Transcript Human Genetic Engineering - Westgate Mennonite Collegiate

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What if you could screen embryos for diseases
before they became babies?
What if you could choose the traits your baby
would have?
Would you use it?
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The combined use of reproductive and genetic
technologies to select/modify embryos before
implantation.
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In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is the process of
fertilization by manually combining an egg and
sperm in a laboratory dish and then
transferring the fertilized embryo to the uterus.
(“test tube babies”)
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http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/i
vf-sci
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Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis allows for
embryos to be screened for potential genetic
diseases or defects (such as Huntington’s
Disease).
It also allows for genetic manipulation,
screening for chromosomal abnormalities and
thereby increasing chances of successful
implantation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmOG_
nMkVEQ
Is a gene that puts the carrier at a 50-80%
higher risk of developing breast cancer.
 People that carry this gene can screen their
embryos and only implant those without this
gene present.
But where might this lead?
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Currently, the UK is experimenting with
replacing faulty mitochondrial DNA (mDNA)
with healthy mDNA from a donor egg
The resulting egg would contain the birth
mother’s nuclear DNA and the donor mother’s
mDNA, resulting in “three parent babies”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_c6m9yJTA
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Is the belief and practice which aims at
improving the genetic quality of the human
population.
Originally, this was achieved through selective
breeding
In the future, genetic manipulation may
achieve similar results with greater efficiency.
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Wrong sperm used to inseminate eggs
Buying and selling reproductive material is
illegal in Canada, but not in the USA (more
cross border shopping:)
Women are freezing their eggs for safekeeping, even though this practice is
experimental and unproven
Children born to anonymous sperm donors
decades ago are now going to court to find out
who their fathers are
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No federal standards - leading to different
rules in different provinces
Doctors are transferring too many embryos per
treatment cycle and over-stimulating women
with powerful fertility drugs.
Most pressing issue is the number of
pregnancies conceived at a given time
Quebec funds IVF (up to 3 cycles). Each cycle
costs approx. $12,000. In order to reduce the
risk of multiple births, only one embryo is
transferred at a time. (reduced multiple births)
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“Test tube turmoil” Vancouver Sun, Jan 29,
2011
“Trusting the Future” Stephanie Saulter, May
6, 2014
“Embryo Screening and the Ethics of Human
Genetic Engineering” Leslie A. Pray, 2008
“Scientists step closer to creating designer
babies” Jan 13, 2009 (christian.org.uk)