Most Americans think it’s OK to tweak a baby’s genes to prevent disease

[rangerrebew]

Most Americans think it’s OK to tweak a baby’s genes to prevent disease
A new survey of Americans’ views shows a growing acceptance for some uses of gene editing
by Tina Hesman Saey
6:26pm, July 26, 2018
 

BETTERING BABIES  Americans are growing more accepting of altering genes to improve babies’ health, but not to make infants smarter, a new poll indicates.
 

Only a day after the first test-tube baby turned 40, a poll about American’s attitudes toward tweaking unborn babies’ genes reveals the hopes and hesitations of being on the brink of the latest reproductive era.

Americans generally favor gene editing, but only for heading off diseases. Boosting intelligence would be “taking medical technology too far,” survey respondents said. (Not that scientists know how to genetically boost intelligence now anyway.) And few people were on board with doing the research necessary to cure disease or up IQ scores — research most likely to involve editing embryos, sperm or eggs because you have to make the changes as early in development as possible for maximum effect.

https://www.sciencenews.org/blog/science-public/most-americans-think-ok-tweak-baby-genes-prevent-disease

[rangerrebew]

Their will always be Mengeles and Hitlers who will take the science and create monsters - no matter the good intentions of the scientists.

[dfwgator]

Their will always be Mengeles and Hitlers who will take the science and create monsters - no matter the good intentions of the scientists.

"...Well it seemed like a good idea at the time."

[roamer_1]

As in the days of Noah....

[Fishrrman]

Someday this is going to become routine.
Not only for the "pre-removal" of genetically-inherited diseases, but for "custom babies" as well.

You may or may not agree, but once the technology "is there", people are going to use it.
And I sense that any attempts to use the government to prevent such usage may end up being ruled an invasion of privacy by the courts.

But there are going to be unintended consequences, of course.

Fearless prediction:
When (not "if", but "when") the combination of genes or other genetic factors is discovered that predisposes homosexuality in males, watch for a "fix" to emerge that will correct such factors before birth. How many parents are there out there who, with their children, someday hope to become doting grandparents, as well?

[truth_seeker]

Many medical conditions, benefit greatly from early detection and treatment.

[goodwithagun]

My son, our oldest (soon to be 10), is on the high functioning end of the Autism spectrum. I wouldn’t change him for the world.