future. Therefore, the manipulation of such genes can be a controversial topic. The controversy most likely stems from the ethical and social questions that are raised by this procedure. Jean

Dausset, author of "Scientific Knowledge and Human Dignity," and George B. Kutukdjian, author of "UNESCO and Bioethics," both discuss the topic of genetic manipulation. Their main focus concerns the applications of genetic manipulation, the limitations and equal opportunities of genetic manipulation, and how a person's confidential information would be regulated. To understand this basics of genetic manipulation, one must first have a little background knowledge.

"Genetics is the branch of biology that deals with heredity, especially the mechanisms of the hereditary transmission and variation of inherited characteristics. Genes are the hereditary

units of chromosomes that are located inside the DNA, which determine certain characteristics of an organism" (Encarta). The scientific alteration of t

may use this information in order to discriminate (Dausset 451). Doctor/patient confidentiality should still be observed to prevent this kind of discrimination. Kutukdjian believes that surveys

What will the limits be on genetic manipulation? Many people believe that is where the majority of the controversy lies. The obvious choice would be for the government to place limits on this medical practice and some research (Kutukdjian 453). The problem with that lies in the fact that the individual governments of the world differ greatly, and they would be unable to set equal limits (Kutukdjian 453). Where will it all end? That is up to man. Ethics

thus being considered unethical (Dausset 450). Dausset says, "The germ-line therapy must be strictly banned" (450). The second area of genetic testing is predictive medicine. Predictive medicine is, essentially, preventive medicine (Kutukdjian 453). The main purpose for predictive medicine is start treatment for a disease that the patient does not have, but that he/she will possibly get in the future. That way the person will not get that disease, thus the doctors "prevented" it.

hereditary diseases (Kutudjian 454).

Indeed, genetic manipulation raises many ethical and social questions, such as man's right to tread on God's domain. If so, in what applications can it be used? What kinds of limitations should be put in place? And, how should this confidential information be regulated? As of now, there are no easy answers to these questions. Concerning the answers to these questions, Nobel laureate James Watson said, "We used to think our fate was in our stars. Now we know that, in large measure, our fate is in our genes" (Jaroff 24-6).

Genetic testing can be separated into two categories. The first should be to look for characteristics of genetic diseases which are hereditary. The second is used to show a person's "predisposition to certain diseases" (Kutukdjian 453). It is in genetic testing that the concept of gene therapy can play a role. The somatic type of gene therapy is considered to be an ethical one. Its main concern is focused toward the cells of the body (Dausset 450). On the other

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Approximate Word count = 1485
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)