The article “Biology and Behavior” states that our genetic makeup plays an important role in how we behave. Although the debate continues whether or not we should rely solely on genetics to solve society’s problems; society must admit that genetics does play a vital role in how behavior is determined. Also scientists constantly study the effects of how different combination of genes causes certain behavior in laboratory animals. Genetic research is here to stay and as a society we are going to have to learn to deal with all its varied moral, legal, and social issues that this subject raises.

Our first look into genetic engineering comes in the form of understanding how our genes affect behavior. Researchers working in this field also look at other factors including environment. For example sometimes the environment has an effect on our body’s chemical makeup that causes genes to interact in ways that they were not meant to. To illustrate, a study of children in Philadelphia’s inner city showed that due to the high concentration levels of lead in their environment certain genetic qualities have manifested themselves in the form of disruptive behavior and in lower grades. Understanding that the environment can alter genes adds additional variables into the genes verses environment equation.

Although environment plays an important role in how humans develop, it is important to understand why genetic research is necessary rather than to approach the problem from a purely social context. The obvious reasons seem to go down the path of good intentions. If doctors identify a fetus with some form of a genetic defect, they feel that with proper genetic identification, there would be a good chance to correct this problem while the child is still in the mother’s womb. Continue reading →

The United States government should require and pay for extensive prenatal screening for pregnant women in this country. The U.S. is the only developed country in the world without a social insurance or statutory system to cover basic expenses for medical services for most or all of its population. This is especially problematic for low-income or high-risk individuals who are still able to work but who are self-employed, work part-time, or work for small businesses, and who may not be able to afford or obtain health insurance. Even for those who have health insurance, coverage for most preventive, screening, and counseling services, insurance companies sometimes exclude these items. Therefore, these limitations of U.S. healthcare coverage particularly affect genetics services, which have an important counseling component. Insurance reimbursement or other financing for genetic diagnosis, testing, screening, and essential genetic counseling is not generally available now in the United States. According to the United States Census Bureau’s website, in 2003 more than 45 million people were without health insurance coverage in the United States. The cost of government sponsored prescreening and the prevention of children being born with birth defects outweighs the costs of supporting the severely handicapped or learning impaired. Continue reading →