Aristotle once said, “knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” But how much of yourself should you really know?
Modern day genomics, the field of molecular biology that maps entire genome sequences of DNA, makes knowing about your genetic information easily accessible, simply by spitting into a tube. However, the documentary Cracking Your Genetic Code talks about how there are many pros and cons to knowing what your DNA says about you.
Having your genetic code read allows you to be prepared if you learn that you are predisposed to any medical conditions or diseases. For example, if you learn that you are prone to receiving Type 2 Diabetes, you may be able to overcome this condition by eating healthy and exercising properly. Even though living with Type 2 Diabetes may not have killed you, it was beneficial to avoid the problems of living with the condition by simply changing your life habits.
Along with the benefit of stopping disease early on in life, there are even more negative effects of learning what your DNA says. One specific problem is whether or not you want to be worried about something for the rest of your life. If you happen to learn that you will have a horrible disease that is inevitable when you reach a certain age, it would be hard to make day-to-day decisions without thinking about how it would affect your life later on. When dealing with information as sensitive as this, it can put a stigma as to who you want to have a relationship and possibly children with. Many people may find themselves only dating those with desired traits, like a specific height, skin color, hair color, because they only want to pass down the “best” genes to their offspring. By reducing how we view others to solely genetic terms, we are limiting ourselves to a select group to choose from, which may not leave you happy at the end of your life.
Another major con to having your DNA sequenced would be having all information about you out on the internet, especially if your genome sequence is available online. Having access to your genome online makes it easy to learn more about yourself, but it also easy for hackers to gain access to all of you genetic information. It can even be argued that your genome is more valuable than your name and social security number, because it has every detail about who you are genetically.
The dangers of genome mapping are often overlooked because of the chance you may be able to catch something that can have a negative affect on your life in the future. I personally do not think I would have my DNA sequenced, since I believe that everything in my life happens for a reason, and I will be able to handle anything that comes my way.
If you would like to hear a first-person perspective on how genetic testing affected Seth Rotberg’s life by learning that he tests positive for Huntington’s Disease, watch the video by TedX below:
Also, if you would like to learn who owns the rights to your DNA when it is shared with large companies, view this article by Inverse: https://www.inverse.com/article/60979-who-owns-your-cells-dna
Works Cited:
“‘Navigating Genetic Disease Testing: A Personal Story’ | Seth Rotberg |
TEDxNatick.” YouTube, uploaded by Tedx Talks, 6 Mar. 2018, http://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=5_O5TfMVqD8. Accessed 21 Nov. 2019.
Szmania, Chelsea. “Do You Actually Own Your DNA?” Inverse, www.inverse.com/article/60979-who-owns-your-cells-dna.
AP Biology with Kristen 