Genetic Medicine

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Genetic Medicine

• Two Perspecitves
• Star Treks Masterpiece Society
• Or
• Dr.Holmes Morton and Geneteic Medicine

2
What Is Genetic Medicine?

• Blood test tells what is wrong with your
  chromosomes
• Treatment is tailored to a persons DNA
• Currently applies mostly to rare disorders caused
  by a single gene
• Diseases caused by a single gene are easy to
  identify and study

3
Human Genome Project

• First rough draft completed in 2000
• Know what genes are on what chromosomes
• Hope it will bring new power to heal by tinkering
  with our DNA, repairing our imperfect chromosomes
  and eliminating inherited disease.

4
Human Gene Therapy

• This is the transfer of one or more normal or
  modified genes into a persons body cells to
  correct a genetic defect or boost resistance to
  disease.
• Viruses usually used to insert genes into
  cultured human cells
• Very difficult to get modified genes to work
  where and how they should

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Phenotypic Treatments

• Symptoms of many genetic disorders can be
  minimized or suppressed by
• Dietary controls
• Adjustments to environmental conditions
• Surgery or hormonal treatments

6
Dr. Holmes

• Relies on genetic testing, newborn screening,
  phenotypic treatments, transplants
• Gene therapy has not devloped as hoped

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Prenatal Screening

• Amniocentesis tests cells found in the
  amniotic fluid surrounding the fetus
• Chorionic villi sampling tests cells from tiny
  fingerlike projections on the placenta
• Fetoscopy fetoscope is inserted into the uterus
  through a small incision made in the belly.
• Ultrasound Very high frequency sound waves are
  used to produce a continuous moving picture of
  the fetus

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Preimplantation diagnosis

• Embryos produced by invitro fertilization or
  screened for genetic disorders and implanted in
  the uterus only if disease free.

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Catechism of the Catholic Church 2274 Regarding
Prenatal Diagnosis

• Since it must be treated from conception as a
  person, the embryo must be defended in its
  integrity, cared for, and healed, as far as
  possible, like any other human being.

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• Prenatal diagnosis is morally licit, 'if it
  respects the life and integrity of the embryo and
  the human fetus and is directed toward its
  safeguarding or healing as an individual... It is
  gravely opposed to the moral law when this is
  done with the thought of possibly inducing an
  abortion, depending upon the results a diagnosis
  must not be the equivalent of a death sentence.'

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Intellectual Dishonesty

• Text page 134 According to 1 view, the tiny
  free ball is a pre-pregnancy stage. Like
  unfertilized eggs discarded monthly from a woman
  it isnt attached to the uterus.
• The tiny ball of cells is nothing like an
  unfertilized egg. It is a human being in the
  earliest stages of its development.

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Star Trek Masterpiece Society

• Relies on peimplantation and prenatal testing to
  eliminate people with disease
• Currently preimplantation diagnosis, prenatal
  screening and abortion are practiced

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The End