History and the potential of genetic testing

This paper examines the history and possibilities of genetic testing to improve people’s lives, as well as the need to ensure its advancement and progress. This paper recognizes the contributions of science and early scholars and scientists, both named and unnamed, to the advancement of science. It demonstrates the superiority of Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) over Ribonucleic acid (RNA). This report attempts to highlight the benefits of having genetic testing in the community while neglecting the downsides. The contents of this paper support the use and advancement of genetic testing knowledge, as well as in-depth study to completely understand the full extent of genetics.

Introduction

Genetic testing is the sequencing of human DNA in order to discover genetic differences, anomalies or mutations that may prove pathological. The history of genetics dates back to the early works of Gregor Mendel during the mid-1800, who was referred to as the father of genetics (Kenyon College, 2016). Mendel began to conduct tests on sweet peas. Gregor’s principles on genetics withstood tests of time and are still in use today. Works from other people such as Friedrich Haeckel and Ernst Miescher established that the unit for heredity was found in the nucleus and that it was the chromosomes. It wasn’t until the early years of the 20th century that Mendel’s work got recognition and led to the publishing of his principles, the Mendelian Principles.

The experiments of Griffiths in 1920 to 1950 on bacterial strains led to the conclusion that DNA was the genetic material in organisms. This was later supported by Avery, McCarty and MacLeod, where they discredited protein or the RNA for being responsible for the evolution and inheritance of genes. In the years 1954 to 1961 major advancement in discoveries was achieved including the determining of the DNA code among others. The late 20th century and the 21st century saw promising development in the world of genetics, where numerous technological advancements were put in place to help further explore the world of genetics (Kenyon College, 2016).

Genetic testing is accompanied by the following disadvantages; the individuals found to be missing the genetic mutations that may prove fatal to his or her other family members may suffer from anxiety due to the “survivors’ guilt” aspect. This may result in the concern for the members of the family found to have the genetic defects because there are no clear guidelines on what should happen next in the case that genetic defects are found. Normal genetic tests do not provide an assurance of healthy genes, as there have been cases where women have tested negative to cancer related genetic mutations but were later diagnosed with cancer, caused by genetic anomalies yet to be identified.

Genetic testing holds many potential benefits to the society, since genetic analysis of individuals brings to light the hidden aspects and potentially harmful characteristics in the individual’s genetics. Therefore, the individuals with undesirable genetic mutations can sign up to a medical institution and receive regular checkups and medication to suppress the effects of the genetic alterations. This has proven useful in the early detection for cancer and other diseases that are fatal. Genetic testing is also associated with the discovery of aspects that can contribute to the creation of a cure for certain diseases. This is can be witnessed when a family member known to carry certain genetic mutations that cause a particular disease lacks the gene. Hence, research into this can bring about conclusions that there may rise a cure or a means of preventing the disease, not only for the infected members of the family but for the vast global population.

Reports have shown that women who undergo continuous screening in their abdominal areas undergo anxiety, anger and depression, due to the fact that most women assume that they will be diagnosed with some form of defect that would trigger breast or ovarian cancer before the test results have been generated. Depression, guilt and anxiety may befall individuals once they learn that they have passed on harmful genes to their children, meaning that individuals with identified harmful genetic mutations are more likely to face discrimination when applying for medical insurance covers and jobs.

Finding solutions to problems facing humanity is a moral goal that should be embraced and promoted by all. It is through the fields of science that such problems can be resolved. Genetic testing offers to some extent this ethical value that promises to solve some of humanities unsolved problems, and venturing into genetics assures the provision of answers, as it seeks to understand the basic units that define life and aims at resolving some of the genetic alterations that affect humanity, through the early detections of potential harmful genetic mutations and the creation of cures and solutions to this challenge. Achievements in genetics assures that lives will be saved and made better. Disputes within a family may arise due to genetics test results, threatening the relationships between family members especially in the case where a child inherits genes of anomalies from a parent (Impact targeted Prostarte Screening, 2017). It is saddening that genetic information which is also a key force of progress provided by nature may threaten the relationships within a family, a very important unit of the society.

There are some new facts that we can learn from this research. It is evident that genetics is still not a fully broached subject and that there are numerous aspects of genetics that are yet to be discovered and understood and this explains why there are individuals that have been tested to have healthy genes but at one point in their lives are infected with cancer or some other genetic related disease (BreastCancer.org, 2017).

Conclusion

In conclusion, genetic studies’ advantages outweigh its disadvantages, and the understanding of genetics is bound to improve human life in the long run. Therefore, we should develop better guidelines on how to best manage information acquired from genetic testing and provide counseling to families to prevent stigmatization and psychological distress. These guidelines should in the future be embedded into the code of conduct or the protocols of the practice.

References

BreastCancer.org. (2017). Seeking Genetic information | Pros and Cons of genetic information. Retrieved February 17, 2017, from BreastCancer.org: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/genetic/pros_cons

Impact targeted Prostarte Screening. (2017). Positive and negative aspects of Genetic Screening. Retrieved February 17, 2017, from Impact targeted Prostarte Screening: http://impact-study.co.uk/public/geneticsandcancer/genetictesting/positiveandnegativeaspects

Kenyon College. (2016). History of Genetics. Retrieved February 17, 2017, from KAP Biology Dept Kenyon College: http://biology.kenyon.edu/courses/biol114/Chap01/history_genetics.html