Gene Therapy
...els to enhance a particular characteristiceven more.QuestionsWrite your answers on a separate sheet of paper.1 Should gene technology be used for gene therapy? Why or why not?2 Should gene technology be used for gene enhancement? Why or why not?3 Who should decide? Parents? Doctors? Government?Society? Someone else? NOVA ActivityCracking the Code of LifeNewborn ScreeningThe Johnsons are married and their first child is justborn. Marsha had a perfectly normal pregnancy andcontinued working until one week before the baby'sbirth. Al and Marsha's son appears, at birth, to be perfectly normal.It is quite a surprise when the doctor calls them a fewdays after they take the baby home and asks them tobring him in for more tests. The doctor asks that boththe mother and father come along because he wants to talk to them.In his office the doctor says that a blood test was donewhile the baby was in the hospital as required by law.The test shows that the baby might have a genetic disease called phenylketonuria (PKU). However, moretests are needed to be sure. The Johnsons were toldnot to worry because there was a treatment for the condition. But neither Marsha nor Al has ever heard ofthe disease nor has anyone in their family.QuestionsWrite your answers on a separate sheet of paper.1 If all newborns are going to be screened, should parentshave a chance to refuse? Why or why not?2 If you were the Johnsons, what would you do next?3 Should screening for diseases or defects be allowedwhen there is no cure or treatment? Why or why not?4 Why might someone not want their child screened?5 In the future, many more tests for genetic conditionswill be available. Should we test all newborns forthese, too? Why or why not?Case StudiesGenetic DiscriminationJonathon Jackson is 30 years old when his father diesof complications of Huntington's disease, a genetic condition that usually does not show up until a personis 3540 years of age. Huntington's is characterized bya slow progression of physical and mental deterioratio...