Germany Approves Genetic Testing For Human Embryos
In a conscience vote held Thursday, the German parliament approved the use of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), a procedure in which one or two cells are extracted from a developing embryo in order to test for genetic disorders, according to Reuters reports.
In their July 7 article, Thorsten Severin and Eric Kelsey report that the newly approved legislation “will allow screening embryos of parents who have a predisposition to severe genetic disorders, where a pregnancy would be likely to result in either stillbirth or miscarriage. Existing German law did not fully regulate PGD and the German high court last year ruled that parliament should take up the issue with respect to serious genetic defects.”
PGD has been a hot-button issue, in part because some believe that it could ultimately lead to the creation of a “designer baby.” The issue “has divided governments around the world,” Severin and Kelsey said, adding that “many people” oppose its use “on religious and ethical grounds.”
Categories: Biology, Genetics, Preventive Medicine