Genetics, cloning, IVF and other things..

[Freedom]

Interesting thoughts, Richard.

As for autism, last I read the genome project suggested (not yet clear) that is is a genetic mutation from the father's side.

Friends of mine have 2 autistic children (or 4 kids) and neither parent uses drugs. Mom stayed away form alcohol the entire pregnancy all 4 times. And when she and dad due drink, it is a glass of wine with dinner. (Hey, live out that in California, in wine country!)

[jackie]

As for IVF treatment, there should be a law limiting the amount of fertilized eggs that can be implanted. It may limit the success rate, but takes away the risk of having to selectively abort the weaker fetuses. It must be horrible for a woman/couple who have been trying for years to get pregnant to be told, congrats, you're pregnant, but we need to get rid of one or two of the fetuses to increase the chances of a healthy baby. The thought of abortion after putting your heart and soul (and money) into getting pregnant must make those women's blood run cold.

I think the rise in cases of autism/ADD/allergies/etc is because people are way too quick to diagnose. My child is a little shy and withdrawn, OMG he is autistic, needs special treatment. My kid is a little high strung, OMG she has ADD, get me some Ritalin! I see so many fancy names for things that not that long ago were just social quirks. Rather then getting people to work out and deal with their problems, they are diagnosed and wrapped in cotton wool. A lot of diagnoses just because a crutch for people rather then helping them.

I and running a bit late, and just typed that out as it came into my head, so I hope this post makes at least little sense.

[Karen]

Having one beloved friend whose twins were a result of IVF, I know the doctors implant multiple eggs in hopes that at least one will "take." Another friend gave birth to a single girl each of three times, being grateful to be pregnant each time, and glad after all the expense and medicine and trouble, to have a baby result.

I think people can get a little crazy - why recreate a horse, Barbaro, whose genetics lead to his legs being fragile enough to break under the circumstances they did?

This is another case of "just because you CAN, doesn't mean you should!"

[lizbud]

I think the rise in cases of autism/ADD/allergies/etc is because people are way too quick to diagnose. My child is a little shy and withdrawn, OMG he is autistic, needs special treatment. My kid is a little high strung, OMG she has ADD, get me some Ritalin! I see so many fancy names for things that not that long ago were just social quirks. Rather then getting people to work out and deal with their problems, they are diagnosed and wrapped in cotton wool. A lot of diagnoses just because a crutch for people rather then helping them.

I tend to agree with you on this. What is interesting to me is the spike
in Autism rates after the vaccine mix changed & many children reacted
badly to the amounts & mixtures of vaccines given to babies at one time.

IVF is a whole different issue & one that I know very little about.

[Pam]

Wow this thread is jam packed with things to comment on. First of all, I am daily bombarded with e-mails from my brother about why my grandchildren and his grandchildren should not have vaccines. Unfortunately those e-mails have slackened off now that he is in the hospital as a result of a car accident. (He is OK but will be off the computer for about a month due to therapy.) He has sent me so many links that one must hide their heads in the sand not to at least consider the possibility of autism through vaccines.

Secondly, my nephew and his wife are now the parents of two beautiful twin daughters conceived through in vitro. This was after years of trying to conceive. I couldn't be happier for them. The disconcerting part of all of this is that at one of the ultrasound visits it was noted that one of the twin's head size was not quite "normal" and the question of Downs arose and also the need to consider doing amnio to confirm and possibly abort. Her comment was "Forget the amnio. After all that we have gone through to have these babies, we will raise a Downs baby if that is the case." By the way, both twins are perfectly normal!!

The scary thing to me is that we have reached such a level of knowledge now that it is causing us to have to consider things that our parents/grandparents never had to think about and also creating often unnecessary fear in pregnant women. In some ways I miss the way it was. My children were born before ultrasounds (it was done back then for confirmation if twins were suspected). There was the sort of neat surprise at birth as to whether it was a boy or girl. On the other hand, I think it is wonderful that we can detect things in the womb and be ready to deal with them at the instant of birth. Good thread Richard!