Comments on: Designer babies (not autistic ones)

By: Gender Selection and Prenatal Genetic Testing

Gender Selection and Prenatal Genetic Testing — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 21:04:48 +0000

[...] diagnosed in boys at a much higher rate than in girls—announced that they hoped to develop a test to screen for autism in male embryos for couples with a family history of autism. The test would use Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis [...]

By: Autism Vox

Autism Vox — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 17:00:29 +0000

[...] Back in June, I posted about a test to screen male embryos for couples with families with a history of autism; a team at the University College Hospital’s assisted conception unit in London has applied for a license for the procedure. I quote from my post, whose title was Designer babies (not autistic ones); my sentiments about PGD and autism remain the same. This is not just the specter of a prenatal genetic test for autism. [...]

By: Autism Vox » Procreative Beneficience, PGD, and the Selecting of the “Best” Children

Sun, 07 Jan 2007 03:44:06 +0000

By: Autism Vox » “It has never been a better time to have autism”

Autism Vox » “It has never been a better time to have autism” — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 05:21:40 +0000

[...] And on the other hand, the very science and scientific advances that Baron-Cohen lauds carry with them the possibility of something like a prenatal genetic test for autism, or a blood test for autism in infants. Might such tests not portend an “end”—a “cure“—for autism if expecting parents decide not to have an autistic child who would be eugenically aborted? [...]

By: Autism Vox » Genetic Counseling and Autism

Autism Vox » Genetic Counseling and Autism — Fri, 10 Nov 2006 01:25:46 +0000

[...] The Southern Health Magazine article attempts to “explode the myths” concerning genetic testing and abortion. This particular topic has made pre-natal genetic testing a fighting word in discussions about autism, among autistics and the parents of autistic children in particular. The Southern Health Magazine article quotes a number of medical professionals in considering these issues. “Often parents-to-be decline genetic testing thinking they are invincible or that we will ask them to abort,” says Reddy. “Both reasons are wrong and I cannot stress that enough.” [...]

By: Autism Vox » Autism Fathers and Autistic Pride

Autism Vox » Autism Fathers and Autistic Pride — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:18:00 +0000

[...] I find it more than ironic that, this being both Father’s Day and National Autistic Pride Day, my previous post was about a prenatal test to screen for autism embryos. On the very day on which we are celebrating fathers and autistic persons, we learn about a test whose purpose is to make it possible not to be an autism parent. [...]

By: Kristina Chew, PhD

Kristina Chew, PhD — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 13:57:19 +0000

I was rather aghast to read about this last night.

By: mike stanton

mike stanton — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 13:24:10 +0000

Hi Kristina
I have just written about this on my blog and am contacting the Human Genetics Commission to express my concern.