Silver Spoons and Golden Genes: Genetic Engineering and the Egalitarian Ethos
2007; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 33; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1177/009885880703300402
ISSN2375-835X
Autores Tópico(s)Ethics and Legal Issues in Pediatric Healthcare
ResumoWhat mother or father does not want to give his or her child the best chance of leading a happy and successful life? Infertile couples today enlist assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to handpick from among available gamete donors or embryo arrays to implant for gestation. As advances in genetic science permit increasing prenatal control over offspring traits, even fertile couples may choose to relocate procreation from the bedroom into the laboratory. The development of safe genetic therapies capable of curing debilitating conditions in embryos or fetuses would be unequivocal cause for celebration. Less straightforwardly worthy of embrace would be techniques that make it possible to choose offspring genes for non-health related characteristics, such as strength, intelligence, and memory. At present, neither state nor federal law regulates ARTs.
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