Watch the video “Making Better Babies: Genetics and Reproduction – A Fred Friend

Question

Watch the video “Making Better Babies: Genetics and Reproduction – A Fred Friendly Seminar” [57:42] at http://tinyurl.com/k5xga4b .

1. What ethical principles apply to this discussion? What moral or ethical limits should be put on genetic testing and interventions?

2. Should genetic engineering be legal? Should parents be allowed to “design” their children?

3. What role would an organization’s mission statement play in choosing whether or not to engage in genetic interventions?

4. What differences might exist between a religious-based institution and a research-based healthcare organization?

Explanation / Answer

While genetic engineering has only helped us so far, according to this video there is a necessity to pull the brakes when it comes to ''designing' babies. This will create a difference between those who can afford this service and those who cannot. It might even create a gender bias specially in countries where it is already prevalent. These should only be practised in case of individuals with genetic conditions ( autosomal dominant or recessive diseases), sex-linked abnormalities etc. and not just according to the whims of the parents. There can be many arguments both in favour or against of this statement. The major drawback is that since Periimplantation Genetic Diagnosis is not an affordable procedure. This will create a socieconomic divide between the already rich and poor. The higher strata of society will keep having better children and will outshine those who cannot undergo this procedure. The organization has a crucial role to play here. It is extremely important that the protocol clearly lays out the criteria which must be fulfilled for a couple to get this done. They can do so by screening certain diseases, taking proper history, etc. It is not a surprise that religious groups might find this process alarming. They are often more inclined to the ' natural ways' as according to them, that is how God intended things to be. On the other hand, research based institutions will understand the underlying problem due to which people are drawn to such procedures and might find a logical solution to this problem.

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