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The word, genome, was coined by combining the two words, gene and chromosome. Recent news stories have treated the human genome as a celebrity. While this celebrity rubs shoulders in many different societies: people interested in biology, ethics, business, and the meaning of life. Here in this issue of the Asia Lutheran, we will introduce this new face to our church in hopes to spark more discussion in our community in Asia. Some countries have already been affected by genome-related multi-national corporations. In the north, biotechnology is one of the most prosperous areas for business, so companies from various fields have started to participate in the business aspect of the human genome, fields such as the food industry, pharmaceutical companies, liquor brewing companies, and electronic products companies. On the other side, there are many ethical issues surrounding this topic. What we are concerned about is not only the research of human genes, but the question of how society will be affected by such study. There are many benefits being predicted, such as developing new medicines, new types of medical treatment using biotechnology to cure many incurable diseases, however at the same time new types of problems are also occurring. What is the meaning of human life? While gathering information on this subject, we found the majority of material to be about the medical progress and potential of business. There were few about ethics and even less voices from the Church.
Why doesn't the church show an interest in this matter which touches at the heart of Life? The topic of the human genome is believed to be specially reserved for only researchers and business people. The terms they use are hard for ordinary people to understand, including church members. The second reason is that biotechnology is too complex a subject to easily understand and evaluate. Thirdly, it also involves globalization, including the areas of trade and patenting the human genome. This relationship is also not easily grasped.
Readers might be able to come to know the bottom line of the recent news stories about human genomes through these articles. I am concerned with the trend viewing this subject through purely materialistic filters. There are few experts who speak about genes as being human life. Many scientists are not interested in the meaning of life or the meaning of death, rather they are educated to treat their target as an object when they study. Some still believe all technology is neutral, including biotechnology. In this issue we have tried to show some of the problems that the recent developments have presented us. Some readers might realize that this discussion of the genome is similar to that of Internet and information technology, seen as an intellectual property right in a global trade frame work, ideas heavily criticized during the G8 meeting in Seattle, 1999.
Another common player is, of course, computers. A video games article near the end of the issue also show the value system games and computers have brought to children. Copyright is also a big issue for video games just as the patents of genomes. We also discuss some aspects of the present patent system and its implications. Why can't indigenous people hold the patents on their own traditional methods and medicines? My friend in India wrote me that perhaps Jesus would not have been able to use oil when he cured today, without getting a license from a pharmaceutical company, even though the oil was there in the New Testament Age. My concern is, as the Creator, will God be able to keep the Patents on life. Some researchers are trying to claim those patents for themselves. What message should we bring, how should Christians give voice to this issue in Asia? 
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