Genetic Studies Already A Part Of People’s Lives

Cloned sheep might make the news, but University of Utah Medical School professor Lynn Jorde says genetic studies already are affecting people in important ways.

“Genetics is becoming more and more a part of our lives,” Jorde told the annual Snake River Symposium at the College of Southern Idaho.

But in the panel discussion following Jorde’s lecture, talk soon turned to possible misuse of technology.

Associate chairman of the school’s Department of Human Genetics, Jorde focused on the Human Genome Project, a federally funded effort to identify and map human genes.

Jorde cited the use of recombinant DNA, in which a human gene is inserted into the DNA of a live bacteria or virus, to produce insulin and growth hormones.

A treatment for cystic fibrosis using recombinant DNA is being tested. He also mentioned the possibility of replacing defective genes in humans.

“By putting good genes into cells, we may be able to prevent disease before it develops,” Jorde said.

“We can’t be Pollyanna,” 5th District Judge Roger Burdick said. “(Genetic knowledge) will lead to some abuses. The question is, can we minimize it?”

Jorde agreed human cloning was a remote possibility. Noting that it took 277 attempts to produce the one cloned sheep, he said, “Obviously at this point it would be highly unethical to perform this procedure on humans.”

“The main concern I have is the idea of businesses selling tests to the public to detect predisposition to cancer,” Twin Falls oncologist Dr. Kerry Pulver said.

”(They will) sell these tests before we have treatments, before we know what we can really do with the results.”

“We need to ask, are we doing something to enhance, to protect a life?” said the Rev. Thomas Loucks, priest at the Guadeloupe Catholic Church.

“The Catholic Church does not come out and say no to gene research. It does say no to cloning. The church’s stand looks at what is the use.”