Innovative Technologies
After an entire human genome was successfully sequenced in 2003 in the Human Genome Project, scientists knew that many people would also want to know their own genome. There are now many companies around the world that can be paid to tell you the specific sequence of your DNA to tell you a variety of information, such as what genetic diseases you may eventually contract or pass on to your children.
At the present moment in time, no one needs to have their genome sequenced, but many do just to know what their possibilities are of getting certain diseases. Genome sequencing has a fairly large market because it is inexpensive and not very time consuming. The major funders of the original project (Human Genome Project) were James Watson and David Galas.
The main concern with this product is how much personal information knowing your whole genome gives out. One of the main reasons to have your genome sequenced is to see if you are at risk for a genetic disease, such as Turner’s syndrome, something that does not affect you until you’re older. But what if you knew you were going to get it? Would that affect how you live your life? These are the questions many ask about this product.
Radiocarbon dating uses the radioactive isotope Carbon-14 and a nuclear reaction. Willard Libby led a team of coworkers including James Arnold and Ernie Anderson to discover this in the 1940s. Archaeologists and anthropologists use this method to date new unknown items and figure out more about our ancestors and Earth’s past inhibitors.
There is a smaller market for this product; it’s used mostly in specific sciences. The research for this product was funded by various companies and benefactors.
The benefit of using radiocarbon dating is mainly its accuracy. The main concerns with this have to do with the age of the earth according to certain religions.
Godfrey Newbold Hounsfield and Allan McLeod Cormack introduced computerized axial tomography (aka a CAT or CT scan) in 1975. Since then modifications and changes have been added to make the machine better. The scan uses x-rays to make detailed pictures of internal structures of the body (WebMD). The original developer/inventor of the scanner was Godfrey Newbold Hounsfeild.
This product is used to get a more detailed look into a patient’s body. It has a large market for probable cancer patients, as well as people with other possible serious health concerns.
The main ethical issues with this product are patient safety because of the small amount of radiation given off by the x-rays, the cost, and possible corruption amongst the people who get paid to tell people when they should get a scan.
DNA Sequencing Services
Radiocarbon Dating
CAT Scans
