Genetic Ownership One of the most hallowed sites in the United States is the one shown in Figure 15–21. It is the Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery, near Washington, D.C. Buried here are the remains of unidentified American soldiers who fought our nation's wars. The tomb also serves as a focal point for the honor and remembrance of those service members lost in combat whose bodies have never been recovered.
Biotechnology offers hope that there will never be another unknown soldier. The U.S. military now requires all personnel to give a DNA sample when they begin their service. Those DNA samples are kept on file and used, if needed, to identify the remains of individuals who perish in the line of duty. In many ways, this practice is a comfort to military families, who can be assured that the remains of a loved one can be properly identified for burial.
But what if the government wants to use an individual's DNA sample for another purpose, in a criminal investigation or a paternity suit? What if health-insurance providers manage their healthcare policies based on a genetic predisposition to disease? For example, suppose that, years after giving a DNA sample, an individual is barred from employment or rejected for health insurance because of a genetic defect detected in the sample. Would this be a fair and reasonable use of genetic information?
After considering this issue for years, United States Congress passed the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, which became law in 2008. This act protects Americans against discrimination based on their genetic information. Physicians and ethicists hope this will lead to more effective use of personal genetic information, without fear of prejudice in obtaining health insurance or employment.
FIGURE 15–21 Unknown Identities The Tomb of the Unknowns in Arlington National Cemetery holds the remains of unknown American soldiers from World Wars I and II, the Korean War, and, until 1998, the Vietnam War. Form an Opinion Should DNA testing be used to identify the remaining soldiers buried here? Why or why not?
Safety of Transgenics
Are GM foods safe?
Much controversy exists concerning foods that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering. The majority of GM crops today are grown in the United States, although farmers around the world have begun to follow suit. Are the foods from GM crops the same as those prepared from traditionally bred crops?
Pros of GM Foods The companies producing seeds for GM crops would say that GM plants are actually better and safer than other crops. Farmers choose them because they produce higher yields, reducing the amount of land and energy that must be devoted to agriculture and lowering the cost of food for everyone.
Insect-resistant GM plants need little, if any, insecticide to grow successfully, reducing the chance that chemical residues will enter the food supply and lessening damage to the environment. In addition, GM foods have been widely available for more than a decade. Careful studies of such foods have provided no scientific support for concerns about their safety, and it does seem that foods made from GM plants are safe to eat.
MYSTERY CLUE
What privacy considerations, if any, should investigators have taken into account when obtaining the DNA evidence?
Table of Contents
- Formulas and Equations
- Applying Formulas and Equations
- Mean, Median, and Mode
- Estimation
- Using Measurements in Calculations
- Effects of Measurement Errors
- Accuracy
- Precision
- Comparing Accuracy and Precision
- Significant Figures
- Calculating With Significant Figures
- Scientific Notation
- Calculating With Scientific Notation
- Dimensional Analysis
- Applying Dimensional Analysis