Human Genome Project: an attentive reading of the book of life?

Abstract

The idea to sequence all 3 billion bases of the humane genome started in the late 80s and the project began in the early 90s. In June 2000, the first "draft" was announced and in February, 2001 the final sequence was published by Science and Nature. Many debates about the ethical, legal and social issues originated from the Human Genome Project. The main questions are? "who should have access to an individual's genetic information?"; "will the genetic information be used as a discrimination tool?"; "is there any risk for a modern eugenics to arise, based on genetic information?"; "is genetic determinism back?" Total sequencing of the human genome allows for the development of new diagnostic tests for genetic diseases as well as new drugs based on the patient`s individual genotype. These are some positive and immediate results of the Human Genome Project. Several papers in the literature try to associate specific genes with complex traits of the personality, such as intelligence, moods, anger. There are some studies looking for evidence for the genetic determinants of alcoholism, drug use and abuse and other behavior problems. Although none of the papers has concluded that these traits are genetically determined, biological determinism, which does not take into account social and cultural influences, is present in some segments of our society, which find in science a support for these ideas. To forget or to neglet that a part, large or small, of what we are is influenced by the environment and to consider exclusively the genotype can bring serious consequences to society.