Thread: Downs Syndrome

I would tend to agree. Its an ethical issue however as well, one has to compare human rights and "the greater good."(for the lack of a better term)

Our continuation of our species, our survival, is one of our most basic instincts. But we as humans have adapted, and evolved differently than other creatures on this planet. We've advanced, we've not only advanced ourselves but advanced our creations. We've evolved by creating things and letting them evolve.

Allowing the creation of a damaged species, only will result in the ultimate destruction of humanity as a whole.

However, if we could find some "cure" it'd be a whole different story.

Wait im confused, isint downs syndrome a extra chromosome (or a missing one, dont remember which) dident know it was a recessive gene. or wait, im getting myself all mixed up, blarg.

I would agree with LS and EB.


However someone may argue that they love their spouse, and have as much a right to their own child as anybody else; and you are in a sense denying them of having a child because it is considered "weak" by the population as a whole; is this not facism or elitism? What about the emotions of the parents who want their own child; put yourself in their position.

Hm?

Originally Posted by Carôusoul

I would agree with LS and EB.


However someone may argue that they love their spouse, and have as much a right to their own child as anybody else; and you are in a sense denying them of having a child because it is considered "weak" by the population as a whole; is this not facism or elitism? What about the emotions of the parents who want their own child; put yourself in their position.

Hm?

You could call me a Social Darwinist, but i'm not, i generally believe that the future is the most important thing and we need to work now to ensure a better future.

The fact is Carou, i am not in their position so i cannot relate. I would not have a child if it was beneficial and the best for the future of our species. And i'm saying that in all seriousness. And, i'd imagine i'd be in some discomfort if i had downs syndrome, and i would not impregnate a woman knowing that a child of mine would go through the same thing.

Its a very controversial issue.

Progression of our species, or decline?

People who have down syndrome should be sterilised. You never what they get up to when you're not watching. My mom knows this lady with down syndrome or something like it, she got together with onother guy who has the syndrome and they did it and had a kid.

The thing is the kid is normal, but hes got two retards for parents. He is being raised by his grandparents though. poor guy.

In the wild, if an animal is born defective or retarded, it is more than likely killed by one of the parents.

I don't think its a big deal. Its not like defective people are creating armies of defective children that could potentially damage our gene pool. Their numbers are few.

It does make you think, however. Is technology making it easier for people who would have died in the wild to pass on their defective genes?

Well we won't be able to cure Down's without somehow altering the process of meiosis, and that's not going to happen any time soon, unless you want to scan every single embryo every concieved, which would be ridiculously expensive if not impossible.

Most people with Down's just have lower intelligence and some physical defects. This is all dangerously close to eugenics.

I don't think people should ever be told by the government that they may not have sex or children, unless they are in prison or something. Reproduction is a right, but I also think a child is a parent's responsibility. People with Down's Syndrom have no right to reproduce and then demand that the government take care of the baby. You reproduce, you produce.

However, I do believe in encouraging consentual sterilization. There are lots of people out there who would help the world by not reproducing. That includes major drug addicts, homeless people, and other parents who will not be good providers and guides to life. Since it would be unethical to force them to be sterile, it makes sense to offer them money or welfare checks or whatever if they willingly become sterilized. Most of them would take such an offer in a second. That's the way to handle things.

Curing is an option, but a solution to removing an extra chromosome would be quite difficult.

I think downs syndrome has to be contained instead of allowed to expand. Now that people are forming their own societies, they are entitled to claim rights, and this is just allowing them to move on and expand. In theory, eventually their population could get so big that there are not enough carers to go round which could lead to a downfall in the defective gene. Of course it is only theoretical, maybe even very unlikely.

Where do you draw the line with human rights, but it will eventually hold us back in a way. Without care and protection, people with downs syndrome would likely die early. But because of all the latest technology and more we are allowing them to escalate and carry on.

People could pull the whole "imagine how they feel" card, but to be honest, i don't know how they feel, i don't have downs syndrome, i have an overall outside perspective and i think that the situation needs to be implanted into everyone with downs syndrome.

Whats the point in conitnuing something that could lead to the end of our own existence?

Volcon - Its an extra chromosome. It is a recessive gene as it causes negative effects if you compare it to the norm set of genes that everybody has. People can be carriers of the gene and not have downs syndrome. It depends on the persons genetic makeup.