Gender Selection Essay - 2,153 words

Gender Selection Introduction In our advancing society, almost everything is possible. Due to the rapid development of genetics,
parents now are able to choose the gender of a child. For some it may seem as a great step towards future when it will be possible not
only to predict, but also to choose gender of a future child, while others are concerned with implementation of new scientific
achievements into life. The Human Genome Project Under The Human Genome Project, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences
within the human chromosomes were developed and unveiled to the public. This project was under development since 1980s. It has
only been in the last thirty years, when scientists have learned to understand the complex processes involved in conception, and
more recently, to manipulate them.

Science has the techniques that can overcome natural infertility, and attempt changes in the genetic make-up of the babies that are
desired. (Challoner, 1999) Many nations participated in studying human DNA and it is predicted that by 2003 there will be all the
required knowledge for choosing the gender of a future child without a single mistake. MicroSort MicroSort is a sex/gender selection
method that was developed in 1998 by geneticist Edward Fugger. The method is based on sperm separation. The high technology
approach used in MicroSort relies upon known fact that X chromosome carries almost three percent more DNA than that of Y
chromosome. Special fluorescent molecules are created to attach to the DNA and the sperms passed under the ultraviolet light,
which causes these molecules to emit light. The more light is emitted during the process, the more DNA is present in a particular
sperm. An automatic machine; a flow cytometer, sorts large numbers of individual sperms quickly and with a high degree of
accuracy.

(Fugger, 1998) This actually allows selecting needed sperm that will influence the sex of a future child. Thus, it becomes possible to
select the gender of a child. Concerns with genetics Today it is evident that there is much more than just a sum of genes, which
mainly determine future abilities of an individual. Moreover, people today know how to manipulate with these genes in order to
create an individual with certain chosen abilities and features. Some people believe that due to a scientific advance lot of existing
problems with family planning can be solved, while there are others who oppose any scientific intervention connected with human
genes. Major concerns associated with genetics exist because of the human disability to control the wise knowledge. There is no
doubt that it is a great thing to discover the essence of human life, however life of a human is the most valuable thing and nobody has
a right to mess with it. Nature has created humans with the way of reproduction, and any change in the existing order will certainly
cause negative or positive consequences.

This essay will examine the influence of modern scientific achievements on society, which undoubtedly will have a huge impact on the
future families and children. The main point of this essay is to discover what are the benefits and losses humans will endure due to
the development of genetics, which will help to understand what the attitudes towards sex pre-selection in the society are. Therefore,
should parents have an opportunity to select the gender of their child? Would it be ethical for families with fertility problems to
choose which fertilized embryos get implanted and have the rest discarded as being the wrong gender? Ethics and sex pre-selection
Today in our country, people are highly concerned with the ethical issues of sex pre-selection; therefore, different opinions exist in
the society concerning this matter. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a group that establishes ethical
guidelines for fertility clinics, the answer to these questions is certainly positive. Many specialists in the field of genetics around the
country were shocked to hear this announcement, released in a letter written by John Robertson, an ethicist and lawyer at the
University of Texas who is currently the acting head of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Some, however, have to
offer the service immediately and report having received many requests for it over the years. The technology allowing pre-
determining sex has existed for a long periodthere is actually nothing new about it. However, it was used almost exclusively for
couples with legitimate fears of having babies with certain genetic diseases. For example, male embryos might be rejected because
of the possibility of carrying hemophilia.

In other cases, the embryo can be genetically tested for the disease itself, and only healthy embryos will be implanted, which
certainly brings positive results. The Ethics Committee verdict The Ethics Committee (2001) raised serious ethical questions with
such gender pre-selection, including the potential for inherent gender discrimination, inappropriate control over nonessential
characteristics of children, unnecessary medical burdens and costs for parents, and inappropriate and potentially unfair use of limited
medical resources. After all, if doctors are using their skills for non-medical reasons, then those resources cannot be brought to other
individuals with indisputable need. Concerns However, there still exist concerns associated with sex pre-determination. Among them
are possible sex ratio imbalances in the future, psychological harm to sex-selected offspring (i.e., by placing on them too high
expectations), increased marital conflict over sex selective decisions, and reinforcement of gender bias in society as a whole. (British
Medical Association, 1998) What will happen if somewhere one day due to variety of reasons (ex: high rape rate) people will decide
to have only boys? Nobody would like to have a female child, because parents would be scared that one day their precious daughter
can be raped or murdered, (nobody knows what will happen in the next 20 yearswhat if physical power will be the single attribute of
respect in the society). Opponents of gender pre-selection claim that God gave life to us, and that it is in His hands to choose the
gender of a child.

Such a natural balance had existed for thousands of years and since we all humans made it until today, probably it is the reliable and
the correct way things should work in the nature. Natural balance in gender can be easily shaken with the introduction of new
technologies that can determine the sex of a future child. Therefore, opponents of sex pre-selection believe that human intervention
into the process of life creation will definitely cause negative consequences. What will happen if one day every family decides to
have only sons? When their children mature, they will not be able to find a female mate due to a small percentage of females living in
this certain area or a country. Of course, you may argue that it sounds not realistic. However, if 30 years ago
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