Health

New ‘Genetic Abnormalities’ Test Raises ‘Many Ethical Questions’

Non Invasive Genetic Test Could Reveal Up to 3,500 Potential Disorders

University of Washington researchers report developing a new, non-invasive genetic test that could reveal up to 3,500 abnormalities. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A new, non-invasive genetic test could evaluate up to 3,500 different genetic abnormalities. Using only a blood sample from the mother and saliva from the father, unlike other genetic tests that could harm the developing fetus, this procedure comes with no risk. Still, according to the Daily Telegraph, some are concerned about the “many ethical questions” that such a test raises.

The Daily Telegraph reports that the blood sample from the mother is taken at 18 weeks of pregnancy. Pro-life advocates fear this test, which is not yet widely available, will lead to more abortions of fetuses found with genetic defects.

Non Invasive Genetic Test Could Reveal Up to 3,500 Potential Disorders

A blood sample from the mother is taken at 18 weeks. This fetus in the womb is about 17 weeks old. (Photo: Wikimedia)

The test tried by researchers at the University of Washington was a result of mapping the “baby genome.” ABC news has more on how this research was conducted:

Scientists at the University of Washington took blood samples of a woman  who was 18 weeks pregnant, and saliva from her partner to map the fetus’s DNA. The method was then repeated in another couple.

They then  reconstructed the genetic code of the unborn baby, then tested the accuracy of the results by using umbilical cord blood after the baby  was born.

“The primary significance of this is that  …  it may broaden the availability of genetic screening to more patients, while at the same time screening for much larger panels of disorders than can currently be detected,” said Jacob Kitzman, lead author of the study.

The new procedure can test for, among thousands of diseases,  spina bifida and Down syndrome, the most common genetic disorders in the U.S. , and is safer than amniocentesis.

This new test was found to be 98 percent accurate compared to the genetic outcome of the baby once it was born.

ABC goes on to report that amniocentesis can increase the risk for miscarriage, which is why only about 200,000 of these tests are performed every year in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Some ethicists say the less risky test is beneficial as it is safer for the developing fetus, whereas others believe it will lead to termination of those with abnormalities. NDTV reports Pro-Life Alliance Founder Josephine Quintavalle saying “it is difficult to imagine that this new test will not lead to more abortions.”

“In my experience, full information for parents permits ethical decisions for a family,” Dr. F. Sessions Cole, professor of pediatrics at Washington University School of Medicine at St. Louis, told ABC. ”A longer term ethical issue concerning the ability to predict disease development in later childhood or adulthood from fetal DNA will also need to be addressed. Hopefully, this new information will prompt development of nutritional, pharmacologic, behavioral, environmental, and other strategies to reduce genetic disease risk.”

Watch this NBC Los Angeles report for more:

The research was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine on Wednesday.

[H/T Drudge Report]

Comments (55)

  • Arianwen
    Posted on June 15, 2012 at 9:41pm

    In a globalized world, these tests will be done. Personally I’m very pro genetic testing as I come from a family with a lot of genetic misery. However, even if you’re against this, the stupidest thing you could do is try to ban these tests or limit their use by law. If you do, the well off will flock to a country that doesn’t, the way wealthy Chinese and Indian parents do today in order to ensure they’re not having a dreaded girl. You’ll create a system where rich people never have kids with genetic illness, but poor people routinely do because they can’t afford a trip overseas. We know the wealthy tend to turn against services they make little use of. What happens to the social programs we have for the disabled when money can buy you a healthy baby? No, the best strategy is to welcome this test. Some parents will abort disabled fetus’, which will leave more resources for those who aren’t aborted and are born. In the same way, the status of girls will rise in India and China when they see what their lack does to their societies. That is natural selection, nature moving an animal (human) to make a choice, then that animal reacting to survive that choice. Those that can’t survive bad choices die out.

    Report Post »  
  • PracCath
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 7:23pm

    As a person born with Spina Bifida, I felt I had to comment. Despite my disability, I have been able to drive, work, live independently, get married and even have a baby – a healthy baby. I have a spouse and family and friends who love me. When will people ever learn that being born with a disability is not the worst thing that can ever happen to you? Those of us with disabilities are very much able to have lives worth living! It is a shame that judgments are made about the quality of our lives in the blink of an eye. I wonder how many lives have already been needlessly lost to a Spina Bifida diagnosis.

    Report Post »  
  • cdb
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 4:36pm

    select out the gay gene!!! Just the oppisite.Anythng considered to be normal will be aborted and everything perverted and queer will be alowed to survive.

    Report Post »  
  • cosmic dogma
    Posted on June 8, 2012 at 10:36am

    Not a hugh step from aborting babies because of their imperfections to eliminating the sick and elderly for their imperfections. What is the difference? A few years? Our technology has outpaced our moral growth and compassion, and understanding that there are reasons, unknown to us, for everything.

    Report Post »  
  • BobtheMoron
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 8:05pm

    Goodbye, LGBTs. When the genetic defect is found there will be no more gays, etc. Except those who weren’t aborted by Christians parents who refuse to abort. Real funny ain’t it?

    Report Post » BobtheMoron  
  • cdb
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 7:20pm

    Baby steps. Soon they will be testing every pregnant mother for these (abnormalities), and when any are found, good bye baby. What next? While looking for them, you mjust happen to find out what color eyes and hair, and if they are not to your liking, simple, just kill it and try for something better next time.

    Report Post »  
  • bobbyjoe
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 2:57pm

    My wife and I were told that our child would be a boy and have all kinds of medical problems after extensive tests. When SHE was born in front of several specialists there to care for all the problems expected, they walked out of the room because she was perfect and has been for 21 years.

    Report Post » bobbyjoe  
    • bobbyjoe
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 3:25pm

      ..oh yea, she also gave me my second grandchild, a boy, who is perfect as well.

      Report Post » bobbyjoe  
    • GLENNS_FUTURE_BABY_MOMMA
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:30pm

      Two babies? And she’s only 21? Damn. Sounds like your daughter needs to hold an aspirin between her knees, buddy. I bet the boys found her early.

      Report Post » GLENNS_FUTURE_BABY_MOMMA  
  • Commander8080
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 2:45pm

    I guess it a baby is test for these defects and one does show up. Under Obamacare the parents need to abort the baby or the birth and the resulting baby care will not be funded by the government. Let’s not forget the parents will be branded as unsuitable for children. It is coming

    Report Post » Commander8080  
    • AmazingGrace8
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:13pm

      That is a scary thought but it is coming for the future. Sure is getting to be a very strange America.

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:27pm

      Among a Species… where each is Unique… WHAT IS NORMAL?

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 2:34pm

    Science does not exist in a Vacuum… rather Money is Budgeted for Projects, where people are Employed to Investigate a Subject.

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • Searchingforthelight
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:09pm

    They will just rationalize this act as survival of the fittist to sooth their conscience if they have one. If scientist come up with a way to identify a Narcissistic gene I think those with one should be identified for future considerations which is something a Narcissists won’t do for us.
    The question is what is causing these abnormalities? Is it genetic or environmental?
    If you don‘t want a child take responsibility and either don’t act like an animal or go get fixed like one.

    Report Post »  
  • FatManChew
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:00pm

    Does this mean we can finally get rid of the Maxine Waters and Henry Waxman’s of the world? You know rat face looney?

    Report Post » FatManChew  
  • Passerby
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:58pm

    Not just the slippery slope to eugenics, mix and match, pick which genes. Including other people. Including animal genes. And making new genes.

    It’s like space critters landed and replaced us.

    Report Post » Passerby  
  • Carlinpa
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:53pm

    Can it test for homosexuality? We really need a cure for that

    Report Post »  
    • Passerby
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:02pm

      That’s learned. There isn’t a single solitary ~~~***EXCLUSIVE***~~~ homosexual mammal in the known history of the planet except humans.

      Report Post » Passerby  
    • Messianic Kitty
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 2:12pm

      One is NOT born with “homosexuality.”

      Report Post » Messianic Kitty  
    • Bro. Chuck
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 2:47pm

      Then we should run it to see if they find that pesky liberal gene……

      you know the one…..

      yup.

      Seriously?

      We need this why?
      And how long will it be before the Government “panel” of experts calls the new “parents-to-be“ with the ”scientific information” that it’s a “lost cause’ with their baby….???
      better abort now before it gets too far along…
      there’s no hope…
      its the “humane thing to do”….

      People….

      If this doesn’t send the chills upon your flesh….

      Its coming –
      you can say whatever & disregard the signs and warnings…
      but its carreening towards us at warp speed.

      This is where man tries to surmount God our Creator Himself.
      This is where the heart and soul will make choice whom to follow…..

      By all He has blessed us with and endured from us with His Patience and LovingKindness -
      We will choose and separate as was Foretold….

      Cry out to Adonai and beg His Forgiveness…
      before this is embraced as one more abomination unto our flesh…
      the natural extension to “assembly line” abortions.
      we can still stand before Him and say we will NOT partake….

      How many of the flesh will chose their whim & fancy?
      how many will ultimately be LIED TO….
      ask yourself…

      Does it Matter?
      If it Does?
      You know to Go before Him and reach out in Prayer-
      that He open your eyes and hearts…..

      In Yeshua’s Precious Name….

      Be Bless’d

      Bro. Chuck

      Report Post »  
    • JediKnight
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:20pm

      Remember the Twilight Zone episode where they tested your intelligence? If you were too smart, you were terminated. They waited until you were 12 to test you. Then they took you from your parents and tested you.

      It’s not a huge leap to see how that could be implemented.

      Report Post »  
    • Bro. Chuck
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:50pm

      @ Jedi….

      yup….
      when they brought the boys clothes back to his mother….
      “were sorry Mrs.Smith… Johnny scored a perfect score…..”

      I had that visual in my head.
      The more profound thing in that episode was that the parents didn’t tell him “just play stupid”….
      wasn’t that a more chilling lesson….?
      you are who you are.

      how many folk today would take that path?

      but this is so much more insidious…
      the people will be at the “mercy” of the integrity (morality) of those in authority.
      how will our “leadership” steer the parents….?
      how will the innocent know, other than the “results” the authorities will offer….?
      could (will) they lie and say there are “abnormalities” just to promote the abortion, even when there is nothing wrong, because the “social engineering” requires more boy babies?
      say a doctor feels an inner city mommy baby factory is too large a burden on the “system”?
      that gives him the “authority” to make the decision?

      yup, we are really heading into the twilight zone / outer limits with this stuff, no?

      Be Bless’d!

      Bro. Chuck

      Report Post »  
  • since1791
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:39pm

    Margaret Sanger and Hitler are smiling from the pit of Hell on ths one. God, not so much.

    Report Post »  
    • Passerby
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:00pm

      Yeah man. And how do we dispose of these genetic inferiors?

      Moloch Worship. You sacrifice them in the hope it will benefit you. Same thing.

      Report Post » Passerby  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:37pm

    Technology is not inherently evil. The application of technology can be good or evil. Apply this genetic test to murder fetus is evil.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
    • Passerby
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:05pm

      It’s not inherently good either.

      And it’s an open question which is the majority. We’ll check back after WWIII after we see how it goes.

      Report Post » Passerby  
  • JimL
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:23pm

    devolution

    Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:40pm

      In The Film BRAVEHEART, King Longshanks of England remarked that the only thing wrong with Scotland was that there were too many Scots. In the 1960s Liberal-Democrat-Communists remarked that the only thing wrong with America was that there are too many Americans. Well these Communists have been working 24/7 since the 1960′s to change America and they have succeeded. This DNA blood test will merely insure that Americans continue to disappear.

      You have been sleeping too long.

      Report Post »  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:22pm

      Tea: Seek and listen.

      Report Post »  
  • gregjackie1
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:18pm

    Since liberalism is a mental disorder as well as homosexuality then maybe we can catch it before birth and either correct it or abort it. Isn’t that the sort of thing the left supports? Freedom to abort at will?

    Report Post »  
    • teamarcheson
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:36pm

      For decades, the US Government has received a sample of blood from every blood test taken. The Federal Government has a DNA map of almost every American on earth. Blood tests are now required for all kinds of reasons and if your child was born in a hospital, the government received a sample of blood. The government is not going to hire people who have the potential for an expensive disease or of undesired or suspicious racial stock.

      While the government was preparing to make you a slave, you were sleeping. Enough people in the Federal Government of all politics believe the communist type total control of people is very desirable.

      The price you will have to now pay to remain Free may now be more than you are capable of paying. Even if we unit and try to return to freedom, there isn’t any guarantee we can win. You have been sleeping for too long.

      Report Post »  
    • Passerby
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:17pm

      The government can‘t tie it’s shoelaces.There may be dark sinister forces, (some may be in the government, of course) but it’s not the government. They can’t tie their shoelaces most of the time, and sure as heck can’t keep a secret.

      Report Post » Passerby  
    • AmazingGrace8
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:18pm

      @teasmarch

      Very good post.

      Report Post »  
  • Ducky 1
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:16pm

    Slippery slope to eugenics !

    Report Post » Ducky 1  
    • gregjackie1
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:29pm

      Exactly. The early progressives of the fabian society were big on pushing eugenics.

      Report Post »  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:39pm

      “sociocide”, one “choice” followed by another.

      misanthropy

      Report Post »  
  • TemperedRage
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:09pm

    Hmm… So if I read the technique correctly, this would also work as a pre-birth paternity test. That sounds useful.

    Report Post » TemperedRage  
  • RightPolitically
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:09pm

    Information is power. As a conservative, I have always believed in full disclosure by politicians and why not in medicine?

    Report Post » RightPolitically  
    • Leperus
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 4:28pm

      Agree. Couldn’t this test be done BEFORE having children?

      Report Post » Leperus  
  • justangry
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:07pm

    I‘m assuming the HMO’s are routing for this bill. I can just see a doctor having to tell a prospective mother that if she choses to have her child, her insurance company would not support the health cost of the bruden. If we all can’t see the potential for this thing to pure evil is too great to trust our politicians with this authority.

    Report Post » justangry  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:04pm

    if this test had been applied to my sister and myself we very likely would have been aborted with our gene markers for IBD and Ankylosing Spondylitis. We both have children without the gene markers. Under this testing feature we may have never existed.This is where science can but shouldn’t. Can we please start working on curing the diseases rather than aborting the children that may be prone to get them? There needs to be a code or some amount of ethics brought back to science and medicine in general. Just ask the UK how well aborting the down syndrome babies is working for them.

    Report Post »  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:38pm

      About 90 percent of pregnant women who are given a Down syndrome diagnosis have chosen to have an abortion, NYTimes, 5-9-09, “Prenatal Test Puts Down Syndrome in Hard Focus”

      Horse Sense: Thanks for your witness.

      Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:03pm

    It may lead to more abortions. But it will also prepare prospective parents of the issues they will need to plan for if their child has abnormalities. In the end it is the choice of the parents what they will do with more information – but more information in and of itself is never a bad thing.

    Report Post »  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:05pm

      I disagree. Many of the gene markers aren’t guarantees of the disease but a maybe more of you may be inclined to get. This will lea to more abortions just ask the UK how well aborting all the down syndrome children is going for them.

      Report Post »  
    • thekuligs
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:54pm

      I have had a false positive on the tests they offer now, which is why I no longer have them done. How many perfectly healty babies are aborted because of the errors of man? I don’t believe in abortion, so having the tests for us was done so we could prepare in the event something was off–but really it did more harm than good.

      Report Post » thekuligs  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:09pm

      @Thekuligs

      “I have had a false positive on the tests they offer now, which is why I no longer have them done… having the tests for us was done so we could prepare in the event something was off–but really it did more harm than good.”

      But don’t you think it was better to be prepared and then have luck turn in your favor, as opposed to having no idea? That was my point.

      Report Post »  
    • JimL
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 1:18pm

      Context of information is controlled.
      Cognitive psych- “the medium is the message”
      Coerced “choice”

      Report Post »  
    • 5isgood
      Posted on June 8, 2012 at 3:15pm

      I agree. That some parents would choose to abort a baby because of test results is heartbreaking. The intentional taking of life within the womb is reprehensible. But let’s be clear: the problem is the choice to end life. The abortion. The argument that concerned parents should be denied a safer method of obtaining information (that could help them better prepare for the care of their child), just because other parents will use that same information to harm a child doesn’t make any more sense than the argument that responsible, law-abiding citizens should be denied the right to bear arms because others will use them to hurt people. Don’t we agree that “Guns don’t kill people. People kill people”? Why is this different? If this test is actually SAFER for the baby, how is it a bad thing? Call into question the moral depravity of society? Then let’s do more to courageously raise our voices in educating about the sanctity of life, and the reality of life within the womb. When science and medicine present us with an option that can actually be a benefit to that life, it seems our moral responsibility is to embrace it. Not fearfully run from it or dismiss it.

      Report Post »  
  • kaydeebeau
    Posted on June 7, 2012 at 11:59am

    Hmmm…isn’t this odd – the 17 week 3D ultrasound seems to show a little person rather than an insignificant blob of fetal cells…but then again leftists have problems with facing things that are right in front of their eyes

    Report Post » kaydeebeau  
    • HorseCrazy
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:06pm

      love your post just love it.

      Report Post »  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on June 7, 2012 at 12:54pm

      I am amazed by pictures of babies in the womb and the best video ever is ‘In the womb” by National Geographic. Such a miracle! Pretty difficult to deny that is a CHILD.

      Report Post » EqualJustice  

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