the human genome project

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the human genome project

Advantages

  • predict and prevent diseases: if doctors knew what genes predisposed people to what diseases, we could all get individually tailored advice on the best diet and lifestyle to avoid our likely problems.
  • develop new and better medicines: knowing how a disease affects us on a molecular level makes it possible to design more effective treatments.
  • accurate diagnosis: some diseases are hard to test for, but if we know the genetic cause, accurate testing will be a lot easier.
  • improve forensic science: forensic scientists can produce a 'DNA fingerprint' from biological material found at the crime scene.

Disadvantages

  • increased stress: if someone knew from a young age that they are susceptible to a brain disease, they could panic every time they get a headache.
  • gene-ism: people with genetic problems could come under pressure not to have children
  • discrimination: life insurance could become impossible to get if you have any genetic likelihood of serious disease.

Evaluation

thousands of scientists from all over the world collaborated on the human genome project. the big idea was to find every single human gene. human dna is made up of about 25,000 genes curled up to form 23 chromosomes. the collaboration of lots of scientists meant that all genes were found more quickly and the data could be made public. 

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