ipl-logo

The Pros And Cons Of Prenatal Genetic Testing

1891 Words8 Pages

Imagine knowing if a child will have a genetic disorder such as Down Syndrome. Or if the child will obtain Alzheimer's disease as they grow old? Ponder the stress of having an outcome of such a life changing result, and watching the child grow up with the constant remind of the fatal disease that awaits them. This is becoming a depressing reality for people worldwide knowing their pre destined fate or future diagnosis due to Prenatal Genetic Testing. Prenatal Genetic testing shows whether or not if the fetus has certain mutations or disabilities. The procedure involves extracting a small amount of the placenta or cells from the pregnant mother. The tests can identify whether the child is more likely to have a certain condition or mutation, although not all outcomes can be found. At this stage results are not definitive and cannot be 100% accurate. An example showing this is “While the fetal DNA analysis had predicted 39 of those, it also wrongly predicted 25 million other potential de novo mutations”(Marcus, 2015, p.2). A de novo is a change in a gene which is present for the first time in a family member because of a mutation in a germ cell of …show more content…

Although Prenatal Genetic testing can help people prepare for the future, based on the results it may cause ethical issues, and strain and stress on families. The possibility of not receiving the results expected are devastating to families, it can lead to divorce due to the ethical issues it carries along, such as the ethical issues of abortion of a disabled baby. Or abortion of a baby because it isn't the gender you prefer. It is growing rapidly across the world, but so is the fight against Prenatal Genetic Testing. People may be more prepared but are they ready to live with the thought they will have Alzheimer's in 30 years? Or if their child will have down

Show More
Related
502 Words | 3 Pages

Silvia Plath’s Mushrooms and Oodgeroo Noonuccal’s Municipal Gum both use extended metaphors to symbolise the poets experience with oppression. Plath’s mushrooms become symbolic of the rise of housewives whereas Noonuccal compares the oppression of Indigenous Australian’s to a native gum tree imprisoned by a city. Through their inclusive language, both poets biographically reflect their encounters with oppression. Both poems are free verse, as Plath carefully configured 11 stanza 3 lined poem, to ensure there are 5 syllables in each line whereas Noonuccal’s 16 lined poem contains a peculiar end rhyming scheme.

Read More
474 Words | 2 Pages

Since genetic testing can be a very simple process which can happen at any stage of a person’s life, one can test the severity of their disease or they can see if the disease sparked and became active. This will also help people to make lifestyle changes as an individual or a pregnant mother with the disease in the offspring to help lower the effects of the symptoms. Genetic testing relates to Aldous Huxley’s Brave New World. In Brave New World, at the start of the chain, they would have to test the original embryo that is the subject of Bokanovsky’s process to make sure that it wasn’t holding a disease since their society is based on people doing their job. They would have to make sure that the new batch of offspring wouldn’t have a disease because that would be hurtful to the flow of their society.

Read More
754 Words | 4 Pages

Designer babies should be allowed in our society because it will encourage to scientist get a better understanding of the human genome. Danielle Simmons,Ph.D states , “Of course, as genetic research advances, tests are continually being developed for traits and behaviors that are not related to disease. Most of these traits and behaviors are inherited as complex conditions, meaning that multiple genes and environmental, behavioral, or nutritional factors may contribute to the phenotype. Currently, available tests include those for eye color, handedness, addictive behavior, "nutritional" background, and athleticism. But does knowing whether one has the background for these non disease traits negatively affect one 's self-concept or health perception?

Read More
584 Words | 3 Pages

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis is a technique used to detect genetic diseases or chromosomal abnormalities in early human embryos. PGD is ethically controversial because it the screening involves the termination of embryos based on their expected genetic makeup. Furthermore, it is controversial whether where the line is drawn between PGD for medical uses and non-medical uses. For example, it is used to detect cancer causing genes or precursors for Alzheimer's disease. Non-medical uses would be to detect intelligence, height, and gender selection.

Read More
1389 Words | 6 Pages

As written by the American Academy of Pediatrics, “Emerging genetic technology often enables testing before the development of definitive treatments or preventive measures.” (11) Barbara Koenig, a UCSF bio-ethicist, also commented briefly on the frequent incurability of deficiencies presented within testing, stating that she feels informing parents of their children’s increased chances of developing late-onset disorders, currently lacking means of avoidance or cures, does much more harm than good. (3) Knowledge of this arguably irrelevant material can then, in turn, lead to anxieties and feelings of depression, though their intensities are, of course, entirely dependent upon both the person involved and the situation at hand, as it is, in a sense, an awareness of impending doom. Similar reactions can arise from a parental perspective, as well, and the recognition that an unfortunate hereditary trait has been passed down from one specific side of the family can lead to a dark and looming guiltiness: A valid emotion, regardless as to whether or not it is quite logical. (2)

Read More
699 Words | 3 Pages

Whole genome sequences show every gene and chromosome contained within the fetus. This will allow parents to see everything that makes up the DNA of the child and even with the possibility of ¨what will happen during the teenage and adult years¨ (Shurkin 1). Every parent has the idea of their dream child, what happens when whole genome sequencing shows that their future baby is not what they expect? As one article written by Joel Shurkin suggests that prenatal genetic test results might lead to parents raising their child differently, genetic manipulation, or even abortion if they are not pleased with the results. These options are rather common, with the rate of abortion ¨around 85% for Down Syndrome¨ (Press 74).

Read More
714 Words | 3 Pages

There are two main types of prenatal genetic testing which are conducted for parents to be these include, screening testing and diagnostic testing. Screening testing also known as non-invasive testing consists of identifying if your fetus has aneuploidy and other disorders by having blood tests and ultrasounds. Diagnostic testing also known as invasive testing can identify whether your fetus actually has a

Read More
1862 Words | 8 Pages

It can predict a possibility but not a guarantee of a defect or disease. Many parents I believe would chose to abort a fetus based on only probabilities, or simply because they want the guarantee of a healthy child. However, if parents feel that they would not be willing or able to care for a child with these defects that can be screened and tested for, then the tests should be made available to them early as possible so they can make a decision about abortion or adoption vs. keeping the baby. To me, the least harm is done both to parents and innocent child to have an abortion rather than have a child that you cannot or will not care

Read More
878 Words | 4 Pages

M6D1 Ethics and Genetic Testing As we all can agree, our genes play a highly important role in making us who we are as humans. If the information produce by genes is normal than everything can turn out normal and infants can be born healthy. There are those incidents the genetic information produce by genes is wrong and results of this information can lead to injury, disease, and/or illness of the fetus (Munson, 2012).

Read More
617 Words | 3 Pages

For many years prenatal genetic testing has become a common practice that doctors run on a fetus of a pregnant woman before the fetus is born. Is it acceptable for parents to test for non-medical genetic traits like hair color, skin color, intelligence and much more of an unborn child than health disabilities? There are a lot of decisions to make when it comes to having a baby and sometimes it could be very hard to decide when it comes to your unborn child. In the early stages of pregnancies doctors run different types of test to make sure if your child is healthy. Some results that come from genetic testing can be very devastating for parents and this leads them into making the hardest decision of their lives.

Read More
1062 Words | 5 Pages

For instance, if one learned results from genetic testing that the odds were probable that an impairment or handicap would occur in the future, one may be compelled to advise genetically related family members of the results (Van Camp, 2014). Although feeling compelled, one would personally take into consideration the other individuals lives, the extent and severity of the impairment, quality of life, and the prognosis. Meaning, is the impairment so severe that it needs to be brought to their attention or should it be done from the perspective of simply suggesting genetic testing for themselves or going to a physician for a route physical. Personally, it is of the belief that instances can occur in which individuals can be worked up for something little or nothing all, which can lead to health issues as well so, it would be very dependent on the severity and significance of the

Read More
830 Words | 4 Pages

On one hand, this knowledge can provide relief for some, however what if the news is not good news. Is no news better than bad news? That is up to the individual, however, their decision can effect an entire family. If genome sequencing keeps progressing and more individuals participate, will we be living in fear of what could happen in the future instead of embracing the moment we are in

Read More
529 Words | 3 Pages

It also helps doctors determine medicines for certain individuals. As for risk genetic testing carries low risk after the second trimester in pregnancy after that it’s an ethical issue. In the scenario the parents find out they are carriers of cystic fibrosis, which some specialist recommended against couples having children. Like i stated there has been major advances from genetic testing that has lead to medicines and a planned cure in 25

Read More
1114 Words | 5 Pages

In most of the cases, women pay attention to doctor’s recommendations, they also can notice the non-verbal signs [2]. Truog (1996) consider that “an informed choice can be made if women receive all the information relevant to the decision to undergo or forgo the test and feel free of coercion or persuasion” [7]. The decision to give birth to a child, who have disabilities is depends on socio-economic status of family. It is especially difficult for the families with unsufficient economic and emotional status. However, even families with high income may have difficulties with such decision due to fraud of society opinion [8].

Read More
884 Words | 4 Pages

So genetic test saves those children from receiving a difficult and tough life. The victim(children) are having difficulty living with the community makes them feel that they are different from normal kids, thus their condition to severe foil. This also raises the fear, anxiety and guilt felt by the mother and the family of the most important sources of psychological

Read More

More about The Pros And Cons Of Prenatal Genetic Testing

Related Topics

Open Document