To who does genetic information belong, the individual or the family? Is this information private or collective? Can genes and their functions even participate in any ownership debates?
Surprisingly, The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has granted thousands of patents on human genes – in fact, about 20 percent of our genes are patented. A gene [...]
When one decides to get tested they normally have themselves and any existing or future children in mind. However if a mutation is discovered, they suddenly find themselves thrown into the position of both decision maker and messenger in relation to their extended family members.
Is revealing genetic information to the family a duty, a choice [...]
Ethical questions around the disclosure of genetic information to family members can contribute to the nature versus nurture debate. A transmitted mutation is given by nature, but it is in being informed of its existence that behaviour may change.
Although genetic information is inherently familial, to expect it to be distributed between all family members is [...]
Within the discussion of genetic responsibility, and especially in relation to pre-conception solutions there is a constant question of the ethical treatment of “possible persons”. With technology and longevity comes a tendency to always look ahead and to seek for methods of control. Science + future forecasting makes prevention of possible people from existing an [...]
Also tagged eugenics, future, moral, predeterminedThere is something strange in the discussion around genetic responsibility and eugenics. On the one hand natural breeding with no consideration of genetic information is criticised as irresponsible and blameworthy conduct. With prenatal screening and embryo selection parents cannot be blamed for suffering because they have done the best they could to prevent it.
However the [...]
So how does a mutation carrier gets to have a biological child AND avoid being blamed for endowing them with a potentially harmful genetic inheritance? This is where science comes into play and the genetic screening is performed on a selection of embryos instead of after birth.
This screening technique - called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) [...]
So do contrasts in perception of responsibility depend upon the level of involvement? Those who experience it first hand as carriers, (or even non-carriers within a carrier family) seem to see a wider spectrum to the debate, while non-carriers or are more judgemental and build a more precise definition of their view on right and [...]
Also tagged moral, non-carrier, perceptionQuestions regarding the perception of personal responsibility arise from the difference in attitude between tested carriers and non-carriers of genetic mutation. The paper “Guilt, blame and responsibility: men’s understanding of their role in the transmission of BRCA1/2 mutations within their family” (Hallowell et al 2006) brings together the accounts of men who were tested positive [...]
Also tagged BRCA, perception