Author: Dr. William Theaux - Editor: Leona Termini Theaux
Ancient
DNA begins to be usefull for contemporary science,
Concurrently,
use of present DNA increases dramatically - so rapidly that
it opens unexpected ethical questions ; but Conservation could not be wrong,
since it will only help a future when we shall aware enough of DNA's scientific
possibilities.
Moreover
Conservation of DNA in all probabilities is
wise :
Mankind and/or planet Earth enters a phase of
transformation, in sheer ecological unbalance. We understand
that DNA is the template for the ecosystem. This is the plain situation where
any responsible being makes backups and safeguards.
We know also how our DNA may be helpful for our
children. Let's imagine a parent in good health, yet his
or her ascendent suffered from a certain congenital disease - it shows that
his or her DNA setup conterbalance effected a certain weakness. The descendent
of this healthy parent may, at their turn, suffer from the far ancient disease
- and they will then benefit from the knowledge of the make up which protected
the intermediary healthy individual. This does not mean that this final
beneficiary would need a genetic engineering in depth - that may be morally
questionable ; but some bacteria may be engineered to produce a very specific
hormone, which may guaranty the well being of their life. This
is just an example of what we can expect from the new science of Genetics
in the years to come. It is a sad and mistrustful attitude to
deprive one's descendents from the testomiony of a life link between
generations - and a cheerful gift to leave four our children, the data
of their ancestry. It is also a way to express our confidence in their
ability to use this help.
It is also a mark of morality in acknowledging the right for our
children to know their ancestry. In the near future,
genetic knowledge of each person will transform a many centuries old situation
where mostly fathers were uncertainly related to their children - this being
the downgrading the biological circumstance of durability of a Y gene
. The
biological background of families will be so clear, that a temporization
today already makes obsolete an education one could give in reserving
an access to the familial DNA record.
Personal conservation is also justified in regard to the present
social/political situation. At the present time, DNA conservation
is a rule for militaries, prisoners and hospitalized people. It is a threatening
situation if one considers one's civil rights over one's own biology. Analysis
of this cultural phase of social development is one of CYBEK's tasks, and
manifests pratically through its DNAgroup organization.
© CYBEK of New York, 1999.