Genetic Catastrophe

\"We [the human race]|do not have much time to prove that we are not the product of a lethal mutation\"



Science 263: 181, 1994







\"I almost think it is the ultimate destiny of science to exterminate the human race.\"



Thomas Love Peacock







The genetic catastrophe consists of four major genetic \"epidemics\" - those of cancer, vascular disease, musculoskeletal disease, and behavioral disease. There are identified approximately 250 common genetic diseases, and approximately 7,000 \"rare\" genetic diseases.



The list of genetic damage is growing daily. The natural rate at which mutations and genetic damage occur is reasonably constant. The larger the gene the more common genetic diseases of the gene are. Hence, more common genetic diseases are caused by mutations/damage to very large genes.



Genetic damage is far more common than generally understood. There is insufficient recognition of the magnitude of the genetic catastrophe. The concept of genetic disease   has expanded during the last twenty years. The concept has now expanded to be virtually all encompassing. Even infectious diseases have some relationships to our genes. Nobel-laureate Paul berg said \"all human disease is genetic.\"



The natural mutation frequency is about 1 mutation per 100,000 genes per generation. This value proves that present-day pollution is an absolute genetic tragedy because this value lies near the critical value that separates evolution from extinction.



The strong increase in the gene damage of genetic diseases like cancer, vascular diseases, Alzheimer\'s, Parkinson\'s, diabetes, osteoporosis, obesity, etc, is perhaps the best illustration of the magnitude of the genetic catastrophe. Certainly the victims of genetic damage are the victims of modern human activities (including science and science based technology).



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