Genome Sequencing: Between the Possible and the Ethically Permissible

Abstract

Over the past few years the science of DNA sequencing has advanced in giant leaps and it is now possible to read the entire sequence of the human genome with relative ease. Effectively, the book of life now lies before us to read and to explore. Indeed, the ultimate goal of sequencing the human genome is to understand all of the functional elements encoded in it. But this impressive scientific endeavor might hold costs to humanity on various levels known, or yet to be discovered. This paper outlines and discusses these costs and proposes ways in which to mitigate them so as to maximize the benefits that stem for reading every human genome in the general population.