The Great (DNA) Debate

The Great (DNA) Debate

             At the recent ASHG meeting one of the hot-button topics was DNA sequencing in newborns. Currently, the states require the screening of minimum 21 genes in all newborn babies for hereditary disease; having information about the babies A's, T's, C's and G's can immediately improve their treatment to make sure they can learn their ABC's. As DNA sequencing technology continues to improve we may be able to completely sequence the entire genome of a newborn child. This may help answer questions like will the child succumb to the family predisposition to diabetes or heart disease, giving valuable information about potential for diseases and other information that could help discover markers and treatment for diseases (or find a genetic marker for being devilishly handsome).

Terminator, as portrayed in the movie "Terminator"

             

         The idea of complete genome sequencing for newborns is not without arguments against it. Where and how will this information be stored? (Please not on a computer named Skynet!) How long will it be stored for, and who will have access to it? Will the information be strictly for clinicians? Could researchers use it to help drive research? Will insurance companies deem individuals ineligible for insurance, or base insurance premiums off of this information?

               We live in an exciting time where technology is moving at a blistering pace. As much as we need the innovators pushing us forward, we need the critics urging caution (before a cyborg from the future travels to the past to kill our mother before we are born). Where is the line drawn? Will the future consist of a race of genetically engineered superhumans? The debate on how much information should be taken from DNA sequencing projects and what should be done with that information is taking place right now.

              Speaking of DNA sequencing and robots (http://www.aurorabiomed.com/nucleic-acid-isolation.htm) there already exists robots for the automatic extraction of DNA from human tissue. This helps researchers by freeing up time for them to do other tasks while DNA can be extracted from many samples at once, with minimal concern of time travel and minimal danger for prospective mothers.

More information about Aurora Biomed: www.aurorabiomed.com