I found this article today on the front page of the Washington Post. I was surprised to learn that this research is still getting funding from the
government, even with all budget cuts around the nation. I have very mixed feelings on embryonic research. The one part of me thinks this is great that we can map and plan for
disease's and potentially grow new organs that are a perfect match to replace the bad ones. I have a hard time with it, because people are now able to choose the
characteristics they want for their children (in select clinics). I think that people should let the body be what it is supposed to be, regardless of what science can do.
As far as growing organs for people, this could definitely relive the endless lists of patients on the organ donation lists, and maybe even reduce the number or organs that are taken illegally. What are your thoughts on this issue?
Posts
I'm with you on the research, growing organs for transplants and preventing certain diseases. But designer children?!?! That takes the 'fun' out of parenting if you know what you're going to get. Also, children are supposed to look like their parents. If you pick and choose options from a menu, how will you recognize the child as your own?
ReplyDeleteI know this doesn't have to do with bodies but...I am wondering where the money to fund these studies is coming from? The U.S. Government doesn't seem to be in the position to begin funding any new programs at this time.
ReplyDeleteI found a grant called "Career Enhancement Award for Stem Cell Research" so I guess we are funding programs like this.
ReplyDeletehttp://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-09-110.html
The program isn't new...they actually just extended some of the old guidelines for getting grants for stem cell research.
ReplyDeleteI wonder at all of this new research and our ability to choose what characteristics we want for our children. It makes me very wary because we still don't even know everything about the genes. We have no idea why some different combinations grant certain characteristics. And yet we're choosing to mess with it. Are we making our children more susceptible to disease and illness? I feel like we're getting very much ahead of the research and toying with nature here in a way that is perhaps quite dangerous. I like what Caitlin says about letting the body be what it is supposed to.
I am curious if this messes with the child's sense of self? And will this over time move us to a less diverse society if everyone is picking what are the supposedly "good" characteristics?
I have mixed feelings. I think it is an interesting idea to determine if an embryo has a disease but I do not like the idea of aborting the embryo if it does. I think it would be good if we could detect diseases and cure them, but I do ont like the idea of terminating a rpegnancy because the embryo does not qualify to meet the "superior race." But on the otherhand, you are possibly saving a child from living a painful and difficult life.
ReplyDelete