The Human Genome Project: Benefits and Risks to Society
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The Human Genome Project: Benefits and Risks to Society Suvara Wattanapitayakul and Jon C. Schommer Drug Information Journal 1999 33: 729 DOI: 10.1177/009286159903300310 The online version of this article can be found at: http://dij.sagepub.com/content/33/3/729
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Drug Information Journal, Vol. 33, pp. 129-135, 1999
0092-8615/99 Copyright 0 1999 Drug Information Association Inc.
Rinted in the USA. All rights reserved.
THE HUMAN GENOME PROJECT BENEFITS AND RISKS TO SOCIETY SUVARAWATTANAPITAYAKUL, MS Doctoral Candidate, Division of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
JON C. SCHOMMER, PHD Associate Professor, Department of Pharmaceutical Care and Health Systems, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota
The human genome project was initiated in I990 to study the structure and characteristics of human DNA that are important for understanding gene functions and their relation to diseases. The large-scale genome research has driven the technology advancement in genetic testing, drug design, gene therapy, and other genetic related areas such as pharmacogenetics. Although the project reveals potential benefits, it raises ethical, legal, and social issues. The outcomes of individuals’ genetic information disclosure may lead to confidentiality and genetic discrimination issues. In addition, clinical relevance of genetic testing and psychological effect from the results are debatable. This article discusses the potential benefits and risks from the human genome project. Key Words: Human genome project; Public policy
INTRODUCTION
THE HUMAN GENOME project was launched in 1990 by a joint commission between the Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to identify all of the estimated 80000 genes in human DNA and to determine the sequences of the three billion chemical bases that make up human DNA, store this information in databases, and develop tools for data analysis. It is a 15-year initiative to provide detailed information about the structure and characteristics of human DNA that are critical to understanding the functions of genes and their relation to etiology of diseases (1). More than 60 disease-linked genes have been
Reprint address: Suvara Wattanapitayakul, Division of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, 500 W. 12th Ave., Columbus, OH 432101214, e-mail: [email protected].
identified and are believed to be advantageous to gene-based therapy devel
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