Question

Week 3- Gene editing and ethics New Topic Please discuss your opinion of the ethical concerns around prenatal genetic testing and gene editing.

Answer 1

In my opinion, the genetic testing and editing is very much required in today's world. The people showing ethical concerns regarding this procedure is not required at all because the procedure is very helpful for people who are actually in need. For e.g a person who has a familial history of down syndrome is more likely to have a child with an affect of it and would want to know if his recent unborn child is affected. He does the testing for the foetus and gets the result. If the result shows the sign of down syndrome then he can make a decision of what possibly can be done. If a child with down sundrome comes in the world then it will be a difficulty for him as well as the family members to support him physically, psychologically, emotionally. The entire life of the child will be destroyed and will become a burden to the mother and the family members.

If a foetus is diagnosed with those diseases before they are born then they can be treated for the condition through genetic editing. If the couple is suspected to have a genetic downflow of certain diseases then they can genetically alter their zygote with which the baby will be born without the gene passing from their ancestors. It is not a matter to debate but a matter to be promoted so that many young lives can be saved from getting such a horrible condition and to live with it throughout.