this is one of the many interesting topics that many of us would like to debate on....
With the advancement in genetic screening techniques, now parents can choose the gender of their child more accurately. Many experts argue whether this technology should be used for non-medical reason.
Let's look at the very reason why it is important for some parents to choose their child's gender.
For parents who carry genetic diseases/defects in their genes (sex-linked genes - genes carry in the sex chromosome X), they wouldn't want their children to also inherit these genetic illnesses. Therefore, it is crucial to choose the gender of the child based on what we called medical reasons/purposes.
How can this be achieved?
About two decades ago, a method called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) was originally developed which enabled embryos to be tested/screened for genetic diseases. This method has been used since then to prevent parents from passing down their defective genes to their offsprings.
In PGD, the embryos are tested for genetic disorders and only those that are free of disease are transferred to the mother's uterus. This method requires In vitro fertilisation (IVF) or more commonly known as 'test tube baby' method where ova are fertilised by sperms outside a woman's body. Using PGD for gender selection is banned in many countries, but it is legal in many states in the US. IVF is a costly method to overcome infertility in married couple.
The diagram below shows how IVF is done.
To learn more about IVF, click on video below.
To learn more about PGD, click here.
Now, should PGD be used in gender selection which is a non-medical reason? Some argue that it helps to create 'family balance' while others think that we should not be playing ' God'. Some argue that this might lead to gender imbalance in societies with a traditional preference for boys, such as China which has one-child policy imposed since 1980; or India which has an age-old bias for boys.
What is your view on this?
*China has 32 million more young men than young women, which experts say could trigger a slew of social problems. To read more on gender imbalance in China, go to link below.
For more reading, click the appropriate links.
1) The genetic promise - a must watch video!
2) 29 stories on IVF - click here
3) Designer babies - can babies be made-to-order? - click here
4) China's population imbalance - click here
5) IVF video (we will learn this in chapter 4 form 5).
