MEDRADSC 3Y03 - Genetic Screening

What is Carrier Testing in the context of genetic screening?

It is a test to determine if potential parents are carriers for genes associated with specific disorders or conditions.

What is the primary purpose of Carrier Testing?

To assess the risk of future children being affected by a particular genetic disorder.

Define Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD).

A procedure where multiple embryos created via IVF are tested for genetic disorders before implantation.

What happens to embryos that are found to be affected by a disorder during PGD?

They are typically destroyed or discarded.

What is the process of Selective Abortion as a form of genetic screening?

A fetus is tested for genetic disorders in utero, and the pregnancy is terminated if the test is positive.

What is the key moral distinction made between Carrier Testing and the other two practices (PGD and Selective Abortion)?

Carrier testing involves no destruction of individual organisms, whereas PGD and Selective Abortion do.

State Julian Savulescu's principle of Procreative Beneficence.

Couples should select the child, of the possible children they could have, who is expected to have the best life based on available genetic information.

How does Savulescu define a 'disease gene'?

A gene that causes a genetic disorder or predisposes an individual to developing a disease like cancer or dementia.

How does Savulescu define a 'non-disease gene'?

A gene that influences a physical or psychological state which is not itself a disease, such as height, intelligence, or character.

What is the first premise in Savulescu's main argument for procreative beneficence?

The presence of disease genes (and some non-disease genes) interferes with an individual’s ability to live well.

What is the second premise in Savulescu's main argument concerning parental obligations?

Parents are morally obligated to ensure that their children have a chance at the best life possible.

What is the conclusion of Savulescu's main argument for procreative beneficence?

Parents are morally obligated to use genetic screening to select for genes that maximize a child’s chance for happiness.

In Savulescu's analogy, what is the key difference between selecting from Box A and Box B?

Box B introduces a small risk of a negative outcome (-$100), whereas Box A has no such risk.

How does Savulescu's Box A/B analogy relate to choosing embryos?

It is analogous to choosing between an embryo with no risk of a condition (Box A) and one with a risk of developing a condition like asthma (Box B).

What is Objection 1 to procreative beneficence as described in the source material?

The concern that genetic screening might eliminate potential geniuses.

What is the point of the 'Mozart' and 'Wheel of Fortune' analogies used by objectors to procreative beneficence?

To suggest that any discarded embryo might have had the potential to become a genius in some field.

What is Objection 2 to Savulescu's procreative beneficence?

The practices he endorses are highly discriminatory against certain members of society.

How does Savulescu counter the objection that his views are discriminatory towards people with disabilities?

He argues it is important to distinguish between disability (the condition) and persons with disability, stating that selection reduces the former but is silent on the latter.

What is Objection 3 to Savulescu's arguments, concerning the impact on existing people with disabilities?

His arguments are considered harmful to people with disabilities.

What is Munson's specific argument about how procreative beneficence could harm people with disabilities?

If disabilities become less common, researchers will be less motivated to develop new treatments for those conditions.

What is Objection 4 to procreative beneficence, distinguishing between two types of parental duties?

It highlights the difference between having the 'best child' and doing the 'best for one's children'.

What is Objection 5 to Savulescu's arguments, regarding its potential social implications?

His arguments could be used to support selecting children based on sex and race.

How does Savulescu respond to the objection that procreative beneficence could justify sex selection?

He argues that social institutional reform, not interference in reproduction, is the proper way to address the poor treatment of women.

What is the critique leveled against Savulescu's counterargument on sex and race selection?

Critics ask why the same logic of promoting social reform doesn't apply to disabilities.

In the process of _, a fetus is tested in utero for genetic disorders, and the pregnancy is terminated if the test is positive.

Selective abortion

According to the source, which two genetic screening practices involve the destruction of individual organisms?

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) and Selective Abortion.

Savulescu's principle of _ states that couples should select the child who is expected to have the best life.

Procreative Beneficence

In Savulescu's embryo analogy, Embryo B has a risk of developing _, while Embryo A does not.

asthma

What is the core argument of the objection that procreative beneficence is discriminatory?

It implies it is better for children to be born without certain disabilities than with them, which is discriminatory.