Introduction
Every living organism is unique because of its genetic code. Organisms may look like each other physically or have the same physiological abilities but are different in many ways. This genetic code defines what an organism will be, depending on the instructions contained in the DNA. However, sometimes these instructions are flawed in the process of mutation causing certain parts of an organism to appear corrupted. Mutations are a biochemical change in the nucleotide sequences, a change in the genetic code of our DNA that range in many levels. Physically, humans do not accept imperfections as a society, the principle behind mutation.
Genetic Mutation
Genetic mutation is described as a permanent changes to a genetic material of an organism. It is caused by errors in the copying code, viruses or exposure to radiation and ultraviolet light. These mutations can be beneficial, neutral or harmful to organisms. Genetic mutations can occur in two ways: They can be inherited which means they are passed from one parent to child or acquired mutations that are changes during a person's lifetime. Loewe (2010) states that mutations are the primary cause of diversity among organisms and these changes can occur at different levels, having widely differing consequences. (What is Mutation? Genetic Mutation, Scitable- Nature Education)
Inherited Mutation versus Point Mutation
Point mutations are the simplest type of genetic mutation. They take place when one nucleotide in the sequence is exchanged foranother base pair. For example: Replacing a letter in a word. Point mutations are also the smallest due to the nature of how they take place, rather than the effect it may have on the organism. Point mutation could also have three effects, resulting in a silent, missense or nonsense mutation. Inherited or hereditary mutations are passed down through the reproductive lines. They are present in both eggs and sperm and in almost every cell of a person's life. Different from point mutation that are caused by environmental factors.
Use of Genetics to Detect Mutation and Health Prediction
Today, genetic research is creating new ways to treat disease and for people to take action and prevent diseases from occurring through personalized medicine. These tests and information gained from family history and physical examinations can be used to assist in reproductive decision making, identify a risk for a disease and predict health risks in the future. According to the PBS video (2013), knowing their genetic code makeup can sometimes be risky if the chance of developing some disease shows in the result. The variances in the genetic code are only deterministic and does not always show the linkage between the mutation and the gene. The key to understanding genetics is that, it is only a probability. (Section 16:00, cracking your genetic code, NOVA, PBS)
Genetic Mapping to personalize medical health
Genetic mapping provides an approach to healthcare in the ability to identify genes and any underlying diseases influenced by their inheritance. Genetic mapping is crucial for people who want to know their genome and those that want to prevent the future offspring from developing a rare disease or trait. Dewan (2013) states that, genetic carrier screening for rare diseases in genes of parents, ones in which the mutated copy passes down to the offspring prior to conception have been effective in reducing the rates of these diseases within certain populations. A great example of how genetics can be used as a public health prevention tool. (Paragraph six, The Genetics of Health, News Archive, Yale School of Public Health).
Dangers of knowing your personal genome
Knowing one's genetic makeup is certainly a good idea. It could revolutionize medicine as we know and help those who suffer from debilitating or serious diseases to find a cure. However, for some, information is hard to handle. Understanding the information could lead to psychological stress as one worries over whether or not they will develop one or more of the probable diseases. On the other hand, it might also be beneficial to be mentally prepared and accept the future complications. Some dangers of knowing one's personal genome: Everyone may have access to the information, causing possible discrimination at work and from the health insurance companies, personalized medicines might be more expensive and not everyone may have access to the new treatments. PGED (2014) concludes that the issues of genetic mapping are gigantic, and the potential for harm goes beyond the guarantee protection of individual rights. (Paragraph eight, what are the likely benefits and risks of learning about your DNA? PGED).
Conclusion
Despite what researchers may have found, mutation can be good and bad. Mutation, which is simply a genetic change occurs all the time, randomly and everywhere. We will never know where genetic mapping will take us in the future, but it is important that we understand how it will affect us personally.