WILL YOUR CHILDREN OWN THEIR GENES?

Written by Candas Emcioglu


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In many hospitals today, patients, who need to have certain tests done to see if they have a specific gene or a genetic disposition for certain diseases, have to pay a royalty fee torepparttar patent-holding company for that specific gene being scanned. For many, having to pay a “fee” to have a “gene scan” of “their own genes” is unacceptable. Althoughrepparttar 132223 medical technology will soon haverepparttar 132224 capacity to screen thousands of genes and genetic predispositions inrepparttar 132225 near future, offering a vast selection of new cures and solutions to various diseases, there is also no doubt that some will use patens to literally extort money from those of us in need of a cure.

If you are diagnosed with a rare cancer and need to be treated with a special type of protein that facilitatesrepparttar 132226 growth of a certain anticancer agent, do not be surprised if you find out that you have to pay a chunky royalty to a company that you have never heard of. You no longer have any rights over your genes or your “own body tissues” as “somebody else” has already claimedrepparttar 132227 intellectual rights to “your” body parts “without” your consent or knowledge.

Inrepparttar 132228 future, we all will have to pay our dues to a syndicate of biotech elites to have access to our own genetic heritage. Life has finally become a commodity that is tradable, inheritable and also extremely profitable.

Born in 1977 and currently resides in Istanbul, Turkey.


Triumph Unmasked: Why We Celebrate Black History

Written by Peggy Butler


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We celebraterepparttar contributions of Dr. Charles Drew, blood plasma founder and Garrett Morgan, creator ofrepparttar 132222 automatic traffic lights; whose inventions helped revolutionizerepparttar 132223 health and transportation industry.

We celebraterepparttar 132224 Nobel Peace Prizes of Ralph J. Bunche and Martin Luther King; two amicable men dedicated to world peace.

We celebraterepparttar 132225 athletic prowess of Jesse Owens, racing acrossrepparttar 132226 finish line atrepparttar 132227 1936 Olympics; Jackie Robinson, breaking baseball’s color barrier. Andrepparttar 132228 wizardry of Michael Jordan, showingrepparttar 132229 world why he was named “the Greatest Athlete ofrepparttar 132230 20th Century.” Similarly, we celebraterepparttar 132231 brilliance of Venus and Serena Williams, taking tennis to new heights, andrepparttar 132232 beauty of Tiger Woods’ golf stroke; sturdy, on target, an exhibition of immense talent.

Lastly, we celebraterepparttar 132233 diversity of our hair; curly, natural, permed, straight, waved and weaved andrepparttar 132234 beige, red, brown and blackness of our skin.

That is why we celebrate. To tell our history in our own words, as only African-Americans can do. In observing Black History Month, it is good to focus onrepparttar 132235 actions and accomplishments of dignitaries past and present. However, attention should also focus on lesser known heroes and heroines. We know that were it not for Dr. King, opportunities for African-Americans would be virtually impossible. Similarly, without Harriet Tubman, slaves seeking refuge would not have found solace viarepparttar 132236 Underground Railroad.

But what about those pioneers atrepparttar 132237 local and state level? Those anonymous men and women who pavedrepparttar 132238 way, so that future generations could enjoyrepparttar 132239 amenities entitled to all people? Their contributions should not be confined to musty, photo albums and faded newspaper clippings. They too were instrumental in establishingrepparttar 132240 democracy of our modern history, and deserve to be enshrined inrepparttar 132241 scripted walls ofrepparttar 132242 immortals. In retrospect, all African-Americans have made impressionable contributions big and small, torepparttar 132243 dazzling archives that personify Black History.

A freelance writer since 1989, Peggy Butler has written for various magazines and Internet publications including Impact Press, Africana.com., TimBook Tu, and The Black World Today. Moreover, Butler who lists collecting 60s memorabilia among her hobbies, writes news, features, sports and entertainment articles, as well as commentaries and humor pieces. Visit her website at: www.Psbwrite.com

Copyright 2005 by Peggy Butler


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