The Human Genome and Gene “Therapy”: Some Ethical Issues

The major scientific achievement of the Twentieth Century was the discovery of the double helix, and the mapping of the human genome in 2003. Contemporary medical and scientific knowledge in the field of gene therapy has the potential to inform us about many of the known inherited genetic conditions...

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Main Authors: D. Knapp van Bogaert, G.A. Ogunbanjo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2009-12-01
Series:South African Family Practice
Subjects:
Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1512
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author D. Knapp van Bogaert
G.A. Ogunbanjo
author_facet D. Knapp van Bogaert
G.A. Ogunbanjo
author_sort D. Knapp van Bogaert
collection DOAJ
description The major scientific achievement of the Twentieth Century was the discovery of the double helix, and the mapping of the human genome in 2003. Contemporary medical and scientific knowledge in the field of gene therapy has the potential to inform us about many of the known inherited genetic conditions. In addition, medicine now has the ability to identify a significant number of diseases which may be inherited from us by our children. When we discuss the ethics of gene therapy, a distinction should be made between somatic (non-reproductive) and germ (reproductive) cell therapies. In this article, we focus on the ethical issues related to prenatal screening for genetic disorders which include autonomy, cost and maternal anxiety.
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publishDate 2009-12-01
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series South African Family Practice
spelling doaj-art-3e70163b4e6a47df957939de03fd93682025-08-20T03:43:47ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042009-12-0151610.1080/20786204.2009.108739071171The Human Genome and Gene “Therapy”: Some Ethical IssuesD. Knapp van Bogaert0G.A. Ogunbanjo1University of the WitwatersrandUniversity of LimpopoThe major scientific achievement of the Twentieth Century was the discovery of the double helix, and the mapping of the human genome in 2003. Contemporary medical and scientific knowledge in the field of gene therapy has the potential to inform us about many of the known inherited genetic conditions. In addition, medicine now has the ability to identify a significant number of diseases which may be inherited from us by our children. When we discuss the ethics of gene therapy, a distinction should be made between somatic (non-reproductive) and germ (reproductive) cell therapies. In this article, we focus on the ethical issues related to prenatal screening for genetic disorders which include autonomy, cost and maternal anxiety.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1512human genomegene therapyethical issues
spellingShingle D. Knapp van Bogaert
G.A. Ogunbanjo
The Human Genome and Gene “Therapy”: Some Ethical Issues
South African Family Practice
human genome
gene therapy
ethical issues
title The Human Genome and Gene “Therapy”: Some Ethical Issues
title_full The Human Genome and Gene “Therapy”: Some Ethical Issues
title_fullStr The Human Genome and Gene “Therapy”: Some Ethical Issues
title_full_unstemmed The Human Genome and Gene “Therapy”: Some Ethical Issues
title_short The Human Genome and Gene “Therapy”: Some Ethical Issues
title_sort human genome and gene therapy some ethical issues
topic human genome
gene therapy
ethical issues
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/1512
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AT gaogunbanjo thehumangenomeandgenetherapysomeethicalissues
AT dknappvanbogaert humangenomeandgenetherapysomeethicalissues
AT gaogunbanjo humangenomeandgenetherapysomeethicalissues