According to the Article, "The Path to Reading Newborn's DNA Map," scientists will someday be able run accurate DNA tests on infants that show future medical issues. Many of the babies born this year will be able to be screened in conventional ways for several severe, but treatable, conditions. In the next few years, though, technology might be able to arrange and examine the whole genome of a child. It would likely identify a range of genetic conditions at birth. It is the same kind of test that can tell adults if they are at risk at getting a certain type of cancer. The National Institute of Health has awarded $5 million to the research program. Jaime King, a professor at the University of California Hasting College of the Law, is trying to create screening guidelines to propose which genetic conditions might be essential for testing with results and which will be optional and left up to the parents. One of the cons of DNA tests for infants, as well as adults, is that they display many mutations that don't present problems for the people who have the tests done for themselves. Dr. Jeffrey Botkin, a professor of pediatrics and a chief of medical ethics at the University of Utah, said it is much too soon to explore the genome sequencing as a necessary screening mechanism for newborns. Genomics has already become a multi-billion dollar industry, and genomics companies that make DNA analysis and testing tools could benefit from screening of newborns. It seems to many that comprehensive genetic screenings of newborns could soon be available to parents everywhere.
Nature of Science Themes:
~ Conflicts within the scientific community. Many scientists agree and disagree whether or not there is value in sequencing the genomes of newborns.
~ Role of motivation and curiosity. Scientists have been studying the sequencing of genomes for decades. The first human genome was only translated a decade ago, and their motivation and curiosity has driven them deeper into the study since then.
Nature of Science Themes:
~ Conflicts within the scientific community. Many scientists agree and disagree whether or not there is value in sequencing the genomes of newborns.
~ Role of motivation and curiosity. Scientists have been studying the sequencing of genomes for decades. The first human genome was only translated a decade ago, and their motivation and curiosity has driven them deeper into the study since then.
Article Link here
Citation: Eisenberg, Anne. "The Path to Reading a Newborn's DNA Map." New York Times. New York Times, 8 February 2014. Web. 13 February 2014.
What an interesting article! I think that this could be very useful technology. One thing that struck me is that when I further researched this genomic screening stuff, I found a radio show recording interviewing the author of your article, Anne Eisenburg, and she said that the technology is not yet able to be dropped. We are not yet economically prepared. She says we should start preparing for it now, so that when it does come we don't have to be catching up afterwards. I found this thought-provoking. Why would we spend so much money on something that's not even available to us yet when we could be bettering our current situation? This is something innovative that would be helpful, but shouldn't we try to master the basics before we move onto the extremes. I think there are more things that we should do beforehand. Before we spend millions on technology to detect things we could possibly treat shouldn't we cure the things we can detect already. I feel like it'd just be like opening Pandora's box. These are my thoughts. Link to radio show recording: http://www.wnyc.org/story/reading-newborns-dna/
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really interesting and important study for scientists to be doing. There are so many people in this world who are born with disabilities and long term illnesses that can't be treated but with this study, there could be the possibility that doctors could prevent these illnesses and disabilities from surfacing. I think that there is still a lot to discover and scientists should take things slow, but at the same time I think this is one of the more important issues they need to focus on right now. A lot of people have long term and permanent affects of illnesses they have when they are younger, and if there is something to do about it, then it should be done.
ReplyDelete