Michael Esposito 11/5/12
Professor Pagano Writing Assignment #3

Solution and Dilemma

Scientists have been able to make major advancements in technology with the ability to locate and determine whether or not you may be at risk of certain disease. This process is known as genetic mapping, also known as linkage mapping. Although this technology is available in our hands, most of the time the samples are from studies and when someone may be at risk and these scientists can possibly save a life, consent and disclosure forms prevent this from occurring. Knowing this is the right choice to make ethically scientists can't due so by law. Genetic mapping has become very useful when it comes to tracking down a gene that has been transmitted from a parent to a child through one, or more genes. This process also lets scientists know which exact chromosome the gene is located on and where on the chromosome. Once the study is started scientists take samples from family members where the disease may be prevalent in the case. They do this because it gives them a larger sample size and allows them to see many cases where the disease or trait may be present rather than just taking it from the mother and son where nothing may be present. This will result in a very inaccurate test and won't be very useful at all. After the DNA is taken and sampled DNA markers give the scientists a general idea of where the gene is located on that chromosome. A marker carries DNA that doesn't have genes within it. The DNA located inside of markers can tell you exactly who the person was where the DNA came from though making it useful in other fields as well, such as where the inheritance of certain traits came from throughout a families history. All of this also gives us the perks of being able to use it in fields for criminal investigations. DNA markers may not carry the disease, but are usually linked together with the gene that does. The more markers visible on the map, the more likely that one is linked with a disease gene. Scientists face many dilemmas when it comes to studying DNA from potentially at risk individuals that may have a chance of developing certain disease. When people step forward and volunteer to donate tissue samples they sign forms saying whether or not they agree to a bunch of terms and also if they would like to be contacted or not. Now if this volunteer had a high chance of developing such disease that may have been found during these studies, the scientists can't contact them because they signed off they didn't want