Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is a scientific technique that can be used during the in vitro fertilization process to test for the presence of certain inherited genetic disorders in embryonic children. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis allows parents to request the destruction of undesirable sons or daughters. The technology is currently only available in a few clinics worldwide, but scientists soon expect the procedure to become more widely available.

 

Embryos who undergo testing are obtained in one of two ways: through the in vitro fertilization procedure or by flushing out a woman's womb five to seven days after fertilization has occurred. The 8-cell embryo is isolated and a single cell is removed by suction for diagnosis. (Scientists believe that the extraction of the single cell at this stage of development is not harmful to the embryonic child, as all cells at this stage are totipotent.) The genetic content of the embryonic cell is analyzed using a technique called FISH (fluorescent in situ hybridization). During the analysis, the embryonic children are kept in culture and allowed to develop further. Only the desired embryonic children are implanted into the mother's womb. (See Technique of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis.)

 

Scientists believe that pre-implantation genetic diagnosis will eventually have the potential to detect about 200 conditions/diseases. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis is currently used to detect about a dozen or so conditions/diseases including:

(See Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis: The next big thing?)

 

The sex of the child can also be determined by pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. Some parents wish to determine the sex of their child before implantation in order to eliminate children who might inherit sex-linked diseases. Other parents may simply decide upon a preferred gender prior to implantation and based on personal preferences for boys or girls, they choose to let their other children die.

 

Embryo screening may also soon allow parents to find out whether or not their embryonic child has traits such as homosexuality, aggression or obesity. (See Communique, 9/6/96)

 

PGD involves the direct killing of children in their embryonic stage of development and is, in that sense, the same moral evil as abortion. Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis also has a eugenic dimension that hearkens back to the theme of Hitler's 1930's Nazi eugenics program – kill all those who fail to meet specific preconceived ideal.