“We must all play god when it comes to genetics”
May 19, 2006 by Kristina Chew, PhD
Filed under Health
In light of the recent discussion here at AutismVox on a prenatal genetic test for autism, an article by Dr. Arthur Caplan, the director of the Center for Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania, raises even more tough questions regarding prenatal genetic testing.
Here is the last paragraph from Dr. Caplan’s May 7 Philadelphia Inquirer editorial, Science anxiety: toward a less fearful future:
The genetic genie is out of the bottle. There is not much anyone can do to put it back nor, once we understand its potential for good, ought we to do so. This genie will, however, do the bidding of those who control it. To enjoy the benefits genetics offers, it will be up to you and me and our children to build a politics, media, marketplace and educational system strong enough to show the genie who is the boss. We must all – scientist and nonscientist alike – play god when it comes to genetics.
For myself, I am most definitely not ready to “play god” about genetics—but who is?
Nobody is ready but we can’t completely relinquish control and hope someone else will step up to the plate. Those of us who are more fair-minded and pragmatic must make sure that extremists don’t take charge of all the good the genome revolution will bring and all of the bad as well.