Imagine a world that let parents choose whether or not to keep their child based upon eye color, height, and athletic ability. Sadly, this could be our world in a matter of years.
New scientific advancements have led scientists to be able to pinpoint DNA variations that affect physical features. Pre-implantation genetic testing or PGD has been used since the 1990s to flag diseases like cystic fibrosis. But now, the Wall Street Journal reports, it could go even further:
“‘This is cosmetic medicine,’ says Jeff Steinberg, director of the clinic [Fertility Institutes] that is advertising gender and physical trait selection on its Web site. ‘Others are frightened by the criticism but we have no problems with it.’”
“But PGD is starting to be used to target less-serious disorders or certain characteristics -- such as a baby's gender -- that aren't medical conditions. The next controversial step is to select physical traits for cosmetic reasons.”
“The science of PGD has steadily expanded its scope, often in contentious ways. Embryo screening, for example, is sometimes used to create a genetically matched 'savior sibling' -- a younger sister or brother whose healthy cells can be harvested to treat an older sibling with a serious illness.”
This is yet another example of how our society has come to view human life as a commodity. By focusing on physical traits like eye color and height, we ignore the value each person holds as a human being. We are more than just an assembly of body parts. Each person brings something special to our world, whether they are deaf, blind, short, tall, or living with a disability like Down syndrome. By eliminating children with these traits, we are depriving our communities of their beautiful gifts, talents, and contributions. If we are to thrive as a society, we must learn to value ALL life!
