Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD)

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.

What is over-reaching? The definition may be unclear in many retrospects, but the true definition is ‘certain areas in knowledge that humans should not “explore or cross”. Throughout history there has been over-reaching of all types; examples of past and present societal over-reaching has been; Amelia Earhart attempting to circle the globe in a plane consequently ending with her disappearance over the Bermuda Triangle, the new idea of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis allowing technology to identify genetic diseases in a child’s DNA or even changing the appearance of your baby to have a “designer baby”, Henry Worsley attempting to become the first person in history to cross the Antarctic continent alone, with no aid from outside sources,

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").

Currently it is only legally possible to carry out two types of advanced reproductive technologies on humans. The first involves choosing the sperm to fertilize the egg, which will determine the sex and the genes of the baby. The second technique screens embryos for a genetic disease and only selected embryos are implanted back into the mother’s womb. This is called Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD).

What is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis? It’s basically were two parents have a child with a severe disease, they then make a second child to use as spare parts for the first. Also, is Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis even an ethical choice? I suggest regulations to ensure abuse of this method is kept to a minimum

The case presents us with extreme ethical issues pertaining to the human life. Do we use PGD and support embryonic killing or do we discard PGD and allow the birth of a child that is certain to be burdened with medical crises throughout the course of their life? It is tempting to say “Thou shalt not kill” but then again after considering the benefits of PGD, one might not take such moral stance anymore. PGD decreases the chances of giving birth to a genetic diseased offspring. Without it, there is likely to be serious hardship inflicted not only on the parents of the child but also the society and the child as well. It drastically reduces the chances of a complicated pregnancy and other medical issues such as miscarriages. It helps a great deal in saving lives that depend on stem or bone marrow transplant. PGD also appeals to the emotional minds of parents who are carriers of this genetic disorder by consoling their fears of bringing an abnormal embryo to the world. As a deontologist, Kant proposes certain principles that must be taken into consideration when determining what is ethical and unethical alongside what is morally wrong and right. The decision making of right and wrong are grounded by justice, benefice, no maleficence, human dignity, integrity, autonomy and vulnerability. He also believed in good will being as a result of the act of duty and not inclination. Finally his overall justification is based on the moral law “Act only on those maxims (or rules of

Preimplantation Genetic diagnosis is a test scientists use to screen an embryo visibility of any genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis or Huntington's Disease. They check to see if there are visibility of any genetic diseases that a baby could be born with. I fully support this procedure due to the psychological toll, and expenses on this test are equivalent to or less than having a child with a life long disease, however, I disagree with artificially designing your baby. If a couple decides to not go with PGD and chose amniocentesis, they would have to wait 4 months to test their baby of any diseases. If the baby is diagnosed with a genetic disorder the parents would ultimately have to choose to keep the baby or abort the fetus. It’s emotionally

Many doctors, researchers and parents that have genetic disorders are for the use of PGD. Dr Mary Birdsall, of Fertility Associates, works with patients that have had multiple miscarriages, infertility issues, failed IVF, pre diagnosed genetic conditions and parents that cannot get pregnant. "Many people miscarry because they have implanted a chromosomally abnormal baby," Birdsall says. "The idea of going through an IVF cycle and choosing, as far as you can tell, only chromosomally normal embryos to go back into the uterus will increase the chances." Many doctors like Dr Birdsall are for the use of PGD, PGD provides parents the opportunities to increase the chances of getting pregnant by examining the embryos and implanting one that will be

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a technique used to screen and diagnose embryos for genetic and chromosomal diseases. This treatment is often used for couples that carry genetic disorders or diseases and want to prevent their offspring from inheriting these. PGD is available for couples who may have had multiple miscarriages or infertility problems, or who have had previous affected children (Scriven, 2011). In the last decade non-medical related uses for this technology such as sex selection, has become an increasingly prevalent reality. The use of PGD for this purpose is a controversial issue that raises ethical, social and financial issues around the world.

Pre-natal genetic diagnosis was first used in 1989, after the introduction of in vitro fertilization. In the first cases, pre-natal genetic diagnosis (PGD) was used to determine the sex of patients carrying certain X-linked genes. PGD is now more widely used for selective pregnancy termination and can allow for sperm selection in order to display certain genes or prevent certain genes and diseases from developing. When it comes to the topic of pre-natal genetic diagnosis, one controversial issue has been whether there should be limits on what can be controlled or changed about a child through embryo screening and what. On the one hand, Christians argue that no one should screen embryos because they are trying to “play God” and others oppose PGD because it is killing more lives than it is bringing into the world. On the other hand, couples like S.M and C.D, a lesbian couple from the United States contend that PGD and embryo screening should be used to use a deaf sperm donor so they could have a deaf children. My own view is pre-natal genetic diagnosis can be used to prevent a children from being that would have a genetic defect, but should not be allowed to purposely have a disabled child.

In-virto fertilization (IVF) and pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) can both be used when there is difficulty for a couple to naturally conceive on their own. IVF is defined as a series of procedures used to treat fertility or genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child. During IVF, mature eggs are collected from your ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. IVF is the most effective assisted form of reproduction. PGD is defined as the testing of pre-implantation stage embryos or oocytes for genetic defects. It has been developed for couples whose potential offspring are at risk of severe Mendelian disorders, structural chromosome abnormalities or mitochondrial disorders.

In the United States, an estimated 2.3 million couples are considered infertile [Wekesser, 1996]. This creates a large need for infertility specialists and clinics specializing in fertility treatments. With the quickly advancing field of rep roductive services and the quest for creating better, healthier babies, a new service called Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is being offered in conjunction with In vitro fertilization.

IVF is known as in vitro fertilisation. This procedure is done by removing an egg from a female, and a sperm cell from the male and combining the egg and sperm in a test tube. These two then form together and create a zygote, which then begins separating into and forming an embryo . Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD). It is known as the pre testing of pre-implanted embryos for genetic disorders. This operation has been put into place for couples whose offspring will potentially have a risk of inheriting a genetic disorder from the parents . PGD tests for many disorders that can affect the unborn embryo/baby. Some of the diseases that can be scanned for are recessive sex-linked disorders, dominant sex-linked disorders, and single gene disorders. The recessive sex-linked disorders can include Haemophilia, fragile –X syndrome, Spinal Muscular atrophy, and Myotonic Dystrophy. Other disorders that can be inherited are the dominant sex-linked disorders which can consist of Rhett Syndrome, incontinentia pigmenti, and pseudohypererparathyroidis. Some of the single gene disorders that can also be inherited include cystic fibrosis, Huntington’s disease, Tay-sachs, and sickle cell anaemia. It is said that in New Zealand alone there is a 1 in 4 chance of inheriting the disorder, and is most likely to occur with advanced maternal age, recurrent miscarriages and chromosome abnormalities . Some of the women that can benefit from PGD, are

1. Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis, or PGD, is a procedure that people can go through to avoid passing down inheritable conditions that can have dangerous long-term effects on their children. It involves screening the mother’s embryos by In-vitro Fertilisation (IVF) for mutations, and selecting healthy embryos for further treatment. This can ‘increase the chance of a genetically normal pregnancy and the chance of having a healthy baby.’ People who are likely to apply to undergo the IVF procedure are couples trying to conceive, but have a family history of genetic diseases that they do not want to pass down.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a technology which allows genetic testing of an embryo prior to implantation and before pregnancy occurs. It is used in conjunction with IVF and allows only those embryos diagnosed as being free of a specific genetic disorder to be transferred into a woman for pregnancy.