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Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

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Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#71

Post by maxtaqo »

mathgeek wrote: post #29
puppycodes wrote: post #10

Interesting, I wonder what else this might lead too! Encouraging we might be getting somewhere. I used to live near a Down syndrome center where a bunch of folks lived and I remember this one lady who was kitted out with Britney Spears everything, lunchbox, t-shirt, hat, and headphones. Everyday I passed by the bus stop she would be dancing her heart out to a Britney track waiting for the bus and it made my world a l…

> Everyday I passed by the bus stop she would be dancing her heart out to a Britney track waiting for the bus and it made my world a little brighter. As someone who absolutely loves to "be weird", I often wish the world was so much friendlier to folks like this (other than in a token manner).

One thing I know for sure is that the person I pass on my way to work always greets me cheerfully, even though I am a stranger to them.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#72

Post by devonbleak »

afavour wrote: post #63
nkrisc wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think there’s a difference between appreciating those among us who have it for their perspective and differences and wishing it upon your child. I admit I was absolutely relieved when pre-natal screening was negative for it, both times. But if that was the hand we were dealt, then I’d take it. But that doesn’t mean I want it.

Honestly it’s confounding to even think about it. Aborting a fetus with Down’s syndrome? Feels cruel to deprive someone of life for that. But if it meant you went on to have another child you otherwise wouldn’t have then you’re giving life. I think at a certain point you can’t consider this stuff rationally.

I have a cousin with DS. You have to be committed and have the means to raise a child with extreme needs. Many of them will live with their parents their entire lives and will not develop cognitively beyond their tweens (hence the Britney Spears anecdote above). The ones that do move out tend to have to go to a place that specializes in assisting them. They can also have pretty extreme health issues.

Yes, they can be beautiful people that bring light to others around them, but those others also don't typically get exposed to the behind the scenes struggles of the entire family to cope with this.

Some people are prepared to do this; I don't judge the ones that decide they're not. I would hate for someone to go into it not understanding what they're signing up for.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#73

Post by kbelder »

derektank wrote: post #9
moomoo11 wrote: post #4

I don't really understand what it says. As a layman in this topic, I'm curious if modifications like that can cause other effects?

It says that they've developed a way to identify the extra chromosome(s) passed to a child by a malfunctioning germ cell, specifically chromosome 21 though presumably this method could be reproduced for other trisomy diseases. This could, most immediately, lead to a therapy that allows a couple that is going through in vitro fertilization to repair a zygote that has trisomy by correcting the number of chromosomes it…

At that point, wouldn't they just use a different egg? I'd expect that to be far less costly and less risky than this treatment.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#74

Post by wonderwonder »

wyldfire wrote: post #15
whatshisface wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's better for them should be the overriding concern and that's to have a normal development.

I don't know if it's the case for folks with Down Syndrome (I suppose it's likely not), but hearing-impaired folks have their own culture to the point that in the past it was seen as some as a betrayal to the community to seek out cochlear implants. I think having their own language does a lot to create unity among them. All that above is to say that I wonder if some folks in Down Syndrome might actually prefer their…

I used to live near a down syndrome living facility. Essentially a house converted into a care facility in a neighborhood. ~8 - 10 people with downs lived there. Very few visitors (parents), almost all the cars belonged to the nurses. Isolated from everyone they lived around and kept away from the neighbors (I'm sure to the neighbors relief). required constant care. I don't think its a life most would choose.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#75

Post by hilsdev »

creakingstairs wrote: post #56
mathgeek wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Everyday I passed by the bus stop she would be dancing her heart out to a Britney track waiting for the bus and it made my world a little brighter. As someone who absolutely loves to "be weird", I often wish the world was so much friendlier to folks like this (other than in a token manner).

Is it just me or do I feel like the society is way more accepting nowadays? I had to pretty much hide who I was during school due to fear of bullying/ not fitting in but most kids these days seem to be able to be themselves in many ways. I agree we can be friendlier though!

You’re right the world is a lot more accepting. No matter how much things improve and how positive the trajectory though, there will be someone online who tells us it’s not enough

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#76

Post by loeg »

School-Cotton wrote: post #52
loeg wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's hard to imagine a treatment cost so high that it wouldn't be worth the USG paying for it. Down syndrome kids and adults have some quantifiable economic cost; normal adults are worth some other quantifiable economic benefit; the difference is going to be significantly more than the cost of treatment.

The US government is not one person or a small set of people with a coherent strategy making decisions based on cost-benefit analysis. It’s an extremely complex emergent system whose properties can only be understood by studying them empirically, not by appealing to arguments about what a human would think is worth it or would make sense.

This isn't responsive to my comment.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#77

Post by wileydragonfly »

123yawaworht456 wrote: post #36
heavyset_go wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Willing to bet money that it will, there's a ton of investment right now in what I'd call blatant eugenics. There are companies right now making bank on embryo selection based on genetics, the next step is modifying genes instead of rolling a crap shoot and hoping to get what they want. Funnily enough, such companies are funded by and led by some HN subcultures' favorite people, I would know because I was recruited b…

out of curiosity, what's your stance on abortion? :^)

Personally? Not a fan. But also not a fan of enforcing my opinion on others.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#78

Post by nice_byte »

heavyset_go wrote: post #23
wileydragonfly wrote: post #2

This will never go to human trial.

Willing to bet money that it will, there's a ton of investment right now in what I'd call blatant eugenics. There are companies right now making bank on embryo selection based on genetics, the next step is modifying genes instead of rolling a crap shoot and hoping to get what they want. Funnily enough, such companies are funded by and led by some HN subcultures' favorite people, I would know because I was recruited b…

preventing down syndrome is "eugenics"?

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#79

Post by hankman86 »

gerdesj wrote: post #21
whatshisface wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What's better for them should be the overriding concern and that's to have a normal development.

As soon as someone starts ascribing towards a "normal" and using the pronoun "them", warning bells should go berserk.

No. Down Syndrome leads to an objectively worse outcome for the affected individuals. And their parents, I might add.

We should not let compassion for these people obstruct some basic facts. My only consideration would be the potential risks and side effects that are to be expected for any medical intervention. But if we were expecting a child that was diagnosed with Down Syndrome, I would not hesitate for a second to give this child the chance for a normal life. And us parents the chance for normal parenthood.

Re: Scientists may have found a way to eliminate chromosome linked to Down syndrome

#80

Post by foolfoolz »

puppycodes wrote: post #10

Interesting, I wonder what else this might lead too! Encouraging we might be getting somewhere. I used to live near a Down syndrome center where a bunch of folks lived and I remember this one lady who was kitted out with Britney Spears everything, lunchbox, t-shirt, hat, and headphones. Everyday I passed by the bus stop she would be dancing her heart out to a Britney track waiting for the bus and it made my world a l…

we are going to become very good at this. eliminating genetic errors, choosing to be straight, tall, etc
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