3 ms·

I wonder to what extent the existence and use of CRISPR to edit a baby will serve to normalize the relatively less radical practice of IVF embryo selection[1] o

I wonder to what extent the existence and use of CRISPR to edit a baby will serve to normalize the relatively less radical practice of IVF embryo selection[1] on a wider range of criteria than we currently accept. That would also open the door to some enhancements. Many traits that parents might care about are deeply polygenetic and not amenable to the sort of editing we can currently perform but could still be selected for in this manner. [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preimplantation_genetic_diagnosis https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preimplantation_genetic_diagno...

bluGill 8y ago
There are ethical concerns in some areas. However I have no ethical concern about knocking out the Downs Syndrome gene (though how you would do this is a different question). Likewise blind or deaf genes can go. As can high cholesterol genes.
- Symmetry 8y ago
  Downs Syndrome is caused by an extra copy of a chromosome, not a specific gene variant or mutation. It's something you could avoid by embryo selection but not by conventional gene editing techniques.
  - bluGill 8y ago
    Right, thus the comment that I don't know how you would edit out Downs.