Genetic mapping is the ability to trace different traits inherited by the child from the parent. The Human Genome Project has allowed scientists to find ways of tracking genetic diseases by identifying the mutated gene being inherited before the symptoms are exhibited.
This breakthrough has revolutionized the scientific and medical world, and has even inspired celebrities like Angelina Jolie to get a double mastectomy, despite the fact that she found no trace of cancer in her body, due to the fact that she is extremely genetically susceptible to developing breast cancer.
This lead to the development of what is called the Angelina Jolie Effect, which is the sudden surge in requests to complete genetic tests to see if biomarkers indicate a susceptibility to develop genetically identifiable diseases. This preventative measure is extremely useful, especially for people with family histories of hereditary diseases wishing to ease their minds by taking preemptive strikes.
However, there are 2 sides to every story…
Genetic/biological discrimination is when people are singled out and treated unfairly due to a genetic susceptibility to developing diseases. What does this mean in terms of getting jobs and health coverage?
Employers have the right to refuse to add you to their insurance plan if you have a biomarker making you more likely to develop diseases (especially ones with expensive treatment plans). They can even go as far as to terminate your employment or refuse to hire you. Some countries have made strides to ensure this does not become a large problem, however Canada is the only G7 country that still legally allows insurance companies to inquire about a potential employee’s medical history and, without transparency, determine premiums and eligibility. In other words, companies can decide not to hire you or decide to charge you extra for being more “prone” to developing a disease, even though you might not necessarily ever develop the disease!
Luckily, there are groups like UNESCO working hard to ensure that genetic discrimination doesn’t become a reality. Canadians can get involved by spreading the word, contacting their government officials and joining the CCEF/CCEG.
Image credit: hgalert.org
Read more by Mrs Robot
