Bioethics/Sanctity of Human Life: Genetics

Features

Turn Signal Video: New Law Protects Those Taking Part in Genetic Testing

Legislation passes that protects individuals' genetic privacy.

What the Media Won't Tell You About Stem Cell Research

The debate over stem cell research is raging across the nation and echoing through chambers of Congress and state legislatures. Most people have heard just enough to offer an opinion to friends and neighbors. Every new study on embryonic stem cells produces an onslaught of optimistic articles confidently proclaiming that with just a little more time and a lot more public money embryonic stem cells will provide cures for dozens of diseases and hope for millions of sick patients. Meanwhile, stories promoting adult stem cells seem to be less optimistic and much less prominent. Casual observers might reasonably conclude that embryonic stem cells hold the most promise while adult stem cells are of secondary interest. They would be wrong.

Gene Therapy

As a method to treat genetic disease, gene therapy may offer ethical, life-affirming hope to patients with a debilitating disease.

Gene Therapy: A Brief History

Gene therapy is a method of correcting a genetic disease in an indvidual without the traditional use of medication and surgery. In the last couple decades there have been tremondous strides taken in the areas of gene therapy.

Limitations of Gene Therapy

The term “gene therapy” often conjures up images of futuristic, science fiction-type alterations of the human race. Although there may be the potential in the future to use this technology to create “superhumans” with enhanced mental and physical capabilities, there are significant limitations on current gene therapy techniques. Attempts to use gene therapy to treat disease have been fraught with technological and scientific limitations – not to mention ethical and social concerns.

Prenatal Gene Therapy: Treating Genetic Defects in the Womb

Expectant parents routinely undergo prenatal testing to find out if their baby is healthy. Parents who receive an adverse diagnosis are faced with two options: end the life of their preborn baby or prepare for the birth of an affected child. The good news is that someday there may be a third option – repairing the preborn baby’s genetic code before he or she is born.