Following the successful decoding of the Human Genome in 2001, molecular biology was raised to the status of singular secular religion by many. And yet today it cannot boast much success, cures for cancer and depression remain a utopian dream because of the relationship between genes and the environment has proven to be more complicated than initially assumed. And yet it is conceivable that in the future we will no longer turn to a psychoanalyst or confession in search for self knowledge, but rather complete sequencing of our personal genome.
Possible consequences of increasing geneticisation:
Positive genetics: Prenatal and pre-implantation not only mean genetic disease will die and also prevent existence of genetically abnormal people. (In Denmark the number of Down syndrome babies being born has gone down by 50% since the introduction of screening throughout the country).
CSI realities:
DNA databases simplify the (worldwide) search for criminals.
New customer structure and health insurance:
Classified according to customers molecular makeup.
Personalised medication:
Ingredients are chosen on the basis of a persons individual biochemistry.
New Class Society
US molecular biologist Leanne M. Silver (authour of controversial book 'Remaking Eden'), predicts the division of society into 'natural', 'gene-enhanced' and 'gene-rich' people. The 'gene-rich' about 10% of the worlds population will no longer interbreed with the 'naturals'.
The end of solidarity
When social problems have their origins in a persons biological make-up,would the state and society no longer be responsible for social conditions?
Personal responsibility
The Genome debate reveals a paradoxical simultaneously of determinism (gene dictate your life) and personal responsibility (those who have a predisposition predisposition for cancer they themselves are responsible for trying to prevent it).
Discovering an IQ gene
If such a gene could be found us sociologists Thomas lemke, would not the notion of the inherent equality of all humans become obsolete, as there would no longer be a 'natural foundation' for it?
Would we abolish human rights? And above all: who would we be?
And also: finding the 'missing link'
Through the hybridization of chimpanzee DNA human DNA it will be a kind of rebirth of the australopithecus. The first pre-human.
We are not equal to the perfection of our products. We are producing more than we can answer for. We also think we are allowed to do what we're doing. Gunther Anders
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