Chat Series

The human genome projects could eventually help scientists develop cures for genetic diseases such as Down syndrome, and might one day allow doctors to predict a patient's likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease, heart disease or cancer. CNN.com hosted a series of live, online chats with people familiar with the effort to map the human genome. Bookmark this page for updates on transcripts of completed chats.

CHAT TRANSCRIPTS

Dr. Jeffrey Kahn on ethics and sequencing the human genome

"There are protections in over half the states that prevent the use of genetic information for discrimination in health insurance," says Dr. Jeffrey Kahn, director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Minnesota and columnist for CNN.com. "But there are no such protections in life or disability insurance, and it's unclear whether employers could make use of genetic information in hiring and placement decisions. So I'd say we need to focus on federal legislation that outlines protections for genetic information." Read the full transcript of the chat.

CNN correspondent Elizabeth Cohen on the genome announcement

"Right now, this news doesn't mean much to us. These are truly basic science discoveries," says Elizabeth Cohen, CNN medical correspondent. "But already there are some advances based on the human genome that are changing some people's lives. Some people with rare genetic disorders are in gene therapy studies where bad genes are replaced by good, or bad genes are 'fixed.' But as far as these kinds of treatments being on a large scale, that will take decades, at least." Read the full transcript of the chat.

Anne Foerst on implications of sequencing the human genome

"A lot of people are afraid of designer babies. The question of what makes an ideal human being arises -- what would be the standards to measure a perfect human?" asks Anne Foerst, a research scientist at MIT's Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. "That, of course, leads to the question of acceptance of a person. Will I be accepted only when I'm perfect, or can I be accepted if I have ... (Down syndrome) because my parents decided not to have a genetic test? These are the crucial questions of the whole genetic research. And, of course, as a consequence of that, who actually has the power to decide what it means to be 'normal?'" Read the full transcript of the chat.

Dr. French Anderson on the pros and cons of gene manipulation

"The gene revolution is such a powerful technology that is important that it be properly regulated so that we do not create more harm than we are trying to fix, says Dr. French Anderson, director of Gene Therapy Laboratories at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine. "The primary concern is the damage we could do while trying to manipulate, while trying to improve our genes. We have to be very careful that this powerful technology is used only for the treatment of disease and not in attempting to create designer babies or any other non-medical purpose." Read the full transcript of the chat.

Dr. Michael Morgan on the future of genetics

"Alongside the sequencing of the human genome, many laboratories are sequencing the genomes of other creatures. And that is giving us a fundamental understanding about the evolution of life," says Dr. Micahel Morgan, a British gene sequencer. "So my DNA is 60 percent identical to the DNA of yeast, and more than 95 percent identical to the DNA of chimpanzees. Most importantly, my DNA is 99.9 percent similar to your DNA. It is that small difference that makes us individuals. And it is that small difference that will be exploited in medicine in the future. Read the full transcript of the chat.

Dr. Nathan Slotnick on genetic sequencing

"If I know years in advance that I have a risk increase of developing atherosclerosis, I would be able to choose diets and activities, and my doctor would be able to choose medications that would give me a healthier life," says Dr. Nathan Slotnick, associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Eastern Virginia Medical School. "That is the preventative answer. Before too long, we will also be able to design medications specifically for people based on their own genetic makeup. Ultimately we may be able to correct the DNA sequence itself to 'cure' a genetic disease." Read the full transcript of the chat.

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