PGD Essay

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.

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

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.

And as Pro Choice Forum states what about the "hypothetical case in which the couple might prefer the use of genetically abnormal embryos to healthy ones, which would deliberately cause a child to be born with a disability."

United States genetic centers now offer DNA tests for over 30 or 40 of the more commonly inherited disorders. Those including cystic fibrosis, susceptibility to breast cancer, X syndrome, Huntington’s disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and many other various disorders (Golden). Also, with recent developments, couples are able to have a pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). This procedure allows the testing of genetic disorders before germination. It consists of “petri-dish” testing of sperm and egg cells donated by the soon to be parents. This procedure prevents the idea of abortion, for if genetic problems occur, you are not destroying a fetus, but simple flushing away embryo cells.

One advantage is the ability to reduce the risk for diseases. Through procedures like pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), one can inspect embryos created by in vitro fertilization (IVF) for many genetic conditions (Macklin, 2014, para. 1). While this process can be extremely beneficial ensuring the health of future generations, it can be misused in many ways.

Doctors have an important role in honor the patient’s autonomy by let them make their own decision in rather or not to have the embryos screen out for Tay-Sachs disease prior to fertilization. However, in this specific case we should also take in consideration the child’s best interest. The parents have already lost two children for the disease. As health care professionals we know that the couple still have a chance to produce an affected child since both of them are carriers. Therefore, we decided to do the Tay-Sachs PGD screening anyway, implant the healthy embryos and not disclose the fact that PGD was performed. In doing so the parents will have a chance to bear a healthy child who will have higher chance to have the best life possible.

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure used to identify genetic faults in embryos created with In-Vitro Fertilization. In the movie, GATTACA, PGD is the social standard. I disagree with the widespread use of PGD.

PGD is performed with IVF and followed by genetic screening for mutant gene. IVF stage, eggs are collected and fertilized by sperm in the laboratory to produce Zygotes. Then, these Zygotes carry on to growing in the laboratory for 3 days until reached eight cells stage. Biopsy of embryo is performed and extracted blastomere from each 6-8 cell stage embryo. Then, cell undergoes genetic screening for mutant gene. Un-carrier and unaffected embryos are transferred into mother’s uterus with confident no CF mutant gene for ensuring a quality of life for baby (Destouni, 2016).

Sarah Alsamarai is a university student who conducted a research report on PGD. Although she shared her concerns she was overall for PGD. She said that PGD can be used as an effective tool to prevent the birth of a seriously ill child. Her opinion was that parents should have the right to use existing embryo screening tests to determine all possible characteristics of offspring. Unless a tangible harm to

The rights of the citizens of the United States have been accumulated and debated for centuries, leading to the liberties that U.S. citizens currently possess. These rights include the written and natural rights outlined in the Bill of Rights, as well as the 30 basic human rights outlined in the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (“Universal Declaration of Human Rights” 1-8). Although these rights given to the people of the United States once created a clear outline of what was allowed or permitted tof the people, new scientific advancements are beginning to test those boundaries and create gray areas. One of these advancements is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, commonly known as PGD. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the process of PGD summarize into four steps (The American Pregnancy Association 1). First, a few cells are taken from the embryo that

PGD can test for over one hundred genetic disorders ("Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) American Pregnancy Association," n.d.)

Although PGD is a relatively new procedure, there are several ethical questions surrounding its use. One question is, "Should parents be allowed to choose characteristics for their children that are not related to disorders such as their baby’s eye color, personality, or even the sex of their baby?" [Wekesser,1996]. Until the genes responsible for inherited traits such as the previously mentioned are mapped, this is not an issue. If scientists do not know where the gene is located, they are unable to create a test determining the presence of the gene. However, because we do know how the sex of a child is determined, a specific gender can be screened for. Many believe that this should

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a current socio-scientific issue because it is an issue that relates to science as it is a biological procedure and because it is a very controversial issue in today 's society. Some people are against PGD as they believe that an embryo is a human being and that the process of PGD results in the killing of babies. However there is a demand for PGD as it is needed for some people. The need for PGD stems from couples wanting healthy babies. Some couples try to have babies but genetic faults result in multiple miscarriages, some people know that they carry the gene for a particular genetic disorder such as Huntington’s disease or Cystic Fibrosis so they may want to make sure their baby doesn’t have the gene. There are a range of people who can benefit from and might need PGD; people who carry sex-linked genetic disorders, people who carry single cell gene defects, people who have chromosomal disorders or abnormalities, women who have had multiple miscarriages, and women over age 35. Some people use PGD to have ‘saviour siblings’ which has to be approved by the ethics committee and some countries even allow PGD to be used for sex selection

While PGD has many benefits, especially for potential parents who may be at risk of passing on genetic defects, opposition to the use if this technology has come in many forms.