Breeding Genetic Disorders?

[Greenday]

I was in my human genetics class today and we watched a video about this family that has two kids, one of whom has Tay Sachs, a genetic disorder. This means both parents are carriers. Doing the math, having a kid with Tay Sachs when both parents are carriers is one in four. So knowing this, they decided to have yet another child. This new baby has a 25% chance of having Tay Sachs.

My question is, under these circumstances, the parents knowing the odds, what do you think about the parents having yet another kid?

[jackfaire]

Damn the odds. One of my nightmares is that someday I wake up living in a world where my movements, life, and choices are limited because of what the odds and statistics say.

It is for each individual to decide if they will risk the odds. Of course now someone will counter argue that it is unfair to the kid. To this I say, "You mean the kid that wouldn't exist if they didn't risk the odds in the first place"

[AdminAssistant]

My question is, under these circumstances, the parents knowing the odds, what do you think about the parents having yet another kid?

I think that it's horribly selfish of the parents. They could foster or adopt a living child that doesn't have a genetic condition.

[blas87]

I agree it's selfish.

I don't mean to sound rude or ignorant or unsympathetic towards people with disabilities, or towards mentally retarded people or even people in the autism spectrum.

I guess it could be argued that everyone has the right to be a parent....and a lot of people are Hell bent on having their kids naturally and 100% biologically theirs (which is just...whatever).....but at the same time, I don't think it does the human population very well to keep making more and more people with all of these disabilities.

We are supposed to be fighting to find cures and preventions of these handicaps and diseases, and people who are knowingly taking the chance of spreading theirs are making it worse.

Please do not twist my words and say that I'm saying people with disabilites have no right to live, because I am NOT. I just think with all the efforts that have been put in to try to cure and prevent these things, it doesn't do any good to keep passing those genes on and on and on.

[jackfaire]

Do you think legislation passed that makes it illegal for people to have kids if they have the potential to pass on a genetic disorder?

[Greenday]

Do you think legislation passed that makes it illegal for people to have kids if they have the potential to pass on a genetic disorder?

Theoretically, you could do in vitro and they could test those embryos for the genetic diseases, then only implant an embryo without the disease. It's free. But so many people don't do it this way we are screwed.

I mean, it's one thing to have kids then have a kid with a genetic disorder, thus finding out you are a carrier. It's another to find out you are a carrier then to continue having kids anyway. I think it's pretty damn selfish. Aw, that means a kid will never have a chance to live. So...?

[draggar]

My wife has a severe hip issue (coxovara) and we've decided we will nothave any children of our own because of the risks of passing it onto the children. We both agree it is extemely selfish to have a child with risks like this.

If we ever decide to have children we'll adopt.

[Greenday]

My wife has a severe hip issue (coxovara) and we've decided we will nothave any children of our own because of the risks of passing it onto the children. We both agree it is extemely selfish to have a child with risks like this.

If we ever decide to have children we'll adopt.

As I recall, you also know a little bit about dog breeding. Lot's of genetic disorders to deal with in that too. I know you'd never want to breed a dog with a genetic disorder. It could prevent them from being able to ever work, hunt, protect, etc. Why anyone would want to put a human through the same is beyond me.

[jackfaire]

So it would be selfish of me to have more kids because I have ADD?

[Kimmik]

I guess I am the odd duck out because I think that they are with in their rights. I am sorry it is no ones business. Should we have mandatory sterilization for anyone that has a genetic condition? I flat out refused the test that would see if my child had any deformities, if she did she did if not ok she doesn't.

Who are we to judge if someone had the right to have children? My husband and I thought about adopting, still do. But I know from first hand experience there is nothing that compares to holding a child that you have carried for 9 months and all the wonder at how you could create something like this and how the hell did that fit in there....

It is sad that they are going to lose a child. But I give them mad props for having another. When I lost Shayne to the rare bleed on his brain and the fact that I had him early do to my cervix being incompetent, I thought about not trying again.. then was blessed with Abby who is health and growing like a weed.

These people are brave and not selfish.. the horror of losing a child.. but to be willing to try again... it is no different then me trying again though the chance of it happening again were high.

[Greenday]

So it would be selfish of me to have more kids because I have ADD?

Is ADD a passable genetic disorder like Tay Sachs? I'm not sure if it's a genetic trait like the diseases I'm talking about, nor like hair color, eye color, etc. But if it is and you were to do what I mentioned, the process where you can pre-screen embryos and select ones without ADD, for the price of absolutely NOTHING...why not?

[Kimmik]

Is ADD a passable genetic disorder like Tay Sachs? I'm not sure if it's a genetic trait like the diseases I'm talking about, nor like hair color, eye color, etc. But if it is and you were to do what I mentioned, the process where you can pre-screen embryos and select ones without ADD, for the price of absolutely NOTHING...why not?

Personally I think it is more selfish to selective screen like that. As some of the greatest minds in the world have a disability. Heck look at Hawkins that man is down right amazing.

[jackfaire]

I just read up on Tay Sachs. If your talking something like that where horrible torture and death is involved then yes parents should choose not to have children.

That being said it should NEVER EVER be legislated.

[Greenday]

Personally I think it is more selfish to selective screen like that. As some of the greatest minds in the world have a disability. Heck look at Hawkins that man is down right amazing.

If he was smart because of his disorder, I'd be inclined to agree. But the fact of the matter is his disorder does nothing to increase mental capabilities. If anything, his disorder decreases mental capabilities.

[Greenday]

I just read up on Tay Sachs. If your talking something like that where horrible torture and death is involved then yes parents should choose not to have children.

That being said it should NEVER EVER be legislated.

I don't think it should be legislated. America already tried that once. Possibly one of the only good things Hitler did was to make eugenics look like the atrocity it is. If I thought there should be a law against it, I'd post it under political but I'm just interested in discussing the moral issue at hand.

Edit: Eek! I double posted instead of just editing and adding onto my previous one.