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| Should we be allowed to control DNA? |
The
controversial method I’m talking about is the in-vitro
fertilization in combination with pre-implantation
genetic diagnosis (PGD). In this artificial
insemination, the actual fertilization
doesn’t take place in the uterus of the woman, rather in the test tube. Moreover,
the decision is made by the PGD, which embryo is inserted
into the mother. In consequence of this, hereditary diseases such as Trisonomie 21 (Down syndrome)
or cystic fibrosis can be identified and sorted out by chromosome analysis in advance. Therefore it is possible to generate a
baby with certain characteristics targeted.
In
Germany this method
is permitted only when a couple
has completed at least one year of unprotected regular intercourse and
still hope for a positive pregnancy. However, that does not include the
PGD, because the selection of an embryo with certain properties is still
banned, as well as in England. Nevertheless, in 2003, Jamie, the
first “rescue-baby” of the UK,
was born. The genetic
studies were performed in the
United States, because they are illegal in England
as well as in Germany. Jamie was born to allow his
older brother,
who suffers from a life-threatening blood disease, a chance
for cure. Similarly, it already happened
in Spain and France, where children were born to permit
older siblings a healing.
But anyone who
thinks he found the answer to all the deadly diseases hasn’t really
looked outside of the box. Because here
revealed much more
potential yet.
The
U.S. company “23andMe” registered the patent with the unassuming name of "gamete donor selection based
on genetic calculations"
(patent number: 8543339) in September this year, which allows to determine the genetic characteristics of a child (e.g., eye color, or susceptibility to disease) on the basis of the
parental genome. Critics
call this method as a precursor
for the so-called “designer
babies”, when it
comes to the idea that an embryo with certain attributes and properties, such as athletic, intelligent or even eye color can be created.
In my opinion it’s very difficult
to decide about anothers person’s life! I think it is ok to have a second
child, to help the older sibling by donations, as long as the new born child
won’t be harmed or disadvantaged. But I don’t like the use of the PGD,
because I think humans shouldn’t be allowed to play “god”. Therefore I
absolutely don’t like the idea of designer babies. Eliminating natural selection and creating a greed for power! And if we have learned anything from the
Nazis: there shouldn’t be any way to control somebody or something because of
special circumstances!
What's about you? Do you think it is questionable
and ethical to create a child and "exploit" it to save other
children? If so, where are the boundaries in terms of donations and is it ok to
decide about the life of other people (who can’t decide for themselves)?
And what about designer babies: should we leave it to genetics or should a person
be allowed to choose their child 's sex or characteristics for the parents' pleasure?
L.M
Every human is an individual! No parents know before they get a baby, how it will look like, how it will behave in the future- it is like a unpredictable surprise! But in a good way! Just imagine how boring the world would be if everyone is intelligent, beautiful (in the way the society defines what beautiful is like) and sportive..Where would be the diversity that makes our world so special, interesting and liveable?
ReplyDeleteSure, you will have a different point of view if you have another child which is suffering from a dissease that would let him/her starve, if no "rescue-baby" would be born and give him/her the parts of his body he or she needed to survive!
Taking parts of someone else bodies without asking! Isn't that horrible? You would decide about someone else life..this child will know its whole life that it was born due to someone else helpless situation..I think no one would like to be born just because their body is needed..it would be a baby made in a test-tube, not with love!
Hi, I agree with what you're saying - if everyone was genetically manipulated to look how their parents want then everyone would end up looking the same. Plus I assume events such as the Paralympic games would cease to exist, so I agree the world would be a lot less diverse and special.
DeleteBut yes, looking at it from both angles, it can obviously help prevent child deaths and potentially make our world an even more clever and amazing place. Science wouldn't allow a child to gain a disadvantage in life because it helped another, for example, they wouldn't take an arm from one child to give it to another (we would hope).
However, you have to judge where to draw the line - genetics to save a life, but not a change of gender or eye colour just to please the parents, the world doesn't work that way.
Furthermore, you also have to think of parents who have wanted a baby all their life but have been incapable to make one naturally, just because the baby was made by science, doesn't mean the baby will be loved any less. In fact, that baby was made because they wanted it so, it wasn't an accident and that baby could potentially be loved even more.
L.C
I think it is critical to create a child and "exploit" it to save another child. It might save the first child, but the second could feel that its only there to be an human depot for its sibling.
ReplyDeleteIn general scientists shouldn't play god and decide which life is worth living and which not. It also shouldn't be a personal decision if these methods can be applied. In my opinion the government has to prohibit the designer bay trend, because it is hard to say what is inside the limits and what not anymore (like choosing an eyecolour). People sholudn't decide against an embryo with some kind of a serious illness, because it is like judging which life is worth living.
Not everything that is posible should also be done!
It think it's a thin line which will be hard to establish a right or wrong answer. For example, the child could grow up feeling heroic that he/she was able to save their brother/sister, yet on the other hand the child may grow up full of resentment for being used in such a manner. But in general, you're right, scientists do not have a right to play god and manipulate an baby to be a designer baby - they are not fashion accessorises and you should be happy with whatever you have been blessed with.
DeleteThank you for your insightful comment!
L.C