From: Hal Finney (hal@finney.org)
Date: Wed Jan 15 2003 - 17:07:48 MST
Reuters is reporting at:
http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=UBU1RYMPSKL4ECRBAELCFFA?type=scienceNews&storyID=2052591
Fertility techniques and cloning can increase the odds of babies
developing a rare childhood illness which predisposes them to birth
defects and cancer, scientists reported on Wednesday.
Children born through assisted reproduction methods such as in-vitro
fertilization (IVF) are up to four times more likely to suffer from
Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, which is linked with a genetic phenomenon
known as imprinting.
A baby created through cloning would have an even higher risk because
the technique interferes with imprinting, which controls the activity
of certain genes involved in the growth of the baby in the womb and
behavior traits.
In some of our recent discussion on human cloning, it was suggested
that the technology should not be implemented until safety concerns
are addressed. Now it appears that IVF, which has been in common use
for 20 years, also has safety issues.
How do we balance the risk to our children against our desire to
reproduce? When is it OK to use a new technology to have a child that
would not otherwise be possible, if that technology also carries an
increased risk of birth defects?
Hal
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