The end of sex and the future of human reproduction / Henry T. Greely.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Greely, Henry T., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis--Moral and ethical aspects.

Human reproduction.

Physical Description:

381 pages ; 25 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge, Massachusetts : Harvard University Press, 2016.

Summary:

"Advances in several different areas of the biosciences are coming together in ways that will change human reproduction forever. Vast improvements in the speed, accuracy, and cost of sequencing the entire human genome greatly increases the genetic information prospective parents can learn about their possible children. Rapid progress in stem cell research makes it likely that in twenty years or so, we will be able to make eggs and sperm from the skin cells of people--mature people, old people, children, and even from cells from the dead or the never born. Combining the eggs and sperm will make embryos in a potentially limitless supply; using a technique called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which has been in limited but safe use in people for over twenty-five years, a few cells can be plucked from those embryos and have their genomes entirely sequenced. The result, which the author calls "Easy PGD," will give parents (or others) unprecedented power to select embryos for transfer into wombs and eventual birth as babies, based their predictable genetic traits. Those traits will include early-onset and terrible diseases; other, later or lesser, disease risks; cosmetic traits, some behavioral traits; and, last but not least "boy or girl." This book describes the background science of Easy PGD, lays out its pathway to widespread acceptance and use, and explores some of the many ethical, legal, and social issues it will raise. One thing seems very clear: after Easy PGD, making babies will change forever--and so will humanity."--Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Part I. Science

Cells, chromosomes, DNA, genomes, and genes

Reproduction: in general and in humans

Infertility and assisted reproduction

Genetics

Genetic testing

Stem cells

First interlude. Easy PGD: the possibilities

Part II. The pathway

Genetic analysis

Making gametes

Research investments, industry, medical professionals, and health care financing

Legal factors

Politics

Some other possible uses of new technologies in reproduction

Second interlude. Easy PGD: the future

Part III. The implications

Safety

Family relationships

Fairness, justice, and equality

Coercion

Just plain wrong

Enforcement and implementation

Conclusion. Choices.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780674728967

0674728963

OCLC:

926061514