DESIGNER BABIES. What? Definition: The term used to define the genetic engineering of an embryo’s...
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- DESIGNER BABIES
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- What? Definition: The term used to define the genetic
engineering of an embryos genes and genome in order to specify the
genes of the baby to result in a custom designed child.
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- How? Made possible by new technology: InVitro Fertilization
Human genome DNA manipulation / genetic engineering Process: Screen
DNA of egg and sperm Knowledge of genome
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- Use Pre-Implantation Diagnosis (PDG) Cosmetic and
Characteristic Alterations Germline Therapy
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- PDG - Screen embryo for risk of diseases from parents Example:
Huntington's Disease - Able to screen for birth defects Example:
Down Syndrome - Able to select the correct unaffected embryo and
place in womb
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- Down Syndrome Distorts facial features Heart problems Mental
retardation Can develop cancer No current cure 1 in 800 children
Extra copy of all or part of chromosome 21
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- Huntingtons Disease Affects part of brain that controls
movement Jerky movements Dementia loss of reason Personality
changes, behavior problems, memory loss If parent has it, child has
50% chance of getting it Develop after age 40
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- Cosmetic & Characteristic Alterations Sex Selection done
today In the future selection of certain traits will be available:
Eye color Hair color Beauty Intelligence Athleticism
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- Germline Therapy Performed on egg, sperm, or embryo Replaces
defected sections of DNA with healthy DNA
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- Alternatives Traditional Methods to ensure gender: Conceive at
correct time Dairy food for girl, salty food for boy Sperm Sorting
Prenatal Diagnosis If wrong gender can have an abortion
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- Current Laws Sperm sorting and prenatal testing is legal in
most countries No laws against PDG in USA Depends on clinic: of US
fertility banks allow gender choosing; 23% allows supplying blood
to sick siblings Germany allows prenatal testing UK allows PGD to
be used to find disease or sibling match
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- + The Positives + + Prevents certain genetic diseases + avoid
financial and emotional strains upon parents; have healthy kids +
Avoid gender specific disease which run in the family + ex: color
blindness + Its worth the cost + already paying for IVF, double
check to make sure that the child is healthy + Its natural + Help
with the wombs natural process of checking for defects + Its
similar to whats being done today + Equal to replacing defective
organ + Savior Child + Create specific child in order to be the
donor for a very ill child + Balancing Families + Families who
already have children of one gender able to pick the other