A Girl or A Boy . . . You Pick
In the July 23, 2002 issue of the Los Angeles Times Newspaper, there was an article entitled "A Girl or a Boy, You Pick" written by Aaron Zitner. The article discusses the embryo-sorting technique called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or "PGD" and how embryo sorting makes it possible to screen for gender and diseases prior to implantation in the uterus. In the article, the author brings up some of the ethical questions PGD raises with regard to the embryos no one wants. Is it proper to discard an embryo based on its genes or gender? Which lives are not worth living? Who decides? In this paper I will argue against embryo selection for these reasons: First of all, PGD is the ultimate form of discrimination, a discrimination based on the very building blocks of a person's life; secondly if PGD technology was available and used years ago the world more than likely would have lost the great ideals and works of contributors with genetically acquired disabilities. In the last few years a genetic basis has been discovered not just for various illnesses, but for such behavioral traits as shyness, sexual promiscuity, musical ability, risk-taking and over-eating and in the future it may be po
. . .
Some common words found in the essay are:
Aaron Zitner, Dr Hughes', Holocaust Reference, University Detroit, Tracy Otte, Disability Oakland, Stephen Hawking, Walt Disney, American Eugenicists, Elements American, genetic selection, quality life, pgd technology, pre-implantation genetic diagnosis, pre-implantation genetic, pgd children, allows parents, genetic diagnosis, technology available, reasons pgd, technology available ago, ultimate form discrimination, pgd technology available, ultimate form,
Approximate Word count = 1440
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
 |
