Posted in 
Previous: 
: 
Unsolicited Advice
Sign In >>
Dr Shapiro completed his undergraduate education at UC San Diego earning a B S in Biochemistry and Cell Biology and a B A in Political Science He furthered his education at UCLA where he earned a Masters Degree in Public…
FAST FACTS
Designer Babies: How Far Will We Go?
A question I am asked more often than you might think comes from proud parents wanting to know the ultimate eye color of their newborn child. In fact, even after reminding them it may take a few months (if not longer) before we know the true color of their child's eyes, some parents can't refrain from asking this question at every possible opportunity. But I'm now beginning to wonder whether it will be me who asks the question of eye color thanks to some relatively recent technology known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).
Simply put, PGD allows for determination of the genetic make-up of an early embryo. And while it is similar to amniocentesis and chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in that it provides genetic information about a child before his/her birth, it differs from these two more well known procedures in that it is performed prior to the embryo's implantation into the uterus rather than during the course of the pregnancy.
Now up until recently, PGD allowed for detection of certain single gene defects (such as Fragile X, Cystic Fibrosis, ALS, Sickle Cell Anemia, among others), abnormal chromosome numbers (including Trisomy 21, Trisomy 18, and Trisomy 13), and gender. And while we can debate the significance of knowing one's gender at such an early point in time, I'm sure many realize the benefit for parents to have access to this technology if they know they are carriers of specific genetic mutations or chromosomal abnormalities or have older children with a particular disease increasing the risk in future children as well.
But fresh on the heels of the birth of the octuplets, it appears our moral and for some, religious core, will be tested once again as a fertility clinic in Los Angeles is now willing to create designer babies...ones where the parents can choose eye, hair, skin qualities as well as the baby's gender. And while I believe there is true value in the technology of PGD, I am more than alarmed it is now being offered as an opportunity for parents to cherry pick certain features in their children.
What will be next? Only implanting embryos with the potential of having IQs above 150 or felt to have Olympian promise and just discarding the rest? Selecting those only with blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin?
So while we wait for U.S. laws to govern the use of this technology, I find it imperative we take it upon ourselves to step up and make sure our voices are heard.
Dr. Jeremy
CATEGORIES:
News
CONDITIONS AND COMMUNITIES:
Abstinence & Celibacy
•
Adoption
•
Asperger Syndrome
•
Autism / Autism Spectrum
•
Bedwetting
•
Breastfeeding
•
Child Support & Custody
•
Children Of Divorced Parents
•
Family Issues
•
Foster Care
•
Gay Parenting
•
Grandparents Raising Children
•
Home Schooling
•
Homeschooling
•
Immunizations
•
Military Families
•
Parenting 'Tweens (9-12)
•
Parenting Big Kids (5-8)
•
Parenting Newborns & Infants (0-1)
•
Parenting Preschoolers (3-5)
•
Parenting Teenagers (12-18)
•
Parenting Toddlers (1-3)
•
Parents of Children with ADHD
•
Pregnancy
•
Pregnancy - Teens
•
Pregnancy After Loss/Infertility
•
Premature Birth
•
Single Dads
•
Single Parenting
•
Step Families
•
Trisomy 13 (Patau Syndrome)
•
Trisomy 18 (Edwards Syndrome)
•
Trying To Conceive
•
Twins, Triplets & More
Displaying comments 21-2 of 21
Got a Question?
I can only thank GOD that I did not know my Childs dx prenatally. Due to a previous false positive AFP test and further amnio...(which came out just fine) I did not want that several week stress again so opted not to do the AFP on my 4th child at age 39. She arrived with Patau Syndrome, (Trisomy 13) To say the least, we were shocked and immediately did all we could for child. Initially we were told they did not do much for these kids and allowed them to die naturally. My thoughts were, if another child of mine was given a diagnosis of cancer, Would I allow them to die naturally? Or in a serious car accident, allow them to die and not offer them any treatment? NO way, this child, who we already loved for the last 9 months deserved no less. We opted for added medical intervention. What a blessing this sweet child has been to our lives.
Is it easy to think you could never handle a special needs child or dwell on the burden you believe they would be to you, not wanting to change the "dream life" you envision. I can only tell you, there are many families who have moved forward with special needs kids and most would tell you they are an amazing blessing to them. The JOYS out weigh the sorrows etc.
I often wonder how different our life might have been without our special child... who is so imperfect to this world yet probably the most perfect among us... I can only say I am a better person because of this soul, our family is blessed to have her in our lives, and I know her life has made a difference to many who have met her.
I loved your response yearsoftears... sound like some on this list have not experienced lifes full circle of unexpected events... God not only offers diversity in this world, he loves to knock those on the head who think like admiral...:)
I can only thank GOD that I did not know my Childs dx prenatally. Due to a previous false positive AFP test and further amnio...(which came out just fine) I did not want that several week stress again so opted not to do the AFP on my 4th child at age 39. She arrived with Patau Syndrome, (Trisomy 13) To say the least, we were shocked and immediately did all we could for child. Initially we were told they did not do much for these kids and allowed them to die naturally. My thoughts were, if another child of mine was given a diagnosis of cancer, Would I allow them to die naturally? Or in a serious car accident, allow them to die and not offer them any treatment? NO way, this child, who we already loved for the last 9 months deserved no less. We opted for added medical intervention. What a blessing this sweet child has been to our lives.
Is it easy to think you could never handle a special needs child or dwell on the burden you believe they would be to you, not wanting to change the "dream life" you envision. I can only tell you, there are many families who have moved forward with special needs kids and most would tell you they are an amazing blessing to them. The JOYS out weigh the sorrows etc.
I often wonder how different our life might have been without our special child... who is so imperfect to this world yet probably the most perfect among us... I can only say I am a better person because of this soul, our family is blessed to have her in our lives, and I know her life has made a difference to many who have met her.
I loved your response yearsoftears... sound like some on this list have not experienced lifes full circle of unexpected events... God not only offers diversity in this world, he loves to knock those on the head who think like admiral...:)
I do not believe that a parent of an "affected or mentally ill child" should be fined or jailed, as posted by a previous person...we do not know what cause's every single birth defect! My son is dx'ed with Mental Retardation as well...I never did drugs....why is he affected? Should I be blamed for the genetics of his father or myself?
Is this just GOD's way of placing diversity in the world...so that human kind can have a heart and seek to love the most undesirable? Think poster's.....before you speak! Anyone of us could walk out our door at any given moment...be hurt in an accident.....and resemble..a mentally challenged person...Go to a Trama unit...and you will see....how normal healthy individuals...were also affected....
"what makes us human - the fact that we can reason and see the value of all people" will animals do the same thing.
It should be State & Federal law that mandates that people should be tested for physical & mental illness and for additive personality - gene and family history calulated in befor a woman is given permission - a state permit to have max of 2 children with 1 of same male.
Even then the pdoc, police, courts jobs will remain sercured.
I feel that parents should be sued and jailed for having additive to drugs baby and aid babys and parents should be fined when their child becomes mental ill when the child is in its 20tys and retested in its 40tys for mental illness. Parents should be fined for children who have physical illness. illness's that self serving parents intentional gave thier children.
With tecnology, race will be takein into account as will as county in which the gene pool is located.
With available tecnology and medical test that i had done on 2 bothers who I adopted after they where given a life time clean bill of health.
People should test and adopt healthy children which selfess people pop out.
Can technology take perfered genes - DNA to creat healthy child- now that would be worth the work.
will hospitals hire poor woman to carry rich people babys to term and at what price. Its already been proven that cattle can carry a human baby and give birth by c section. McD hamburgers may have been 1 of those cows,lol.
The money used for DNA selection should be used to illiminate addictive personality being that U.S. being #1 user of drugs and #1 demand of drug market.
Humans had to study moneys to learn from monkeys how to be social and how to take care of our babys and children. na humans didnt learn this from humans. So you may begin to see that animals take into count the value of thier off spring.
We had to hope that our baby would be healthy.
Most of us, back then, knew couples who hadn't been able to have children of their own.
They either adopted, Fostered, or just accepted that they would not have children.
IVF wasn't thought of.
Nowadays, it seems that every couple who haven't conceived to order, can go for IVF. They seem to think it's their right to have such treatment.
I believe that that attitude is wrong.
Especially in the climate in which too many people can't get the drugs they need to treat various cancers, or to relieve constant pain.
As for genetically engineering a child to have certain characteristics, well, that's just wrong.
Next step, Nazi politics......
After haveing test done on adoptable children I selected 2 brothers who have blond hair, blue eyes and olive complexion who I adopted and who would not have heart illness nor mental illness.
I feel that fetus should be tested for possibilty of illness's and illiminated if defected. pdoc jobs will still remain sercured because so many believe that a baby with 10 fingues and toes is and will remain healthy are parents to be just dont care and thier self serving to please the man and used as means to hold on to a male at least for 2 to 4 more yrs.
Tech is just useing what Hilter started and so wanted.
even cats, birds,fish etc... will discard defected offsprings.
oh ya I knew that my sons would be at least 6ft. thier both 6'2"
I feel that we can select and adopt from what we already have available.
I suspect that IVF isn't actually that much fun and that most people who can will try to conceive in the regular way which doesn't allow for this sort of testing. If people having IVF are offered the option of testing their embryos before deciding which ones to implant, it doesn't really bother me. I think there are enough differences in the world that people will select different things anyway.
It's also pretty hard to select for lots of things as things like intelligence, sporting ability and personality will be due to huge combinations of different genes. I reckon that you wouldn't be able to get eye colour right more than 70-80% of the time based on genetic analysis.