MaterniT21 Will Let You Select the Genes of Your Children
Omar Yusuf — October 31, 2011 — Lifestyle
Although many scoffed at the ideas of genetic selection introduced by the 1997 film Gattaca, a new procedure called MaterniT21 will make the world prenatal screening a startling, perhaps frightening reality.
Announced mere days ago, MaterniT21 promises to altogether eliminate the possibility of your child being born with Down syndrome, a genetical abnormality that seems to have recently hiked in prevalence. Whereas prior genetic screenings required invasive surgery to be conducted, Sequenom promises that their method is as simple and straightforward as a routine blood test. MaterniT21 has been available upon request to American mothers-to-be since October 17th and is projected to become a staple prenatal exam. However groundbreaking this development may indeed be, it comes front-loaded with several difficult questions: what are the ethical implications of bringing a child, proven to be malformed or disabled, to term? What stigmas will be associated with terminating a so-called “defective” child?
It’s difficult to even broach the idea of eugenics in modern biology, but the recent introduction of MaterniT21 may force us to consider the morality of it.
Announced mere days ago, MaterniT21 promises to altogether eliminate the possibility of your child being born with Down syndrome, a genetical abnormality that seems to have recently hiked in prevalence. Whereas prior genetic screenings required invasive surgery to be conducted, Sequenom promises that their method is as simple and straightforward as a routine blood test. MaterniT21 has been available upon request to American mothers-to-be since October 17th and is projected to become a staple prenatal exam. However groundbreaking this development may indeed be, it comes front-loaded with several difficult questions: what are the ethical implications of bringing a child, proven to be malformed or disabled, to term? What stigmas will be associated with terminating a so-called “defective” child?
It’s difficult to even broach the idea of eugenics in modern biology, but the recent introduction of MaterniT21 may force us to consider the morality of it.
Trend Themes
1. Genetic Selection - New procedure MaterniT21 allows for the selection of genes in prenatal screening, presenting an opportunity for disruptive innovation in reproductive technology.
2. Non-invasive Genetic Screening - MaterniT21 offers a non-invasive alternative to traditional genetic screenings, opening up possibilities for disruptive innovation in the field of prenatal exams.
3. Ethical Implications of Genetic Testing - The introduction of MaterniT21 raises important ethical questions surrounding the termination and selection of fetuses, creating opportunities for disruptive innovation in bioethics and counseling.
Industry Implications
1. Reproductive Technology - The development of MaterniT21 presents a disruptive innovation opportunity for the reproductive technology industry, allowing for genetic selection in prenatal screening.
2. Medical Diagnostics - MaterniT21's non-invasive genetic screening method opens up disruptive innovation opportunities in the medical diagnostics industry, revolutionizing the field of prenatal exams.
3. Bioethics and Counseling - The ethical implications raised by MaterniT21 call for disruptive innovation in the bioethics and counseling industry, prompting discussions on reproductive decision-making.
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