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EFTA01146388 | EFTA01146408 elimination of the disease may have unintended consequences, and permanently alter the social dynamics within our species. This mechanism, termed a `heterozygote advantage', can arise from the benefits of carrying different forms of a gene, as opposed to two of the same variant, or `alleles'. The phenomenon has been proposed for a wide variety of genetic diseases; however usefulness is often dependent on environmental context. Because human lifestyles have diversified to such an extent from those of our ancestors, certain advantages may be outdated. The malaria protection conferred by carrying a single sickle-cell gene is hardly worth the risk of debilitating anaemia if you end up with twoespecially in a modern world where anti-malarial medication is widely available. The systematic eradication of this disorder, and many others, will be a welcome and significant medical advancement. But caution is needed. Following a recent project to build a comprehensive map of the functional elements in the human genome, ENCODE, a function was assigned to 80% of our DNA sequence. However, our genomes are still poorly understood. Many sequences are multi-functional, and knowledge of mechanisms of gene expression is essential to any meaningful model. We urgently need a regulatory framework for the use of procedures such as pre-natal screening, and to exercise restraint in gene eradication. A detailed assessment and forecast of the long- term consequences is essential before a potentially corrosive procedure become entrenched in modern society. The alternative: we might just end up domesticating ourselves. Zaria Gorvett is a British science graduate and aspiring science writer. She has travelled widely, including workfor environmental conservation NGOs in Greece and Tobago. She is currently living in Singapore and workingfor a small business. EFTA01146408
May 10, 2026 at 7:21 PM