The Human Genome Project (HGP), was the international collaborative research program mandated with the task to completely map and understand all the genes of human beings. The HGP represented the collective efforts of scientists in many countries, funded public programs and private enterprise (Wilson & Nichols, 2015). HGP technological advances prove that we are on the verge of a new dawn of an age of personalized medicine. According to the National Library of Medicine, the personalized medicine will allow the use of an individual’s genetic profile in guiding decisions made regarding the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of any disease (2014).
Many diseases which are of interest to Psychologists, including bipolar, schizophrenia, autism among others, have both genetic and behavioral components that jointly shape the body’s response to particular drug treatment (Collins, 2000). Genetic influences are important for most behavioral disorders and dimensions. Molecular genetics is able to identify some of the specific DNA variants responsible for heritability, (Plomin & Davis, 2010). Modern genetic manipulations involve scientific procedures to add new DNA or silence gene sequences in organisms. The human genetic blueprint will speed researchers’ efforts to understand the biological pathways involved in mental illness and to develop better methods of diagnosis and treatment (Collins, 2003). Consequently, according to Collins, doctors will be able to examine a person’s genomic information to predict the most effective drug with the least side effects for that individual, this is unlike the current trial-and-error method of presuming the best medication for a patient (2003).
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Genetic interventions as a Means of cognitive enhancement is considered unconventional and hence the center of a heated ethical debate (Daigle, 2010). The ethical issues raised by the Human Genome Project can be categorized into two general groups; genetic engineering and genetic information. Firstly, genetic engineering consists of issues regarding to genetic manipulation, also called genetic engineering. The map of the human genome provides information allowing the diagnosis and eventual treatment of many diseases. Similarly, the map helps to determine the genetic basis of many physical and psychological traits, this in turn raises the possibilities of altering the traits via genetic interventions (Carroll & Ciaffa, 2003). According to Carroll and Ciaffa, the ethical permissibility of genetic manipulation is structured around two relevant distinctions: the distinction between somatic cell and germline intervention and distinction between therapeutic and enhancement engineering (2003).
Carroll and Ciaffa go ahead to explain that, somatic cell manipulation alters body cells, meaning that the resulting changes are limited to an individual. Germline manipulation, on the other hand, alters reproductive cells. In other words, the changes are passed on to future generations. Therapeutic engineering happens when genetic interventions are used to rectify diseases or deficiencies. In contrast, enhancement engineering attempts extend traits or capacities beyond their normal levels. The use of somatic cells is generally regarded as ethically acceptable because the interventions subscribe to the purpose of medicine and the risks are only limited to one patient.
On the contrary, germline interventions involve more significant health concerns because the risks extend across generations increasing the impact of unforeseen consequences. Most ethicists would not object to the use of germline interventions only if they are performed safely and effectively and only for the treatment of serious disease. Germline intervention, therefore, would be a more efficient method for treating disease, since a single intervention would render both the patient and their generations disease-free. This in turn will eliminate the need for repeated somatic cell treatments across future generations.
Enhancement engineering has both scientific and ethical problems. Scientifically, it is unlikely to enhance normally functioning genes without risking side effects. Enhancing an individual’s height beyond their naturally ordained level, for instance, may inadvertently cause stress on other parts of the body, say the heart. Moreover, many traits targeted for enhancement, example, intelligence or memory, are genetically multifactorial and have a strong environmental component. Thus, alteration of single genes would not necessarily achieve the desired outcome. In addition, future generations might not share their predecessors’ views about the desirability of the traits bequeathed to them. While future generations are not likely to be ungrateful for being deprived of genes associated with horrible diseases, they may feel limited by choices made regarding their physical, cognitive or emotional traits.
Lastly, the other ethical category comprises of questions relating to the acquisition and use of genetic information. The key issue being the use of genetic screening. Screening for diseases with the due consent of the patient is ethical but even this form of screening can create some significant ethical challenges. If the test is positive, what options will be available to enhance the condition? Will the patient’s relatives be made aware that they too may be affected by the ailment? In conclusion, there are two ways of looking at gene manipulation in general, it should therefore be implemented with the utmost care with thorough considerations of all possible outcomes and the risks involved.
References
Carroll M.L, Ciaffa J, (2003). The Human Genome Project: A Scientific and Ethical Overview: Action Bioscience.
Collins F, (2000). Human Genome Project: Monitor on Psychology .
Collins F.S, (2003). The Genome Era and Mental Illness: Nami Advocate .
Daigle K.R, (2010). Manipulating the Mind: The Ethics of Cognitive Enhancement.
National Library of Medicine, (2014). Personalized Medicine. http:///ghr,nlm.nlh.gov/glossary=personalizedmed .
Plomin R, Davis S.P, (2009). The Future of Genetics in Psychology and Psychiatry: Microarrays, Genome-Wide Association and Non-Coding RNA: J Child Psychol Psychiatry (Vol50 (1-2) Pages 63-71.
Wilson B.J, Nicholls S.G, (2015). The Human Genome Project, and the Recent Advances in Personalized Genomics. http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/RMHP.S58728 (Vol2015:8 Pages 9-20).
