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MAPPING THE FRONTIERS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

DISCLAIMER

I have been given the task of reviewing the available technology.

Much of it is
	sweet science
	fraught with fabulous opportunity
		when appropriately applied.

Please do not assume that I espouse the hasty and unconsidered
application of any of these technologies.  My purpose is to
bring them to your attention.

/s/					Joshua Lederberg

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MAPPING THE FRONTIERS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
.ps 12
Emphasis on Technological Application
.ps 14
Innovations in scientific base

\(bu gene discovery

\(bu gene splicing, transplantation in bacteria, yeast, plants, animals
	Innumerable industrial production opportunities
		TPA, erythropoietin from bacteria, yeast
		Human antibody globulins in seed proteins, milk

\(bu New analytical technologies
	PCR - Polymerase Chain Reaction can detect single molecules
	Matrix Arrays - Chips with 100 x 100 = 10,000 probes in one test
	Combinatorial chemistry and hi-thruput selection

\(bu reproductive technologies  (other mammals and human)
	Artificial insemination
	In vitro fertilization
	Fertilized ova frozen and transplanted
	Intra Cytoplasmic Sperm Inoculation  ICSI; even spermatids
	Embryonic stem cells
		Cloning
		Transgenic plants and animals

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Human applications -- diagnostic and analytical

\(bu gene discovery
	insights into pathogenesis -- esp. cancer, heart disease
	Nature- Nurture controversy; entanglement with race
	New insights: accordion genes, telomeres ...
		transposable genes and viral mutagenesis
		genetic hygiene wrt radiation, chemicals, inbreeding

\(bu Human Genome Project

\(bu reproductive technologies -- all as above
	Contraception

\(bu Polymorphism and its diagnosis
	Forensics; convicted felons files; paternity; remains
	Human evolution: primates as close relatives
		Polymorphisms may be older than human species
	Drivers of evolution: 
		Disease susceptibility (incl infectious)
		Global life style: migration, family policy

\(bu Carrier and Prenatal Diagnosis
	preemptive abortion
	relate to repro' technologies;  blastomere diagnosis
	implications for insurance: from craps to poker

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Human applications -- interventions

\(bu antisense RNA
	potentials for cancer, restenosis, viral infection, immune disorders

\(bu Somatic gene therapy
	Compare to vaccination
	Viral, retroviral vectors
	DNA
	Problematics -- context specific
		targetting
		efficacy
		durability
	Greatest Hazard -- we get what we want, as in pharmaceuticals
			-- mitigation of natural selection
	
\(bu Germ Line therapy
	Dependence on Human embryonic stem cells
	What would be sufficiently compelling reason?
		eugenics as tabu
	Counter: euphenic program
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MAPPING THE FRONTIERS OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Human applications -- interventions
Police in the bedroom

\(bu How far do we oversee parental choice in human reproduction
	Fitness for parenting
	Obligations and privileges of genetic vs bodily parents
	Use of alleviating technology for sterility, genetic disorder

\(bu What obligations do we have to next generation for rightful life?
	How enforced?