I think this just sounds nuts! Having identical children of different ages?! I'm not really sure how I feel about this. I think that the doctor should do what the patient wishes, however I think that Dr. M and Mr. and Ms. T should sit down and have an in depth talk of everything that could come from this. I do not think that this is morally defensible as an adjunct to IVF and embryo transfer. delayed twinning may be less problematic than cloning via somatic cell nuclear transfer because of the reasoning behind it; however, I am not a fan of cloning or anything that has to do with cloning.
I don't know where Dr. M stands on this issue of splitting the embryo. To me it just sound like Mr. and Mrs. T are trying to cut corners and save a little money at the cost of their future children. I don't think that Dr. M should act on the parents wishes before they have had extensive conversations to make sure that these parents know exactly what they are getting into. IVF and embryo transfer are morally questionable so I think that altering the state of that embryo is definately out of the question. And i think that embryo splitting is in the same boat with cloning honestly. Both produce gentically identical persons at different ages. Neither is more or less morally problematic than the other.
I don't think this could result in genetically identical children of different ages. Technically, the kids would be fraternal twins of different ages- when the mother's egg splits in two before being fertilized, so each egg is fertilized by a different sperm. Definitely not identical, and 50/50 shot of opposite sexes. So this would be like half-cloning, since 1/2 of the new kid would be the same as its older sibling (the part from the mom) and 1/2 (from the dad) would be unique.
Embryo splitting to attempt to have one child seems as morally defensible (as long as it is picked at random without the genes being read). However, using it for more than one child involves the same issues as cloning.
This procedure just sounds crazy! Like Megan stated, it really sounds like they are trying to cut corners around the IVF cost and pain of the procedure. It doesn't seem moral to use the same one embryo to make multiple children, it was created for one child and should be made into one child. This does seem the same as cloning and involves the same moral questions. If they are having this many problems conceiving children, they should probably start to consider adoption.
I think that this is just wrong in so many ways that I don't know where to start. Having 4 identical children just of different ages is basically like cloning all of them. I think that the doctor should not go along with the couple but maybe give them information on adoption or other forms of having children. I think that embryo splitting is not defensible because this is cloning an individual and that is not morally acceptable. I think that it is just as problematic as cloning because there are 4 children of the exact same genetic makeup. That is just wrong and doesnt allow the family to have any differences which would be crazy. I think that cloning and this splitting is just as morally wrong as one another.
I don’t see a problem with Dr. T acting in accordance to the couple’s wishes. They have already been through the process and understand what is involved, and they are informed of what may happen. If IVF and embryo transfer is acceptable, then embryo splitting should be seen as very similar. I don’t think that delayed twinning is any less morally problematic than cloning, because it is essentially the same thing. I agree with the idea that clones do not have to be the same person. Environmental factors greatly affect how characteristics form in a person.
I think this just sounds nuts! Having identical children of different ages?! I'm not really sure how I feel about this. I think that the doctor should do what the patient wishes, however I think that Dr. M and Mr. and Ms. T should sit down and have an in depth talk of everything that could come from this. I do not think that this is morally defensible as an adjunct to IVF and embryo transfer. delayed twinning may be less problematic than cloning via somatic cell nuclear transfer because of the reasoning behind it; however, I am not a fan of cloning or anything that has to do with cloning.
ReplyDeleteI don't know where Dr. M stands on this issue of splitting the embryo. To me it just sound like Mr. and Mrs. T are trying to cut corners and save a little money at the cost of their future children. I don't think that Dr. M should act on the parents wishes before they have had extensive conversations to make sure that these parents know exactly what they are getting into. IVF and embryo transfer are morally questionable so I think that altering the state of that embryo is definately out of the question. And i think that embryo splitting is in the same boat with cloning honestly. Both produce gentically identical persons at different ages. Neither is more or less morally problematic than the other.
ReplyDeleteI don't think this could result in genetically identical children of different ages. Technically, the kids would be fraternal twins of different ages- when the mother's egg splits in two before being fertilized, so each egg is fertilized by a different sperm. Definitely not identical, and 50/50 shot of opposite sexes. So this would be like half-cloning, since 1/2 of the new kid would be the same as its older sibling (the part from the mom) and 1/2 (from the dad) would be unique.
ReplyDeleteEmbryo splitting to attempt to have one child seems as morally defensible (as long as it is picked at random without the genes being read). However, using it for more than one child involves the same issues as cloning.
This procedure just sounds crazy! Like Megan stated, it really sounds like they are trying to cut corners around the IVF cost and pain of the procedure. It doesn't seem moral to use the same one embryo to make multiple children, it was created for one child and should be made into one child. This does seem the same as cloning and involves the same moral questions. If they are having this many problems conceiving children, they should probably start to consider adoption.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is just wrong in so many ways that I don't know where to start. Having 4 identical children just of different ages is basically like cloning all of them. I think that the doctor should not go along with the couple but maybe give them information on adoption or other forms of having children. I think that embryo splitting is not defensible because this is cloning an individual and that is not morally acceptable. I think that it is just as problematic as cloning because there are 4 children of the exact same genetic makeup. That is just wrong and doesnt allow the family to have any differences which would be crazy. I think that cloning and this splitting is just as morally wrong as one another.
ReplyDeleteI don’t see a problem with Dr. T acting in accordance to the couple’s wishes. They have already been through the process and understand what is involved, and they are informed of what may happen. If IVF and embryo transfer is acceptable, then embryo splitting should be seen as very similar. I don’t think that delayed twinning is any less morally problematic than cloning, because it is essentially the same thing. I agree with the idea that clones do not have to be the same person. Environmental factors greatly affect how characteristics form in a person.
ReplyDelete