Name: Cortes, Estephanie Ann M.

Date: May 15, 2019

Schedule: MTWThFS 12:00 – 1:30 PM

Genetic Engineering: Genetic screening & Genetic intervention

GENETIC SCREENING (Pg. # 172- 173)

I. Summary
Genetic screening has the main purpose to choose or select the genes for
proper detection of any genetic disease and any other chromosomal activities/
malformities. Individuals who are clinically well can be screened to determine whether
they are carriers of recessive defective genes of certain genetic disease. However,
since individuals usually have different kinds of bad genes, the chance of procreating
children with a genetic disorder is quite small. Nevertheless, it does happen and so it is
a worthy human goal to prevent such disease from occurring. Advocates of mass
genetic screening are trying to achieve this goal.

II. Problem
A pregnant mom was suggested to have her child in a prenatal
screening which checks for certain treatable conditions at the child’s birth such as
cystic fibrosis. The detection of cystic fibrosis in the neonatal period improves the
long-term pulmonary or nutritional status of affected children. A persistent ethical
issue in prenatal screening is whether screening should be voluntary or mandatory.

III. Application of Ethical Theories

A. Pros
The benefits of genetic screening programs stem from providing high-risk
individuals with prevention, early treatment, or reproductive options. As science
advances, making it possible to screen for a growing number of genetic conditions, it is
important to consider the added value of genetic screening, as compared, for instance,
to addressing the social, behavioural, and environmental determinants of health. The
principle of utilitarianism or more specifically, the principle of greatest number is justified
when the goal to of such screening prevent such disease from occurring.

B. Cons
Additionally, it largely depends on whether the disease is caused by a single gene or
chromosomal abnormality, as opposed to complex gene-gene and gene-environment
interactions. Penetrance is a way of quantifying to what extent a given genetic alteration
will be expressed as signs and symptoms of disease. The greater the penetrance, the
more likely an individual carrying a genetic alteration will develop the disease and
become symptomatic. Prenatal diagnosis is gravely opposed to moral law when it is
 done with the purpose of aborting the fetus if it is found to be deformed; this is
condemned as a violation of the unborn child’s right to life.
GENETIC INTERVENTION (Pg. # 173)
I.Summary
Genetic procedures by means of genetic intervention, genetic control, genetic
therapy, genetic surgery, and gene-splicing, people can now "intervene" in biological
processes; a person can now "control" bad or defective genes that will most likely
produce deformed or retarded children in order to "redesign" them for one's own ends.
In the medical context, the recombinant DNA technique might lead to the understanding
and control of molecular processes involved in such diseases as cancer, diabetes, and
hemophilia. It might also pave for the development of new breeds of plants that are able
to utilize nitrogen from the air and thus require no fertilizer.

II.Problem
A mom was convinced by her early-adult daughter to take a genetic test for a
hereditary condition that runs in their blood. She was concerned by its danger because
her uncle died because of that certain condition as well as questions like: What should
they do with this information? What does this particular genetic alteration mean
personally, medically, and socially? If we can, should we intervene to correct or
enhance an individual's genome? And when we cannot intervene, how do we handle
diagnostic information in the absence of a cure?
III.Application of Ethical Theories
A. Pros
Gene therapy is the process of transplanting genes that have developed normally
in place of genes that may be missing or have developed abnormally to correct a
genetic disorder. It is a technique that is still in its experimental stages, but has shown
some promising results for some individuals. Utilitarian ethics proclaims that genetic
intervention is good insofar as it tends to promote happiness and scientific progress;
and much more so because it produces the greatest benefits for the whole human race.

B. Cons
The disadvantage of gene therapy is that, like any other medical procedure, it
may not work. In relation to the Kantian principle, such act of remising or omission
seems to be inhuman or unchristian, for in that case one has failed to perform his moral
concern for the well-being of the other.
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