Please write a review of the summary and reflection below:
SUMMARY
The article discusses the way in which scientist are beginning to reexamine the link between gene mutations and inheritable disease. The article cites a study that found that humans have an average of over 50 gene mutations, but most are not harmful. The article discusses a specific genetic variant that was linked to kidney failure until a doctor, who had a patient with this mutation and kidney issues, discovered that he had previously come across several people in a study that had the same genetic variance but did not present with kidney issues. This has caused researchers to question their previous methods for linking genetic variations and diseases and caused many to call for more research and the development of new methods of identifying and linking these variations in human genome and resulting medical issues.
REFLECTION
This article is interesting and a little scary. When we go to the doctor, we all just assume that the science is infallible, and the doctors know what they are doing. Stories like this remind us just how much we have yet to understand about the human body. With 20,000-25,000 genes, its surprising that scientist could even sequence DNA, let alone find specific variants. Collecting more information on the human genome will give scientist valuable insight into hereditary diseases but concluding inaccurate findings could prove disastrous. It would be interesting if this research could tell us the exact roll that different environmental conditions play in human development and the prevalence of different issues as well. By understanding and controlling for genetic variants, the long-term effects that environment has on humans’ health and behavior should become clearer. The most terrifying idea that I can’t help but think about is that of CRISPR. As we go though this chapter and especially reading this article, I can’t help but think how close it feels to becoming a reality. Hopefully if scientists are able to locate specific abnormalities and link them to diseases or disorders, they will be able to effectively use gene editing to dramatically raise the rate of healthy births.
