genome project identified significant genetic similarities among human beings and other species, such as chimpanzees. When researching human health then, these species could be significant in improving the understanding of the human body and its optimal functioning.

In other words, the sequences of species that run parallel can be used to develop experimental and computational models to identify functionally important sections of DNA, which in turn means that genes such as those that cause cystic fibrosis can be identified and potentially eliminated. Furthermore, determining the functional importance of certain genome sequences will result in an ultimately better understanding of human health in general.

Furthermore, the development of disease and the role of gene alterations in this can also create a better understanding of how better to maintain human health. Indeed, the very origin of the Human Genome Project is focused upon the main goal of improving human health. Hence, connections between human beings and other species that would be most helpful in this goal. As such, alterations in human genomes predispose the body to disease.

The identification of these may lead not only to a cure for such diseases as cystic fibrosis and cancer, but also to preventative measures that might be implemented to help human beings live longer and healthier lives. According to Green (n.d., p. 33), almost all diseases have at least some genetic component. Even environmentally caused diseases such as AIDS have genetic components that predispose some human beings to greater morbidity and mortality relating to the condition. The HGP has been particularly useful in terms of rare genetic diseases.

For example, individual single genes have been identified that might contribute to rare genetic conditions without single-handedly causing them. Green has implied that work over the next 15 years will identify the major contributing genes for many common diseases. Genetic contributions to complex diseases will also be identified by whole genome association studies. According to Carroll and Ciaffa, there are two general categories that may be used to organize the ethical implications of the Human Genome Project: genetic engineering and genetic information.

Genetic engineering means the manipulation of genes in the human body. Genetic engineering, as seen above, will ultimately allow medical scientists to diagnose and treat diseases on a scale that has not been possible in the past. The treatment of disease is regarded as a suitable ethical use for genetic engineering. However, genetic mapping also means that physical and psychological traits can be identified in terms of genetics. Like diseases, these genes will then be able to be manipulated to alter the traits they are connected with.

This could create some ethical questions. A further distinction is then created regarding this, between somatic cell and germline intervention, and bewteen therapeutic and enhancement engineering. Somatic cell manipulation creates body cell alterations within an individual, whereas germline manipulation would alter the reproductive cells and cause changes to be passed on to future generations. Therapeutic engineering, again, refers to genetic interventions to rectify diseases or deficiencies, while enhancement engineering focuses upon extending existing desirable traits or abilities beyond their normal levels. Clearly, the.