Regulating Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis in the United States


Book Description

Reproductive technology allows us to test embryos' genes before deciding whether to transfer them to a woman's uterus. Embryo selection raises many ethical questions but is virtually unregulated in the United States. This comprehensive study considers the ethical, medical, political, and economic aspects of developing appropriate regulation.




Heritable Human Genome Editing


Book Description

Heritable human genome editing - making changes to the genetic material of eggs, sperm, or any cells that lead to their development, including the cells of early embryos, and establishing a pregnancy - raises not only scientific and medical considerations but also a host of ethical, moral, and societal issues. Human embryos whose genomes have been edited should not be used to create a pregnancy until it is established that precise genomic changes can be made reliably and without introducing undesired changes - criteria that have not yet been met, says Heritable Human Genome Editing. From an international commission of the U.S. National Academy of Medicine, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and the U.K.'s Royal Society, the report considers potential benefits, harms, and uncertainties associated with genome editing technologies and defines a translational pathway from rigorous preclinical research to initial clinical uses, should a country decide to permit such uses. The report specifies stringent preclinical and clinical requirements for establishing safety and efficacy, and for undertaking long-term monitoring of outcomes. Extensive national and international dialogue is needed before any country decides whether to permit clinical use of this technology, according to the report, which identifies essential elements of national and international scientific governance and oversight.




Regulating Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis in the United States


Book Description

Reproductive technology allows us to test embryos' genes before deciding whether to transfer them to a woman's uterus. Embryo selection raises many ethical questions but is virtually unregulated in the United States. This comprehensive study considers the ethical, medical, political, and economic aspects of developing appropriate regulation.




Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques


Book Description

Mitochondrial replacement techniques (MRTs) are designed to prevent the transmission of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) diseases from mother to child. While MRTs, if effective, could satisfy a desire of women seeking to have a genetically related child without the risk of passing on mtDNA disease, the technique raises significant ethical and social issues. It would create offspring who have genetic material from two women, something never sanctioned in humans, and would create mitochondrial changes that could be heritable (in female offspring), and therefore passed on in perpetuity. The manipulation would be performed on eggs or embryos, would affect every cell of the resulting individual, and once carried out this genetic manipulation is not reversible. Mitochondrial Replacement Techniques considers the implications of manipulating mitochondrial content both in children born to women as a result of participating in these studies and in descendants of any female offspring. This study examines the ethical and social issues related to MRTs, outlines principles that would provide a framework and foundation for oversight of MRTs, and develops recommendations to inform the Food and Drug Administration's consideration of investigational new drug applications.




Genetic Dilemmas


Book Description

What limits the genetic choices parents make for their children? Is it okay to select the sex of our children, or for deaf parents to select deaf children? In this second edition of Genetic Dilemmas, Davis argues that parental reproductive autonomy should be limited by respect for the future autonomy of the children created by these measures. Praise for the first edition: "A thoughtful, timely and comprehensive look at genetics in the modern era by a recognized scholar of both their legal and humanistic implications. An excellent read!" -R. Alta Charo, Professor of Law and Medical Ethics, University of Wisconsin- Madison. "Dena Davis has been the most consistent and important voice insisting that we take seriously the concept of each child's right to an open future, and what respecting that right would mean for new technologies in genetics and reproduction. This engaging new book is the work of a thoughtful and humane scholar, and deserves a broad readership." -Thomas H. Murray, President of The Hastings Center "Dena Davis offers an engaging, informative and provocative argument in Genetic Dilemmas. Her primary accomplishment is to draw much-needed attention to the interests of the child in reproductive decision-making...she has succeeded admirably." -Mary Terrell White, Medical Humanities Review "People now face a dizzying array of choices about reproduction-from sex selection to cloning, from prenatal screening to genetic enhancement. In this engaging and path-breaking book, Dena Davis intelligently and compassionately explores the often-ignored impact of these choices on the children that are created and the society in which they will be raised." -Lori Andrews, Professor of Law, Chicago-Kent College of Law




Born and Made


Book Description

'Born and Made' examines the case of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), the procedure used to prevent serious genetic disease by embryo selection, and the so-called 'designer baby' method. It shows that far from being a runaway technology, the regulation of PGD provides an example of precaution and restraint.




Assessing Genetic Risks


Book Description

Raising hopes for disease treatment and prevention, but also the specter of discrimination and "designer genes," genetic testing is potentially one of the most socially explosive developments of our time. This book presents a current assessment of this rapidly evolving field, offering principles for actions and research and recommendations on key issues in genetic testing and screening. Advantages of early genetic knowledge are balanced with issues associated with such knowledge: availability of treatment, privacy and discrimination, personal decision-making, public health objectives, cost, and more. Among the important issues covered: Quality control in genetic testing. Appropriate roles for public agencies, private health practitioners, and laboratories. Value-neutral education and counseling for persons considering testing. Use of test results in insurance, employment, and other settings.




Scientific and Medical Aspects of Human Reproductive Cloning


Book Description

Human reproductive cloning is an assisted reproductive technology that would be carried out with the goal of creating a newborn genetically identical to another human being. It is currently the subject of much debate around the world, involving a variety of ethical, religious, societal, scientific, and medical issues. Scientific and Medical Aspects of Human Reproductive Cloning considers the scientific and medical sides of this issue, plus ethical issues that pertain to human-subjects research. Based on experience with reproductive cloning in animals, the report concludes that human reproductive cloning would be dangerous for the woman, fetus, and newborn, and is likely to fail. The study panel did not address the issue of whether human reproductive cloning, even if it were found to be medically safe, would beâ€"or would not beâ€"acceptable to individuals or society.




Preimplantation Genetics


Book Description

Yury Verlinskyand Anver Kuliev Reproductive Genetics Institute, Illinois Masonic Medical Center, 836 W. Wellington chicago, IL 60657 Although introduction of a first trimester prenatal diagnosis by chorionic viIIus sampling (CVS) has considerably improved the possibility for prevention of genetic diseases, it requires a selective abortion in case of an affected fetus. Following the direction of an earlier prenatal diagnosis and to avoid the need for abortion, preimplantation genetic diagnosis has been initiated based on polar body removal and pre-embryo biopsy. The First International symposium on Preimplantation Genetics, Chicago, September 17-19, 1990, was organized to explore these important developments, to review the state of knowledge in the field, and to address existing problems to be solved for developing and improving current approaches for preimplantation diagnosis of genetic disorders. A growing interest in the subject was obvious from the wide attendance of the meeting: over 250 scientists from 19 countries participated. This was the first attempt to put together the advances in different areas of basic and applied research relevant to Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis, with the multidisciplinary scientific program including the sessions on embryology, micromanipulation and biopsy, genetic analysis of gametes and pre-embryos, IVF, gene expression and gene therapy, and ethical and legal issues. The deliberations of the Symposium presented in the above mentioned sessions, which comprise the contents of correspond ing sections of the Proceedings, open a newarea in medical research based on the interaction of IVF and New Genetics.




Human Rights and Biomedicine


Book Description

7. Elder health care.