ENG101 Common Final
(Fall, 1997)
Genetic testing will / will not improve
the quality of life.
Introduction to the
Issue of Genetic Testing
Genetic testing is a rapidly growing
field in the world today. Current genetic tests (screening) can indicate
specific disorders which may be inherited or acquired through or damaged
genes. The most common reason for utilizing genetic testing is to
determine inherited diseases. This testing can be done prenatally or postnatally.
However, the ability to locate specific genes which can indicate the propensity
for developing a disease has created overwhelming joy as well as concern
among researchers, doctors and the general populace.
These advances in genetic testing
are also likely to have profound social and political implications, legal
ramifications and psychological costs. When examining how these tests may
impact the quality of life, one must first determine what quality of life
means. Does it refer to the general well being of people or just their
general health? How will knowing that they may have a disease (some time
in the future) impact their life style? Will it impact their employment
or their future health coverage? If a parent has a child tested, when or
should the child be told the results? How will the knowledge impact the
way the parents raise and interact with the child? Will genetic testing
create a need for genetic counseling?
In response to worldwide concerns
related to the human genome, UNESCO drafted a Universal Declaration of
Human Rights which will be voted upon at its General Conference in November
of this year. Some of these rights include the following:
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“Everyone has a right to respect for their
[sic] dignity and for their [sic] rights regardless of their [sic] genetic
characteristics.”
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“Everyone must be able to benefit from advances
in biology and genetics, with due regard to their [sic] dignity and rights.”
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“No one may be subjected to discrimination
based on genetic characteristics....”
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“Genetic data associated with a named person
and stored or processed for the purposes of research or any other purpose
must be held confidential and protected against disclosure to third parties.”
Web links
with relevant information:
Materials
Available in GCC Library
These books are on 1 hour reserve at the Circulation
Desk. In order to check these materials out, the student must have
a current student ID card.
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Long, Robert Emmet, ed. Rights to
Privacy. New York: H. W.. Wilson, 1997.
(Reference shelf, v.69, no. 3) KF1262 .R54 1997
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Taking Sides: Bioethical Issues.
Ref R724 T35 1995 (issue 20); Ref R724 T35 1997 (issue 14)
These are the same, just newer editions although
these articles are not different.
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Nelkin, Dorothy. Dangerous Diagnostics:
The Social Power of Biological Information. New York:
Basic Books, 1989. RA427.5 .N45 1989
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Barker, Penelope, ed. Genetics and
Society. New York: H. W. Wilson, 1995. (Reference Shelf, v.67,
no. 3) QH438.7 G44 1995
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Wekesser, Carol, ed. Genetic Engineering.
San Diego: Greenhaven, 1996. QH442 G444 1996.
The following are located at the table
behind the Reference Desk:
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CQ Researcher 1993: 1023. Short sidebar
on DNA Profiling/Medical Screening
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Gene Therapy’s Future.
CQ Researcher 8 Dec. 1995: 1103-1104.
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Reproductive Ethics. CQ Researcher
8 Apr. 1994: 295-296.
Videos:
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Quality of Life in the Electronic Village.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1995. (150 min) TK5105.5
Q38 1995
This video conference probes the possible
effects of the "electronic village" and related ethical and social concerns
such as access and privacy.
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Off Limits: your health, your job, your
privacy. Educational Film Center in association with WETA. PBS, 1994
(57 min) HD6971.8 .O44 1994
The section on health and health insurance
is applicable to the topic of genetic testing.
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A Question of Genes: Inherited Risks.
PBS, 1997. (120 min.)
This tape highlights the ramifications
(positive and negative) of predictive genetic testing through dialog with
patients, doctors and a gene discovery company. Actual cases are
followed over a period of time.
NOTE: Library of Congress uses
Medical Screening, not Genetic Testing as a subject heading. In Infotrac,
both subject headings can be used. Also use keyword search
English
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