Here we go again
Good Morning America hosted a Doctor of a fertility clinic which is screening embryos (8-celled) for the gene which causes inherited breast cancer. The couple must pay for the expensive procedure, and the unused embryos are used for stem cell research.
We are not far removed from gene discrimination for all types of genetic disorders, like autism, Down's Syndrome, Asperger's Syndrome, etc. For now, the researchers say that couples are making wise decisions about which diseases to screen. However, we may some day see choices made for general characteristics. This doctor stated that we haven't mapped or understand completely those genes which produce eye color, hair color, etc. The research seems to be concentrated on inherited diseases.
This still doesn't eliminate all diseases, for he stated only about 20% of cancers are inherited. I know that my pancreatic cancer wasn't inherited, for there is no family history at all as far back as I can research it.
This all brings up ethical discussions about how much manipulation humans should do in the reproductive process. Each couple is going to have to settle their own faith and the consequences of dabbling in what most believers is God's domain. He stated that we are fearfully and wonderfully made in the womb by His choice. There may be reasons He has allowed for humans to have some inherited problems. We all know that disabilities alone don't stop the creative process of individual humans. Some very respected and well-known people in our day had inherited diseases, but they overcame and became quite successful, e.g. Helen Keller, Ludwig von Beethoven, Bill Gates, etc.
posted by Ray Cummins @ 2:54 PM
2 Comments:
What disease did Bill Gates inherit? This is news to me!
Man will continue to build his/her tower to try to be God. That is as old as the beginning! Oh, how sad to gain the "whole" world and lose one's soul for all of eternity!
your twin
Without trying to be offensive to a particular person, Bill Gates is thought to have some of the characteristics of those who have Asperger's Syndrome, a mild form of autism, in which the child has higher than average intelligence in a particular field of interest, but less than average social skills. He has never been diagosed with it. Other intelligent men like Albert Einstein were thought to have something similar. The debate today seems to be about the severe forms of autism which are occuring in 1 of 150 births, an increase from years ago. In the Silicon Valley of California, there is an even higher rate of incidence of Asperger's Syndrome, maybe some genetic disorder from two parents who are highly linked to the software design industry.
Post a Comment
<< Home