Alice....Through The Looking Lab

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ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

0 posted 2001-04-23 02:05 AM

          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
spaces of consciousness and resistance; to language oppressions; to
re-language historie

Temptress

Moderator

Member Rara Avis

since 1999-06-15

Posts 7136
Mobile, AL

1 posted 2001-04-23 02:11 AM

Interesing poem...interesting subject.
Myself..
I don't think the world will surive long enough to find out. That is a sad view, and sometimes I feel it less strongly than other times. Such interference and manipulation is certainly against the laws I've been raised by I think. Again, nice poem...thanks for making me think although my thoughts aren't always set in stone.

still d-i-s-c-o-n-n-e-c-t-e-d
I am bound by this, you see...to become Night's sole mistress, and I am jealous in my endeavours for his attention.

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

2 posted 2001-04-23 02:34 AM

That's quite an interesting reply Temptress. You may be right! Thanks for the comment!

nakdthoughts
Member Laureate

since 2000-10-29

Posts 19200
Between the Lines

3 posted 2001-04-23 09:25 AM

Well E...even the best schools and Doctors..and surroundings and money don't make the best humans...so there will still be problems...and only those that can afford will get the opportunity...the best children(if there is such a thing) are the products of loving, caring parents and individuals who show them the right path to living a contented life and whose children try their best to take it...anyway..just a few thoughts of mine...why would parents want their children to be a duplicate of themselves or others when most of us aren't even happy with ourselves...ever ponder that?

anywhoooo nice writing

Maureen
p.s. if we were all alike or the best of the best or the too intelligent... the world would be dull and there would be no one to do the hard, dirty work that allows them to enjoy their cushioned lives...and too many factors determine where and how we end up living our lives...oh dear I am getting off the subject now aren't I...just be happy with what G*d sends your way
in a precious child...for some of us have not been so blessed.

the Moonchild (of old) in me, made me respond this way huggssss
M/M

"The worst prison would be a closed heart".
...Pope John Paul II

Mysteria

Member Laureate

since 2001-03-07

Posts 18328
British Columbia, Canada

4 posted 2001-04-23 09:33 AM

Considering the world is run totally on economics, this is quite feasible actually, unless of course religion does not get into it! If any higher power of authority can manipulate humanity for money, they will! And yes that also is one scary thought isn't it? Great insight into something that could very well become a reality, but I will certainly not be around to see it thank goodness! Great subject, thanks for a great read.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

5 posted 2001-04-23 09:36 AM

I'm probably of the older school, Ethome...the strong shall survive, and not be chemically induced to do so prior to birth. We are fudging around TOO much with nature...

while God gave us an ability to learn, and make vast use of our inner abilities and resources, he may have held back a bit on the wisdom to correlate between "right" and "wrong"...

and science is writing our epitaph.

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

6 posted 2001-04-23 09:38 AM

No you are not getting off the subject at all! I agree with everything you've stated here and your thoughts follow the pattern of my thoughts. There is too much that needs to be focused on before these profit making trips into science become the center of attention.
I have to agree, where will it stop...with a super human race? I don't think so! I can relate to that expression 'playing God' . Who is it that gives anyone that right. Also, if you can create a brilliant healthy child in your image, why couldn't you create another brilliant Hitler or Charles Manson. There is much to be pondered before these things become a reality, although we probably won't be given that choice....democracy you know!

SEA

Moderator

Member Seraphic

since 2000-01-18

Posts 22676
with you

7 posted 2001-04-23 09:40 AM

I find it terribly wrong to mess with God's work.....very thought provoking today....and very very good!

SEA

VAS
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-11-16

Posts 7450
Oregon

8 posted 2001-04-23 09:54 AM

History of man has shown that anytime s/he goes messing with things that are God's domain, s/he messes up more than s/he fixes. i.e. getting rid of one pest creates the demise of another one may want to keep and an over-abundance of that which the pest kept in control. AND when man tries to fix his/her own created disaster...well, here comes another to replace it.

ethome
Member Patricius

since 2000-05-14

Posts 11858
New Brunswick Canada

9 posted 2001-04-23 09:55 AM

Thanks Mysteria and I couldn't agree more..."religion is the opium of the people' I don't care if a communist made that statement or not. The need to worship fills many of us but it should be done willingly from the heart and because we have proved our beliefs to ourself without just taking the word of another man. As far as the science goes it has become a profit making tool for a large number of corporations, often with the actual scientists racing to outdo their competitors regardless of the lack of experience. However, I'm certianly not against bio-technology curing some of the dispicable diseases that haunt mankind today! Thanks for your comment!

Sunshine I guess we are both from the old school. I say I'm not a religious man but I believe in a grand creator. However, I'm not in favor of many many organized religions that are nothing more than profit making institutions selling the word of God. So I reason the same way when it comes to scientific achievement...there is always two sides to every story! To try and control the forces of nature has alway proved disasterous to mankind in the long run. This to me is a close second. I mean, let's face it.....the worst invention we have ever come up with has been the automobile which led to the creation of many many other fossil fuel burning inventions.....where these all gather we have a thing called....smog. I suggest great care be taken in this field!

Irish Rose
Member Patricius

since 2000-04-06

Posts 10263

10 posted 2001-04-23 10:49 AM

give me the good old-fashioned method any day of the week!!!!!

Kathleen Blake

"When red-haired girls scamper like roses over the rain-green grass,
and the sun drips honey."
Laurie Lee

Janet Marie
Member Laureate

since 2000-01-22

Posts 18554

11 posted 2001-04-23 10:43 PM

WOW Eric...
ya really did your homework here,
I will have to read this a few times to take it all in...
very cool poet-pal....
and the only thing I can think to say is...

"Its not nice to fool Mother Nature"

I love your imperfections ... I love your everything ...
Your broken heart ... your broken wings.

Paula Finn
Member Ascendant

since 2000-06-17

Posts 5546
missouri

12 posted 2001-04-25 01:43 AM

While doctors can discover many things...can they see into the mind of this child? How do they know they just havent created the next super serial killer? A perfectly formed...extremely intelligent...mass murderer? Since no one knows why some people are born lacking the restraints that keep them from acting on any whim who is to say that instead of future Mozarts the wouldnt be creating future Ted Bundys'? Men and women should create babies...and live with what they are blessed with...GREAT write sweet poet man!!!

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