Altering Genes

[Jamal]

I just recently found out that it is posible to alter a childs genes. We can't seriously think this is ethical. I mean now in some ways were playing God.

[david23]

not child after birth, but probably the embryo stage. And of course whether playing god or not it's up to the parents. If abortion can be legal, then why not this. The parents just want their kids to have a good life afterall, or least not a bad one

[Cat]

Humans have been playing God for nearly 10,000 years (since the beginning of farming), so why would people stop now?

As far as "ethical" question is concerned, the technology is neither good nor bad. It's what will people use it for could be a problem. So, it all depends on individual scientists...

[Jamal]

OK I see exactly what your saying, but just because we can do it doesn't mean that we should. There are something that we should and shouldn't know. There has to be a place where we draw the line and with the way technology is going, we're going starting to dabble in things that we have no business in.

[jonmoulton]

Your argument could have been made an any point in the development of modern medicine -- and was. Fortunately, it was not heeded. Parents of children suffering from Duchenne muscular dystrophy or cystic fibrosis would be the near-term losers if folks with your stated position controlled medical research.

[Jamal]

Not nessarly, because if people would take the time to take the nessary step to avoid such defects such as know who they are sleeping with, Keeping immunizations current, Not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke. Eating nutritious, foods..not including..those fake Mc donalde salads, Having regular checkups and frequent tests. These disorders or diseases can be prevented.

[jonmoulton]

Not nessarly, because if people would take the time to take the nessary step to avoid such defects such as know who they are sleeping with, Keeping immunizations current, Not smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke. Eating nutritious, foods..not including..those fake Mc donalde salads, Having regular checkups and frequent tests. These disorders or diseases can be prevented.

You are suggesting that Duchenne muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis are due to environment and lifestyle? These are hereditary genetic diseases, sometimes caused by spontaneous mutation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duchenne_m ... _dystrophy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cystic_fibrosis

The most promising therapies in development for treatment of these conditions involve altering nucleic acids, either by gene replacement or by oligonucleotide-mediated exon skipping. Blocking research into these techniques rips hope from these patients and their families. You suggested that developing these treatments is playing God. I respond that blocking them is being the devil, and know many parents of children with these genetic diseases who would agree.

[muzna]

i agree, the child would not able to compete with evolutionary changes or change in environment as it is natural process.

[mith]

Ok, and we can all hide underground because the Sun has UV rays that can cause cancer and mutate DNA.

[Jamal]

No, the reason I said that is because there are ways to prevent it but in certain cases I feel that its acceptable, but at the same time I feel that it should be used for that reason and that reason only..not to change a fetuses eye color or height...

[canalon]

Yes but where is the limit to what is acceptable and what is not? A short stature can be a handicap, if i can have someone go from 120cm to 175cm by gene alteration, I will probably make his r her lie much easier, but what would be the maximum height where this treatment cannot be applied? Or in a case of Autism spectrum disorder, from deep autism, to mild Asperger, where would be the limit if a treatment was available? etc...

[mith]

Let's say you took all those precautions you mentioned, do you truly believe that makes it impossible for your child to have defects?

And let's say that indeed they are preventable, that means you're suggesting parents who smoke/don't eat well caused the baby's defect....and they should not be allowed to seek medical treatment. So you're saying you think the parent should be punished by watching their child suffer?

What kind of religion/moral system says you should prevent a doctor from giving aid to a suffering baby and instead lecture the doctor to not play god?