Ethics of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
To what do we owe our children and to ourselves as parents? Do we have the right to demand perfection in both talents and health?
One way to ensure that we have “better” children is to train them once they’re born. Another way would be to manipulate their cells in utero or even at the point of conception using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to identify then discard embryos that have defective genes. Or, perhaps genetic engineering could be used to correct or alter DNA.
Technology Review interviewed University of Pennsylvania bioethicist Vardit Ravitsky about the ethical issues surrounding PGD. Here’s an excerpt:
TR: Is biologically altering an embryo different than socially altering a child?
VR: That depends on what you think about genes and the environment–the nature-nurture debate. I personally think that although there are significant differences between educationally and genetically shaping the identities of children, in many ways they are similar. I’m a strong believer in genetics, but you can never reduce human talent to genetics.
Down with genetic determinism!
Tags: determinism, fate, fatalistic, fatalism, genetics, genes, dna, preimplantation genetic diagnosis, pgd, diseases, illness, health
Hat Tip: Kate, Photo: djshaggy
There is a huge difference between intentionally altering an embryo genetically to be stronger, faster or smarter and nurturing a child to be so with extra lessons etc.
Besides the fact that is human experimentation without the consent of the human subject, we often forget that a genetic alteration doesn’t just alter the child, but their children and grandchildren as well. They could not help but to pass their genetic alteration on to subsequent generations. That is nothing like forcing a child to take piano lessions or making them practice their baseball swing for hours.
Rebecca: As always, you have such insightful points. It’s hard to know when to draw the line if genetic engineering becomes easier to accomplish. A little correction here, a little correction there…could lead to a totally new and unexpected situation a generation or two down the line. Nobody knows. :/
Before planning to have controll on genetic selection, we will have to train the parents & society to impart selectively modified social culture (Controlled culture = which I think is almostimpossible)& social environment to the output generation atleast in their childhood till they become mature enough to understand their forced variation.
What are the general ethical issues surrounding gentic testing? I have a biology assignment due soon, an i can’t seem to locate to the point information.