UK scientists recently discovered a way to make human sperm from embryonic stem cells. The main research goal spurring this discovery was finding ways to better understand infertility in humans. These stem cells can be manipulated to make varying cell types by mimicking the early stages of embryo development. The scientists doing the study stated that the more we know about the change from germ cell to sperm cell, the closer we get to understanding the causes of infertility. This poses the option that, in the future, infertile couples will be able to have a child that is genetically their own.
This creates a whole new playing field for reproductive options. But with that, of course, comes a world of debates of ethics. Not to mention same sex children could be a near future availability. This means that in same sex couples, one chooses to be the "mother" and the other chooses to be the "father" and suddenly we've got a biological baby on our hands. While gay couples would need a surrogate mother, lesbian couples could have their children themselves. In fact, each could be pregnant at the same time and potentially have "twins". Lesbian couples could only have daughters however due to females only containing XX chromosomes. In the near future, a human fetus will be able to grow outside of the body. This means we'd be capable of growing a clone army similar to Star Wars, or those clones would be used in the labor force. Perhaps people would begin cloning their deceased loved ones.
This is incredibly interesting to me because while I love to see where technology is taking us, it also seems very scary. At what point do we cross the line between personal choice and what can be governed? When do doctors start playing God? While breakthroughs can be exciting due to endless possibilities, when in the wrong hands, chaos and havoc can wreak. This was just an "eye opening" article that made me have these thoughts.
http://www.chromosomechronicles.com/2009/07/29/sexual-reproduction-for-same-sex-couples/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156730.php
Shayna Smades
VTPP 434-501
This creates a whole new playing field for reproductive options. But with that, of course, comes a world of debates of ethics. Not to mention same sex children could be a near future availability. This means that in same sex couples, one chooses to be the "mother" and the other chooses to be the "father" and suddenly we've got a biological baby on our hands. While gay couples would need a surrogate mother, lesbian couples could have their children themselves. In fact, each could be pregnant at the same time and potentially have "twins". Lesbian couples could only have daughters however due to females only containing XX chromosomes. In the near future, a human fetus will be able to grow outside of the body. This means we'd be capable of growing a clone army similar to Star Wars, or those clones would be used in the labor force. Perhaps people would begin cloning their deceased loved ones.
This is incredibly interesting to me because while I love to see where technology is taking us, it also seems very scary. At what point do we cross the line between personal choice and what can be governed? When do doctors start playing God? While breakthroughs can be exciting due to endless possibilities, when in the wrong hands, chaos and havoc can wreak. This was just an "eye opening" article that made me have these thoughts.
http://www.chromosomechronicles.com/2009/07/29/sexual-reproduction-for-same-sex-couples/
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/156730.php
Shayna Smades
VTPP 434-501
Labels: infertility, same sex reproduction, stem cells
posted by Shayna Smades at 11:06 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home