Cons
The Concerns Of Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics is a strange field of study which consists of many concerns, however many feel as if the benefits greatly outweigh any of the concerns regarded to the specific field. Firstly the biggest problem revolving around the field of bioinformatics is that of the ethical dilemma encompassing the use of an individual's personal genetics for experimentation and testing. Genetic data privacy is a key component to an individual's life since it's unique to themselves and is what creates their identity. By implementing one's genetic data into a computer system for scientists to study, any certified individual in the field can access their genetic data for analyses' and experimentations, which could be used to build a profile on a particular individual, removing any sense of privacy which said person may have possessed. Moreover, giving away your genetic data towards a private company poses other risks such as having your DNA being sold towards the government or other private firms looking to gain the genetic code of particular individuals in a particular community. For instance, a company called 23andme faced a major scandal in 2018 surrounding the ethical problem of selling their DNA of which they received, towards major insurance companies so that they can build up profiles on their clientele, hence causing major outrages from the public as individuals had their privacy stripped away. Additionally, another major disadvantage that applies to the modern-day is that of racism plausibly having a connection to specific genes. Bioinformatics focuses on the particular gene of an individual, and so by classifying a specifically good gene and a specifically bad gene, is that promoting a particular race over another? Bioinformatics analyses genetic code to promote better genes in individuals, thus selecting certain genetics over others can promote racialism in our society and can promote discrimination to specific races. Moreover, an additional disadvantage towards this particular field of study is that there could possibly be an incorrect diagnosis of the patient's plausible future diseases or illnesses which can lead to vast amounts of money wasted trying to prevent a disease or illness which is not likely to occur. Finally, there is a major concern regarding governments utilizing bioinformatics to develop biological weapons that could be used for potential harm towards other nations or individuals if any complication transpires.
Pros
The Benefits Of Bioinformatics
On the contrary, a major advantage and benefit of bioinformatics is that due to the higher level of understanding from the DNA, RNA, and protein sequences, scientists have been able to significantly improve their understanding of a patient's potential future diseases and illnesses which can be analyzed from the patient's DNA/RNA structure. This major advantage can cause many individuals to avoid possible diseases by taking steps in their day to day lives to become more healthy and to be more sanitary as it can reduce their potential to gain these likely illnesses or diseases listed in their medical profile. Another major advantage of the bioinformatics field is that there is a large rate of progression occurring in new drug discoveries in the medical field. Prior to bioinformatics, drug discoveries primarily occurred by utilizing common biological theory and trial and error to find a suitable drug that could treat the patient's illness. However, this new field of study that is bioinformatics introduced computer automation which led to the computer utilizing algorithms to determine the elements required to create a drug fitted to treat the patient's illness, which resulted in the various discoveries of drugs that are used by millions across the globe to this day. Finally, the field of study of bioinformatics heavily contributed to the major progression of forensic analysis in recent years which is as a result of the progression in targeting and locating the suspect's DNA and finding his relationship to other people which can all be due to the greater understanding of genetics from the field of study, bioinformatics.
