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Article: Genetic breakthrough elicits ethical alarm.(Human Genome Project)(Brief Article)
- Article from:
- National Catholic Reporter
- Article date:
- July 14, 2000
- Author:
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Mapping of human genetic code key to medical progress, social problems
The announcement that scientists had finished mapping more than 90 percent of the human genetic code was greeted with caution by bioethicists, who said that, though the knowledge may lead to important medical breakthroughs, society is unprepared to deal with its ethical implications.
The mapping of the human genome "is one of those moments of absolute brilliance," said Thomas A. Shannon, professor of religion and social ethics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Mass. "The problem is, we do all the acting before we do any thinking. The cat's out of the bag now. The ...