A call for a genetic screening ban.Ottawa, ON -- In several parts of the world, notably India, the ultrasound screening of preborn babies to determine their sex is fairly common. Male children are favoured, resulting in the aborting of many little girls. Lea Sevcik, assistant director of the Catholic Organization for Life and Family (COLF COLF Catholic Organization for Life and Family (Canada) COLF City of London Festival (UK) COLF Cessation of Life Functions ), writes that Health Canada Health Canada (French: Santé Canada) is the department of the government of Canada with responsibility for national public health. Health Canada's goal is to improve Canadian life by improving Canadian longevity, lifestyle and use of public healthcare. has asked for public input on the extent to which genetic screening of embryos should be allowed in Canada. As well as for sex, embryos can now be tested for blood type and for predisposition predisposition /pre·dis·po·si·tion/ (-dis-po-zish´un) a latent susceptibility to disease that may be activated under certain conditions. pre·dis·po·si·tion n. 1. to certain diseases, such as Down Syndrome Down syndrome, congenital disorder characterized by mild to severe mental retardation, slow physical development, and characteristic physical features. Down syndrome affects about 1 in every 730 live births and occurs in all populations equally. , spina bifida, and Alzheimer's--the treatment of which would be a financial drain on the health sciences. In such screening several embryos are grown in petri dishes pe·tri dish n. A shallow circular dish with a loose-fitting cover, used to culture bacteria or other microorganisms. Petri dish a shallow, circular, glass or disposable plastic dish used to grow bacteria on solid media such as agar. ; those with the "best" genes are kept for implantation implantation /im·plan·ta·tion/ (im?plan-ta´shun) 1. attachment of the blastocyst to the epithelial lining of the uterus, its penetration through the epithelium, and, in humans, its embedding in the stratum compactum of the in the "mother." The others, if not frozen, are discarded or used for research. As the purpose of the screening is to prevent the births of children "who supposedly would be an unjustified burden on their parents and on society," Lea Sevcik even foresees a future in which "the world is run by those who have been genetically screened for the most desirable characteristics." Will Canada step up to the plate and enact an outright ban on these procedures? Soon we will have a new Minister of Health who will perhaps give it his or her attention. Writes the Assistant Director: "Without a ban on the use of genetic screening, the futuristic movie Gattaca is a fitting warning of what we may be in for. It shows a world where naturally conceived children are called "degenerates" and are relegated to the lowest jobs in society. Meanwhile, the world is run by those who have been genetically screened for the most desirable characteristics." |
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