Comments on: HIV-Resistance Genes

By: My Biotech Life » Gene Genie #12 aka The Dozen

My Biotech Life » Gene Genie #12 aka The Dozen — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 00:34:51 +0000

[...] with HIV, Hsien Lei over at Eye on DNA wrote up a nice post focused on HIV-Resistance genes and how researchers can study the way HIV dodges the immune system in future vaccine [...]

By: Hsien

Hsien — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:59:30 +0000

Science Teacher,

Thanks for the comment but I think you missed half of my statement and a point I made in the post. There are companies already offering genetic testing to HIV-infected people based on these early findings. The idea is that they should have the right to information that can give them an idea of their prognosis. While I’m all for our right to know what kind of DNA we’re carrying, as a former trained HIV/AIDS counsellor, I also know that having this type of information can lead some people to feel they’re invincible.

Also, I don’t believe that these data should lead anyone to think we’ll be “stamping out a disease” anytime soon. It’s the use of these data prior to “stamping out a disease” that has me concerned.

By: Science Teacher

Science Teacher — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:51:50 +0000

I think the most important part of this is that we may be stamping out a disease with 100% mortality. How could anyone look at this research and NOT be greatful but instead worry that people might engage in “risky behavior” more often? Sheesh!

Notice I said mortality and not morality above…

By: Hsien

Hsien — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:49:15 +0000

I would certainly hope so. Although I wonder if there are people crazy enough to want to know their genotype so they can engage in risky behavior with impunity. Ahh. Perish the thought!

By: David Bradley

David Bradley — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:43:18 +0000

Presumably, the vaccine side of this is actually where the main impetus for research will come from.