Should The Government Regulate Genetic Testing

Should the U.S government regulate genetic testing?
Gene testing is a type of medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes, or proteins. The results of a genetic test can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help determine a person's chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. This essay will discuss gene testing being regulated by the U.S government, as the U.S government is the most up-to-date country in terms of gene testing and they have multiple active genetic testing businesses, with regards to strong ethically based laws surrounding them. The ethical issues surrounding gene testing that will be discussed are; whether or not the federal government should take full control over genetic testing,

A genome is an organisms full set of genes on all of its chromosomes. The project was finally declared complete in 2003, which means that the scientists involved had successfully mapped and understood all the genes of humans. Discovering that humans have more than three billion base pairs in their genome. The human genome project was an international study funded and controlled by the U.S government, and was in competition with private institutions trying to achieve the same goal. HGP used a system of private donors who would donate their sperm (male) or blood (female) at their own choice, and secured their identity that not even the scientists knew whose genes they were testing. The impact HPG had on genetic testing was enormous as it provided a basis for research in various areas, particularly medicine, bio-technology, agriculture, and environment. It enables more accurate diagnosis, treatment, management and prevention of genetic diseases. It is used to predict the risk of disease in individuals and their possible offspring. It will also reduce the cost of medical care. Since this project was government run and tested thousands of donor’s genes, it comes into question why the U.S government should regulate genetic testing 13 years after the project was complete. The risk is that the government will announce that all the genetic information collected cannot be patented just like they previously declared in 2000, in regards to the Human genome project, which therefore would become a violation of privacy as the public would have been forced to be tested and their information would be free to all researchers. Furthermore, the government must not regulate genetic testing, because they already have access to the Human Genome