Biological Implications

A Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a test that “allows future parents to detect genetic defects that cause inherited disease in human embryos before they are implanted.” One of the most ethical questions that one might ask before considering the PGD is whether the benefits of genetic knowledge outweigh harmful effects that occur to the embryo? Is it really worth manipulating embryos genes in order to achieve the desire of the parents? Often times we have to take into considerations the risk and benefits of each situation. I believe that the PGD test should be only be done to detect genetic defects, but it should not be used to manipulate genes in order to make what to them is a “perfect” child. As stated in our text, “ In the united Kingdom alteration of an embryos genes, even for gene therapy or cloning embryos is illegal.” By manipulating genes its like going against Gods wishes. In the eyes of God every person that comes into this world is equally seen as a human being because they are all created in “ the image of God.” In this case the parents should not be allowed to manipulate the genes of their unborn child just to accommodate to their

Therapeutic genetic manipulation is preformed by doctors to prevent diseases that the baby is carrying. The baby is tested by screening the embryo for any possible unknown diseases. Sometimes the PGD or preimplantation genetic diagnosis technique is used for this ("Biotechnology special focus"). The main diseases PGD is used to test for in babies are Hunntington's disease, Tay-sacks, Alzheimers, Familia cancers, Sickle Cell disease, Hemophilia, Neurofibromatosis, Fanconi's Anemia, Cystic fibrosis and most recently, Down's Syndrome ("Hooray for designer babies", 2002). This technique involves removing the unfertilized egg from the female, mating it with a sperm and then testing it for diseases. If all the diseases are absent, the fertilized egg is planted into the mother's uterus to develop into a baby. Some other unpredictable diseases may also be carried in the baby's chromosomes. Chromosome carrying diseases and disorders include: miscarriage of the baby, physical birth defects or down syndrome (Biotechnology special focus").

PGD is known as pre-implantation genetic diagnosing. I do not think it is ethical to design and conceive a child that meets specific genetic requirements. I do not feel that this is an ethical reason to conceive a child. Rather, I believe all children should be seen as blessings or gifts, not sacrificial genetic progeny.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a form of genetic testing. It is similar to the screening of abnormal chromosome count only used to test for genetic diseases. The fertility institutes have used this to take gender selection to the next level. Stating that this has a greater than 99,9% success rate.

That isn’t the usual case with the women getting IVF. Most women get this treatment because they can’t have a child without it. For example, Bernita Malloy, a federal prosecutor in Atlanta would not have been able to have a child without 25 eggs and three in-vitro cycles. She spent about $45,000 on only three cycles. Imagine if we had limited her to only two eggs per cycle. It would have taken her up to 12 cycles and about $180,000 to have one child. And still, even with this treatment some women never successfully have a

Once these tests have been performed, there is no guarantee that the results are absolutely written in stone. It is possible to terminate perfectly healthy embryos and unknowingly implant those with the dreaded disease. Also, doctors are unable to predict the true extent of the disease. An embryo diagnosed as positive may develop into a child with less severe symptoms and still be able to lead a somewhat normal and productive life.

Any additional embryos with no genetic issues can be frozen for later use if the parents decide to do so. In contrast, embryos with any problematic genes are destroyed. The PGD technology is used to help destroy numerous diseases in order for the doctors to combat them, and to help create a healthy baby. There has been much debate over the extent to which it is justifiable for the US government to allow the use of PGD in the United States. One of these topics that raises debate includes the high price of performing PGD through IVF. Couples around the United States have been paying clinics or fertility centers for PGD because of their fears of passing on diseases to their offspring. The average cost for one cycle of In-Vitro Fertilization is around 1,000 dollars (Gurevich 1). This cost excludes PGD, which is an additional 3,000 dollars. Although the cost of the procedure is excessive, the outcomes are well worth

Regarding the subject of the use of IVF and PGD, or embryo screening of any kind, my stance is not a concrete one. I recognize the fact that while it is very possible for embryo screening to lead to discrimination of all kinds, it is also possible to potentially save many lives through early detection of treatable disorders, such as, hypercholesterolaemia. Therefore, I believe that the use of embryo screening technology should be used on a

Multiple negative biological implications involve an unsuccessful outcome, meaning a healthy baby was not produced. This has significance because they process is so expensive, many patients would see this as wasted money if they didn’t get the results they were expecting. Many sacrifices are made from couples who participate in IVF/PGD including mental, physical and financial challenges. If IVF/PGD does fail it would not only be disappointing for the patient but heartbreaking as the mourn for their unborn babies.

Moreover, it is not safe for the embryo. The safety concern is what comes after the initial process of in vitro fertilization, the additional processes of either adding a screening step or, going through preimplantation genetic screening (PGS). The process of PGS entails taking one cell from the embryo and observing the chromosomes while the rest of the embryo stays frozen. These screening tests have caused many arguments among scientists due to the fact that some individuals say that there are risk factors

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is when some couples decide to choose in-vitro fertilization (IVF) to create embryos that are tested for an expanded Huntington gene. One Benefit of PGD is the decisions regarding pregnancy termination can be avoided.

PGD is a procedure that combines In vitro fertilization and genetic screening. In vitro fertilization is a procedure that requires a large time commitment; the entire procedure lasts about four weeks. The woman receives daily injections for seven to twelve days to

IVF has many benefits for couples who have tried to conceive a child of their own and have little or no success. IVF takes nature into the laboratory and gives a helping hand with the fertilization of the egg. Many times this is attempted because of the egg not being able to fall into the fallopian tube

The social implications to PGD include financing the cost of PGD, discrimination against people carrying specific genetic diseases or disorder which makes them have disabilities, taxpayers and ministry of health funding the treatment, and the success rate of PGD and IVF.

The chances of having multiple birth will increase from the fertility drugs, it also increase the risk of having premature babies or babies with low birth weight etc. IVF treatment can also be expensive, it is around USD$13000 per treatment. Women need to take medication and blood test before the treatment, they often has to take more than 1 cycle of IVF treatment, which sometimes women thinks it is highly emotive and stressful for their family finance and they end up in emotional/psychological toll. As women age, the success rate of pregnancy and birth decreases, from 46.7 and 40.7 at the age lower than 35, to 8.6 and 3.9 at the age higher than