PGP (Personal Genome Project) is the next step in humanity’s quest to discover itself. It aims to reveal as clearly as possible the essential genetic structure of 100,000 humans by focusing upon that portion of their genes which are thought to be most relevant to their individual prototypical appearance and behavior. When large numbers of people have their sequences known and the database includes their physical traits it is probable that there will be found important linkages between genome and phenotype. When various qualities and failings are known then appropriate changes can be made in the person’s behavior.
Your need to be interested in a gene project has been alluded to in the last few blogs. The problem arises if there is a necessity for maintaining a healthy genetic structure of the human species for a really long time, say the next 100,000 years. When viewed in a very long time span it becomes obvious that it is impossible with the current political structure of the world to maintain genetic stability. But, if everyone’s genetic structure were known and the various problems were identifiable then it would be relatively easy to maintain a near perfect genetic health of humanity with no intervention in almost all people’s lives and not much if any intervention even into those people’s lives who did happen to have a genetic problem.
A problem with the standard Lifehaven Strategy lies with the Vital Law #2 which deals with keeping harmful genes out of the common gene pool. That law is in direct conflict with the universal laws of natural selection. Natural selection has done a commendable job of maintaining genetic health and adaptation of all of the Earth’s species up until now although by our human standards this destroying of the unfit or the unlucky individuals a horribly brutal method. Whereas if we as thoughtful, sensitive, high tech humans knew precisely where and when a genetic malformation occurred it might be possible to repair it, or neutralize it or if all else failed to isolate the unfortunate possessor of the flaw from the common gene pool but there would be no necessity of destroying that individual as mother nature would do. In any case if the flaw were identified appropriate measures, as defined by the people involved, could be taken and everyone would be better off. This new method of genetic maintenance would be as pleasant and noninvasive a method as has ever been created but without doubt the ethicist community will find a quibble and raise a fuss.
I am planning to apply for the PGP project but there is a selection process for those who will be deemed worthy enouth to do the expensive tests upon. In reading the material on their web site it is difficult to know if one even has a chance of being selected. One hurdle is the problem of privacy of the information but in my case and at my age and with my beliefs this isn’t too much of a problem. My primary life goal at present is to help humanity survive for a very long time so that our species can maximize its total years of individual vitality. This requires time to accomplish as well as numbers of individuals but it also requires a fully functioning genome and to get that requires keeping it cleaned of deleterious flaws. The PGP project is certinally a step in the right direction.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No
Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Filed under: Uncategorized
