←back to thread

1160 points jbredeche | 1 comments | | HN request time: 0.23s | source
Show context
Traubenfuchs ◴[] No.43998917[source]
Are the edited genes inherited, or the original ones? Does the previous question have an answer that depends on the babies sex?

From an evolutionary perspective it‘s interesting how the further medicine gets, the more we inherit genes unfit for life without medical support.

replies(4): >>43998990 #>>43999111 #>>43999177 #>>43999217 #
thrance ◴[] No.43999177[source]
Is the global gene pool actually degrading though? I only ever hear that in thinly veiled attempts at advocating for eugenicism. And it never comes substantiated by any research.

Anyway, this baby proves we can fix hereditary diseases now.

replies(1): >>44001657 #
Traubenfuchs ◴[] No.44001657[source]
> eugenicism

That comes in many forms:

Black/dark one, nazi style, where you outright sterilise or even kill those with unhealthy/bad genes.

And white/peaceful one, where you‘d appeal to those with unhealthy/bad genes not to procreate and encourage those with healthy/good ones to do.

You can‘t seriously tell me it‘s not extremely unethical for people with huntington‘s disease or cystic fibrosis to have children.

replies(2): >>44003814 #>>44003887 #
1. Cthulhu_ ◴[] No.44003887[source]
Most genetic diseases only occur when two parents happen to have it, but they won't necessarily be aware of it; would it be unethical for people who are unaware of their genetic defects to have children?

Second, according to a quick search, 10% of cases of Huntington's Disease are due to new mutations; I suspect (but I'm a HN commenter, no geneticist) this is the case for many other genetic conditions.

So the other ethics question to ask: should people be able to get DNA tests for genetic conditions (voluntary)? I'd say yes. Should people be mandated to get DNA tests and be forbidden to procreate if there's something in there? No, that's eugenics. Should people who know they have a genetic condition and there's a chance their child has it too have children? That'd be their choice. I don't think it's fair for people to intentionally place a burden on health care systems like that, but thing is, there's very, very few people that have children with that as the intent.