Came across this article just now:
http://guanabee.com/2008/10/baby-engineered-to-cure-brothe-1.php
It is not a very well known website, and their source is Spanish. Is there any fellow Frihoster from Spain who can confirm whether what is claimed is true?
The gist is that the baby's genetic make up was analyzed before being placed in the mother's uterus, and it was done in order to ensure that the baby could be a donor for the bone marrow transplant for it's older brother who is suffering from a rare genetic disorder.
It is really mind-boggling how much science has advanced in all these years, particularly in the field of medicine! What do fellow Frihosters feel? Genetic engineering is subject to a lot of abuse. Choosing to have a boy vs a girl, or seeking specific athletic or mental abilities in a child, seems a poor reason for producing and then destroying extra embryos.
This particular case seems reasonable to me. Eliminating a serious hereditary disease is by itself possible justification for the procedure. Ensuring that the baby is transplant-compatable with his brother is clearly a win-win situation, as there is no or very little cost to the new baby.
It may now be possible to have a child who can donate a kidney or some other organ to a sibling. That would raise a serious question of whether it is right to impose loss of one kidney, and the medical procedures and issues needed, on a child who has no say in the matter.
Genetic engineering no doubt has unknown risks that subtle damage is done to the child in the process. We know that dolly the sheep and other cloned animals fare poorly. No one can be sure the same will not be true in any genetic manipulation, no matter how carefully and gently done. There is also the concern that successful use of the method for legitimate purposes will encourage others to use it inappropriately.
As you said, the babies genetic makeup was analysed before being placed in the mother's uterus so I think this is not technically "genetic engineering" simply selecting a naturally engineered fetus for the required characteristics.
I think this is extreme but not unethical.
Interesting story. In the best of the abilities of man, what ever can be done to save life, it is worth admiring. Apart from the technology that it holds, the good reason for the thought and the whole process; to save the fellow brother is good effort.
I find it inethical... although, still a scientific marvel.
People always say it's unethical or immoral...and they never care to expound on that statement. HOW AND WHY IS IT UNETHICAL AT ALL?
| liljp617 wrote: |
| People always say it's unethical or immoral...and they never care to expound on that statement. HOW AND WHY IS IT UNETHICAL AT ALL? |
It is perfectly ethical, as long as you let the baby mature enough so that he/she can donate marrow without serious health risks before trying to make him/her a donor. You should probably ask the child if they want to donate as well, when the time comes.and babies are dying because of lack of food or a little money to buy the same.....
| atul2242 wrote: |
| and babies are dying because of lack of food or a little money to buy the same..... |
And we could just give them food and money, but they'll starve again when that runs out. Or, we could do things that create great genetic science careers, which gives them an opportunity to make a real living, and if they can't get those jobs, then they can at least do the geneticists' landscaping or work at the place the geneticist would be working if there wasn't money for genetics projects like this.depends on what kind i guess. but i dont like genetical engineering in general, neither plants or humans. we just dont know enough yet to overlook the consequences. kinda like how genetically modified plants take over where the natural plants used to live, and make natural plants die out etc. that wasnt planned for and cannot be controlled. i bet we'l find out some other unwanted effect about human genetical engineering too.
| ocalhoun wrote: |
| atul2242 wrote: | | and babies are dying because of lack of food or a little money to buy the same..... |
And we could just give them food and money, but they'll starve again when that runs out. Or, we could do things that create great genetic science careers, which gives them an opportunity to make a real living, and if they can't get those jobs, then they can at least do the geneticists' landscaping or work at the place the geneticist would be working if there wasn't money for genetics projects like this. |
Control over resources is what the fight is all about. A single person or family who has the resorces may go in for genetic engineering but a community 
That sounds like IVF to me, they produce lots embryo's screen them all and find the "perfect" one. They then inplant the "perfect" one.
