Following the tragic shooting of 20 children at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, Connecticut’s state medical examiner requested a full genetic analysis of the killer’s genome. What do you think investigators might be looking for? What might they expect to find? Might this analysis lead to oversimplified analysis of the cause of the tragedy?

Following the tragic shooting of 20 children at a school in Newtown, Connecticut, in 2012, Connecticut’s state medical examiner requested a full genetic analysis of the killer’s genome. What do you think investigators might be looking for? What might they expect to find? Might this analysis lead to oversimplified analysis of the cause of the tragedy?

Human Heredity: Principles and Issues (MindTap Course List)

11th Edition

ISBN:9781305251052

Author:Michael Cummings

Publisher:Michael Cummings

Chapter15: Genomes And Genomics

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 9QP

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Similar questions

If you were offered the chance to have the genome of your newborn sequenced at a cost of 1,000, would you do so?
If you had the ability to do gene editing with ONE gene for the betterment of human kind, which one would you choose, and why? Assume you could either change an abnormal allele associated with a disease, such as the cystin gene associated with Cystic Fibrosis to its normal wild type, or add a pre-existing human allele to a genome.
Why is knowing the genetic basis of a trait such as blond hair important? Why would scientists go to the trouble to investigate the genetic basis of blond hair in Solomon Islanders?
What is the purpose of the Human Genome Project? Why do researchers want to know the details of the human genome?
What is the most surprising result found thus far in the human genome studies?
By the time this book is published, it will likely be possible for you to obtain the sequence of your genome at nominal cost. Do you want this information? Explain the factors that affected your decision.
Describe the three basic goals of the Human Genome Project. What are at least three things we have learned from the project? Do you believe it was a worthwhile project? Why or why not?
What genetic model of an organism is the most ideal? And why is it an ideal model in genetics?
Which goals of the Human Genome Project do you think are themost important? Why? Discuss the types of ethical problems thatmight arise as a result of identifying all of our genes.
Increasingly, whole-genome sequencing of individuals is being done to help identify and treat medical conditions. Genome sequencing invariably identifies a number of variations, some common and some rare, that might be clinically relevant. For example, suppose a person had their genome sequenced to help determine their risk for cardiovascular disease and, just by chance, the sequence revealed that they carry one or more variants that predispose them to cancer or Alzheimer disease. Does the sequencing laboratory or physician have an obligation to report this finding, which was not the purpose of the sequencing and which the patient did not request? What about reporting variants for which no or limited information can be provided about their clinical significance? Does the answer to this question differ for sequencing done on children?
What are the possible benefits and dangers of predicting how long a person will live from analyzing his or her genome sequence?
Do you think an unintended consequence of genetic testing could be that people would be less liable to seek medical care out of fear that they could later be denied life or health insurance? What laws should be used to govern the use of genetic data of this type?