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Biotechnology
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Biotechnology |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada 
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The year is 2050. Inside the fertility clinic, Melissa peers at a computer screen. She is thoughtful. After all, choosing a child is a serious matter, not something to be done in haste. The screen shows the image of a smiling teenage girl whom Melissa and her husband, Curtis, have already named Alice. Both the image and the information printed beside it tell a great deal about the person Alice will become, both physically and mentally. Alice has not been born. The future teenager is yet an embryo,safely stored at -320 degrees Fahrenheit with dozens of other embryos in a nearby room. The genetic characteristics of each embryo were scanned and fed into the computer to help the parents select which one would be implanted in Melissa’s womb. Since Melissa and Curtis want a girl, the male embryos are rejected. The parents next examine the remaining embryos for such characteristics as health prospects, appearance, and temperament. Finally Melissa and Curtis make their choice. Nine months later they rejoice in the birth of the daughter of their choosing a real, living Alice. THIS story is condensed from an account written by Lee Silver, a professor of molecular biology at Princeton University, New Jersey, U.S.A. It is a projection of what he believes may occur in the decades ahead. He based his ideas on existing research and technology. Already, human embryos can be screened for certain genetic disorders. And it has been over 20 years since the first test-tube baby was born. Having been conceived in a petri dish, she was the first human conceived outside her mother’s womb. The fact that Dr. Silver names the child Alice may remind us of the well-known fantasy Alice in Wonderland. Indeed, the future to which many are looking is a land of wonders. An editorial in the prestigious magazine Nature stated: "The growing power of molecular genetics confronts us with future prospects of being able to change the nature of our species." This is a brief look at some developments in biotechnology, focusing particularly on the prospects for "improving" humanity. Will the work being done in the laboratories today affect your life or that of your children? Many believe that it will. Alice...Through The Looking Lab Today the news is bright and clear there's cautious laughter everywhere, and family hearts are pressed to tears. The time has almost come; The blinding lights on high above shine on whites and rubber gloves, and from the gene pool beyond love a tiny heartbeat cheers them on. The machines run, the tension screams and every corner breathes with beings with pulsing hearts and faith filled dreams. The waters break and spill; The room is filled with surging pain and when the new day lays awake a new spirit crys and shakes and the hearts soar with the thrill. The years go by, they're choice and long right through the nusery through the throngs the cocktail youngster moves along. And up the science scale the youngster runs and lives and sings the world now sees these better things the college bell of praises rings, and the papers brag the tale. This story sounds perfect doesn't it? Yet I remain concerned when mankind starts manipulating human life, I find it totally scary! The glowing reports of what is being done and what may be done in the years ahead make it easy to overlook the present limitations and the potential problems of the new technologies. To illustrate, let us return to the subject of babies. Genetic screening is already a common practice. The most widely used method dates back to the 1960’s. A doctor injects a needle into the womb of a pregnant woman and extracts a sample of amniotic fluid, which surrounds the fetus. The fluid can then be tested to see if the fetus has any of the dozens of genetic disorders, including Down’s syndrome and spina bifida. This procedure is usually performed after the 16th week of pregnancy. A more recent procedure reveals details of the embryo’s genetic makeup between the sixth and tenth weeks of pregnancy. These procedures enable doctors to identify many disorders, but only about 15 percent of them can be corrected. When tests reveal a genetic problem or give an ambiguous result, many parents are faced with an agonizing decision should the fetus be aborted, or should the child be brought to birth? The UNESCO Courier comments: "Despite the proliferation of DNA tests, each patented and profit-yielding, genetics has so far failed to fulfill its vaunted promises of gene therapy. Doctors are screening for conditions and disorders which they cannot treat. So abortion is often presented as treatment." Of course, as biotechnology becomes more effective, doctors expect to have far greater powers to detect and correct the genetic defects that either cause or predispose humans to various diseases. In addition, scientists hope that eventually they will be able to transfer artificial chromosomes into a human embryo to offer protection against such diseases as Parkinson’s, AIDS, diabetes, and prostate and breast cancer. A child would thus be born with a strengthened immune system. There is also the prospect of future drugs that will "enhance" the developing embryo, perhaps by manipulating genes to boost intelligence or improve memory. Though even the most optimistic scientists realize that it will be a long time before parents may be able to choose the kind of child they want from a catalog, to many people the prospect of bearing the child of one’s dreams is immensely appealing. Some argue that it would be irresponsible not to use technology to eliminate genetic disorders. After all, they reason, if there is nothing wrong with sending your child to the best schools and the best doctors, why not try to have the best baby possible? I guess I'm old and a skeptic, but these things seem to be too good to be true! The role of poetry is to utter the un-utterable; to open up |
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| © Copyright 2001 Eric Lewis True - All Rights Reserved | |||
catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
Well, this deserves a well thought out response, but I am just speaking spontaneously here. I think there are good and bad aspects to almost all genetic work, but in my thoughts, the good is probably going to outweigh the bad. The ability to change and eliminate genetic problems seems wonderful. Imagine your child with that enhanced immune system. That in itself would be so wonderful, there is nothing sadder than a sick child. I hesitate on the choosing of the "perfect" child, or the elimination of the "less than perfect". That is the point where the mixed feelings come in. Genetic work can also, as you stated, improve the lives of people with various illnesses, and the future looks promising for the elimination of many diseases. I suppose we will have to take the good with the bad, in the end, because science will not stop, no matter how many objections there are. One last note, as a woman, I think the one thing that would be a wonderful improvement with babies, is the artificial womb. Has not happened yet, but while we are looking ahead, I can see a "normal" invitro occuring, and then the child develops to birth within an artificial but very comfortable and happy environment. The parents could visit, and talk to the fetus as it grows, there could be music playing all the time, etc. And when the child is complete, the parents can come and open the womb and take their baby home. I may have seen a rough story like this in an old sci fi movie. Now everyone may feel that there is nothing to replace the closeness of the mother carrying the baby. But think of this, many women still die in childbirth, or are terribly injured. Babies do not always make the childbirth journey well themselves, and there is still a fairly high infant mortaality rate. And the father of the child has never carried the baby, and in essence experiences the above already. I think it would be a blessing for the mother and baby not to have to endure childbirth. Well, I digress, but I watched my daughter give birth 3 times in the last 4 years, and its not magical, its not pretty, its not beautifully romantic or live affirming, it is scary, and painful, and dangerous. We almost lost the baby the first time. Then there is the cloning issue that seems so full of fear and fire, and to me all it is, is another way to help infertile couples. I have never seen the big deal there, though I know many disagree. OK, I will shut up now  Sandra |
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ethome Member Patricius
since 2000-05-14
Posts 11858New Brunswick Canada |
That's great Sandra....I loved the ramble...that's whay I posted this here. I'm just looking others opinions, even ones that disagree with yours. After all that's the way we learn isn't it! The role of poetry is to utter the un-utterable; to open up |
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catalinamoon
since 2000-06-03
Posts 9543The Shores of Alone |
I would like to see more imput on here, this is an interesting topic. Any takers? |
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