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For the first time history, humanity will know the sequence of every
human gene. While that does not mean scientists will know how each gene
works or how they relate one another, a complete genomic sequence of
the human cell's 23 chromosomes will allows scientists and doctors to
fully understand, and possibly manipulate, them.
In his book Genome: The Autobiography of A Species in 23 Chapters,
author Matt Ridley explores not only genomic science but some of the
ethical issues this new knowledge creates. In a
NewsHour interview with Ray Suarez, Ridley said:
This knowledge has huge opportunities, obviously, for curing
cancer and things like that. But it also brings great risks, risks that
we might misapply this knowledge, that we might do things with it that
could be unethical and cruel... We have to tread very carefully into
the future. I mean, if we were to start genetically engineering our
children, not just to get rid of cruel diseases, but also perhaps to
enhance their intelligence or their musical ability or something like
that, then that would be a very dangerous step.
In his book, Ridley also points out that while a person's genes may increase
the chances that he or she will posses certain traits, they do not guarantee
them. A person's environment also has a huge impact on a person's character,
he says.
So what do you think?
How should society use this new genetic information? Should parents
manipulate their children's DNA in an attempt to improve their lives,
or should such manipulation be outlawed? Should people be tested to
find out what they are genetically inclined to be a success?
Mr. Ridley's answers your questions.
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