One of the most controversial ethical topics today is the Human Genome Project. The projects focus is to understand the genetic makeup of humans by determining the DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) sequence of the human genome and using simpler organisms to create a model for comparison. Based on this, gene therapy has become more and more of a wide spread treatment possibility. Gene therapy has been met with alarm as many conservatives believe it to be dangerous and have condemned doctors for using these treatments calling it “playing God.” Gene therapy is actually a straight forward process, when a person becomes sick there immune system uses white blood cells to attack infections caused by bacteria and viruses. In some cases a person’s immune system lacks the genes needed to fight off disease, with gene therapy scientists can remove white blood cells from the patient and add the missing genes to the DNA sequence, then by placing the genetically modified cells back into the blood stream you can reinforce the immune system to help fight the disease. There have been several proven gene therapy treatments but this is still not a cure, the procedure has to be repeated every few months for the treatment to continue to work.  

    One of the most exciting facets of this technology in my opinion is the idea of controlling the DNA sequence at a single cell level. If we are able to completely map the human genome, we can stop virtually every genetic disorder before cell replication and cure diseases like cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy. Some people argue that natural selection is a part of life and that some creatures and humans are just not meant to make it. Others say that God is the only thing that should be able to manipulate life and that we are more concerned with the ability to do these things instead of asking ourselves if we should be doing them in the first place. This is where the moral question comes in. To be or not to be? It really is the only question worth answering. Are we willing to push forward and better ourselves or will fear prevail? I guess what I keep asking myself is that if there is a supreme being and it has complete control over everything, and I am not saying that its not that way but if that is the truth than the only logical explanation is that everything we have done to this point is what was intended.  

    On the other hand, if everything is chance, and we are in control of our destinies, than we should have the strength to take risks for the grater good. Man has only had a short time to ponder these questions as far as the total existence of life on earth is concerned.  

    What I have been able to take form this assignment is that it is our ethical responsibility to make educated decisions and decide the best course of action for man kind as a whole. Personally, people are still to self absorbed to think for anything but them selves, but if we can continue to grow and make good decisions there may be hope. Maybe in another thousand years we will have more answers and a better understanding of ourselves, not just more questions. If we are creatures created by god, in his image than who are we to question the abilities he has given us? This would be considered an ethical dilemma.