The Dawn of Genetic Testing
Rachel Wilson
Stance
• Prenatal genetic
testing has the
potential to create
a eugenic society,
and should be used
with care and
objectivity.
Eugenics
Measures intended to improve the qualities of a
human population by control of inherited
characteristics.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48hnujqpoA&feature=fvst
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP1cCjB
kWZU&feature=related
Ancient Eugenics
• 800 B.C.- The Spartan
culture inspected each
newborn to determine if
they would be of value
to society.
• By the start of the first
millennium, only 1,000
adult Spartan males
remained.
Modern Eugenics
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1798- Rise of Malthusianism
1800’s- “Idiot asylums” appear in the U.S.
1883- Francis Galton
1899- Dr. Harry Sharp
1907- Involuntary sterilization legalized in
Indiana
• 1924- Immigration Restriction Act
Modern Eugenics
• 1927- Buck v. Bell
• 1945- End of WWII, as many as six million
people had been killed as a result of Hitler’s
Final Solution.
• 1985- South Carolina is the last state to repeal
its sterilization laws
• 1989- Human Genome Project
Beginnings of Genetics
• 1866- Mendel
• 1953- Structure of DNA discovered
Prenatal Genetic Testing
• Any number of screening and diagnostic tests
that can be done during pregnancy in order to
detect genetic disorders .
• Least invasive
• 1st Trimester: CVS and first trimester screen
• 2nd Trimester: Amniocentesis, cordocentesis,
quad screen
• 3rd Trimester: BPP and non-stress test
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
• An assisted reproductive technology that allows
an embryo to be tested for genetic
abnormalities and is used in conjunction with
IVF treatments so that the healthiest embryos
can be selected for implantation.
• Uses: identify disease, identify chromosomal
abnormalities, identify pre-dispositions for late
onset diseases (controversial), Human
Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) matching
Genetics, Prenatal Testing, and
PGD
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1790- First case of artificial insemination
1884- First successful sperm donation
1954- First legal case heard in Illinois
1961- PKU
1978- Louise Brown is born
1983- Huntington’s
1990- PGD used for the first time
Normal IVF Process
IVF process interrupted for PGD
•Achondroplasia
•Adenosine deaminase deficiency
•Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency
•Alzheimer's disease (AAP gene)
•Beta thalasemia
•Cystic fibrosis
•Epidermolysis bullosa
•Fanconi anemia
•Gaucher's disease
•Hemophilia A and B
•Huntington's disease
•Muscular dystrophy (Duchenne and Becker)
•Myotonic dystrophy
•Neurofibromatosis type I
•OTC deficiency
•P53 cancers
•Phenylketonuria
•Retinitis pigmentosa
•Sickle cell disease
•Spinal muscular atrophy
•Tay Sachs disease
•Any genetically abnormal embryos (i.e. Trisomy
21, 13.)
Other Concerns
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Affect on abortion
Abortion rates in China
Financials
Use for detecting late-onset diseases
Religious and ethical concerns
Lack of legal cases
Future
• Too personal, objectivity is difficult
• The laws and society need to catch up