GENETIC SCREENING and ITS ETHICS
What is Genetic Screening?
Genetic screening refers to testing an embryo, fetus or adult to find out if a particular allele is present. The body can be screened for things like cancers, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, thalassaemia, haemophilia, sickle cell and Huntington’s disease.
Process of Genetic Screening
1. Genetic tests are performed on a sample of blood, hair, skin, amniotic fluid or other tissue 2. For example, a procedure called a buccal smear uses a small brush or cotton swab to collect a sample of cells from the inside surface of the cheek
c.The sample is sent to a laboratory where technicians look for specific changes in chromosomes, DNA, or proteins, depending on the suspected disorder.
d.The laboratory reports the test results in writing to a person's doctor or genetic counsellor, or directly to the patient if requested.
How is Genetic screening used to screen for sickle cell anaemia 1.A blood test can check for haemoglobin S — the defective form of haemoglobin that underlies sickle cell anaemia. 2.In adults, a blood sample is drawn from a vein in the arm. In young children and babies, the blood sample is usually collected from a finger or heel.
3.The sample is then sent to a laboratory, where it's screened for haemoglobin- S.
4.If the screening test is negative, there is no sickle cell gene present. If the screening test is positive, further tests will be done to determine whether one or two sickle cell genes are present.
Genetic screening refers to testing an embryo, fetus or adult to find out if a particular allele is present. The body can be screened for things like cancers, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, thalassaemia, haemophilia, sickle cell and Huntington’s disease.
Process of Genetic Screening
1. Genetic tests are performed on a sample of blood, hair, skin, amniotic fluid or other tissue 2. For example, a procedure called a buccal smear uses a small brush or cotton swab to collect a sample of cells from the inside surface of the cheek
c.The sample is sent to a laboratory where technicians look for specific changes in chromosomes, DNA, or proteins, depending on the suspected disorder.
d.The laboratory reports the test results in writing to a person's doctor or genetic counsellor, or directly to the patient if requested.
How is Genetic screening used to screen for sickle cell anaemia 1.A blood test can check for haemoglobin S — the defective form of haemoglobin that underlies sickle cell anaemia. 2.In adults, a blood sample is drawn from a vein in the arm. In young children and babies, the blood sample is usually collected from a finger or heel.
3.The sample is then sent to a laboratory, where it's screened for haemoglobin- S.
4.If the screening test is negative, there is no sickle cell gene present. If the screening test is positive, further tests will be done to determine whether one or two sickle cell genes are present.
Advantages
of genetic screening
Test results can provide a sense of relief from uncertainty and help people make informed decisions about managing their health care. New born screening can identify genetic disorders early in life so treatment can be started as early as possible.
Test results can provide a sense of relief from uncertainty and help people make informed decisions about managing their health care. New born screening can identify genetic disorders early in life so treatment can be started as early as possible.
WHAT IS A DESIGNER BABY?
A designer baby is a baby with artificially changed genetic information. It is officially known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).Some traits that can be altered for designer babies are;
a.The gender of the baby
b.The outward looks of the baby
c.Reduce the baby’s chances of falling sick or getting
affected with a particular disease
d.Change the baby’s overall personality
e.Alter and improve the baby’s overall levels of
intelligence
HOW ARE DESIGNER BABIES MADE?
CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short
Palindromic Repeats) mechanism
CRISPR “spacer” sequences are transcribed into short
RNA sequences capable of guiding the system to matching sequences of DNA. When
the target DNA is found, Cas9 – one of the enzymes produced by the CRISPR
system – binds to the DNA and cuts it, shutting the targeted gene off. Using
modified versions of Cas9, researchers can activate gene expression instead of
cutting the DNA.
Pros: 1.Increases life expectancy for up to 30 years 2.Reduces chances of various genetic diseases 3.You
call the shots 4.Eliminates
chances of diseases in further generations
Cons: 1.Moral
and ethical issues 2.Violation
of your baby’s rights 3.Not
an error-free process 4.May
accidentally give rise to new forms of illnesses that scientists are not yet
aware of 5.Is
not affordable by all hence will create a class divide where only the rich can
afford designer babies
ETHICAL ISSUES
1.Creating a race of designer or non-designer babies could lead to a dystopian world, in which the designer babies, who are created by modifying the genes, will turn into a superior race and look down upon others who were born without any genetic modification. 2.Gender-specific abortions 3.Many think that sex pre-selection is unethical 4. Amniocentesis and chronic villus sampling 5.Reproduction is being turned into a ‘baby market’ 6.If designer babies become fashionable, this trend will be difficult to control
ETHICAL ISSUES
1.Creating a race of designer or non-designer babies could lead to a dystopian world, in which the designer babies, who are created by modifying the genes, will turn into a superior race and look down upon others who were born without any genetic modification. 2.Gender-specific abortions 3.Many think that sex pre-selection is unethical 4. Amniocentesis and chronic villus sampling 5.Reproduction is being turned into a ‘baby market’ 6.If designer babies become fashionable, this trend will be difficult to control
No comments:
Post a Comment