Why We Must Carry The Genes For Harmful Inherited Diseases

The main question presented and answered in the book is why we continue to carry the genes for harmful inherited diseases instead of weeding them out through evolution. The book looks are few different diseases that affect a large number of people and tie them back to some historical event that because of this disease they were able to survive and live longer than their healthy counterparts. The author described this theory in a simple quote: â€Å"Why would you take a pill that was guaranteed to kill you in forty year? Because it will save you tomorrow.† We continue to carry the genes for these diseases because at one time they promoted survival of our ancestors and helped them live years longer. The main diseases that I found to defend the main purpose were Hemochromatosis and Diabetes. Hemochromatosis is the over loading of Iron in the body which lead to damage to organs. Although Iron is thought to help bacteria grow more rapidly with this particular illness it blocks bacteria from growing due to iron-deficient macrophages. Macrophages are white blood cells that act as a blockage for bacteria and can help kill the bacteria off instead of feeding it since with done not have the iron the bacteria needs to thrive. The example used in the book is the Bubonic plague, it is thought that the people had this block were less susceptible to the plague and that was the majority of the people that survived. This is ultimately what has been allowing the mutation to live on in the geneShow MoreRelatedGenetic Engineering Research Paper1341 Words   |  6 Pagesto mix and match characteristics among unrelated creatures by moving genes from one creature to another. This is called â€Å"genetic engineering.† Genetic Engineering is prematurely applied to food production. 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