General Discussion

Spider Jerusalem

(21,786 posts)

45. The discussion isn't just about Down syndrome but eugenics in general, though.

Wed Jan 28, 2015, 08:11 PM

Jan 2015

And with regard to ASDs in particular, recent research:

A major study of autism in families has found that brothers and sisters who have the condition often carry different genetic risk factors that make them prone to the disorder.

Research on 85 families found that siblings with autism had the same genetic risk factors less than one third of the time. In nearly 70% of cases, tests on the siblings revealed little or no overlap in the mutations known to contribute to the condition.

The findings challenge the presumption that the same genetic risk factors are at work when autism runs in families. “We knew that there were many differences in autism, but our recent findings firmly nail that down,” said Stephen Scherer at the University of Toronto.

“This means we should not be looking just for suspected autism-risk genes, as is typically done in diagnostic genetic testing,” Scherer added. Instead, he said a full assessment of a person’s genome was needed if genetic information was ever going to inform their treatment.

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jan/26/autism-cases-same-family-often-carry-different-genetic-risk-study

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How Did We Get Into This Mess? Down Syndrome is "Hell on Earth." [View all] KamaAina Jan 2015 OP

I agree with you d_r Jan 2015 #1

I'm counting on it. KamaAina Jan 2015 #2

That is just plain creepy. HappyMe Jan 2015 #3

Right. Because it would be so creepy to eliminate Cystic Fibrosis, pnwmom Jan 2015 #24

This message was self-deleted by its author NuclearDem Jan 2015 #4

That's what concerns many of us. KamaAina Jan 2015 #5

Gene therapy and genetic engineering aren't eugenics. NuclearDem Jan 2015 #65

"unborn human being"?! KamaAina Jan 2015 #73

What on earth? Hell no I'm not anti-choice. NuclearDem Jan 2015 #74

Gene therapy is a hell of a lot different than this genetic engineering. KamaAina Jan 2015 #76

Oh for crying out loud, it was a poor choice of words. NuclearDem Jan 2015 #79

Clearly we can trust someone who thinks Down syndrome is a mutation jeff47 Jan 2015 #6

Down syndrome isn't a mutation? Egnever Jan 2015 #7

It's an extra 21st chromosome KamaAina Jan 2015 #8

Fair enough Egnever Jan 2015 #10

It IS a mutation though.... Adrahil Jan 2015 #13

The extra chromosome is the result of an "abnormal cell division." pnwmom Jan 2015 #28

It's an extra copy of chromosome 21. jeff47 Jan 2015 #9

Good catch! KamaAina Jan 2015 #11

Gattaca, here we come, apparently Spider Jerusalem Jan 2015 #12

+Gazillion JustAnotherGen Jan 2015 #51

It is eugenics Terra Alta Jan 2015 #14

But have you raised someone with mental Ilsa Jan 2015 #16

Many self-advocates view the R-word as akin to the N-word. KamaAina Jan 2015 #25

thank you. Terra Alta Jan 2015 #30

Some of my Socialist and Communist comrades had to educate me about using 'Paul-tard' for KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #83

I have never considered the "R" word as a slur, Ilsa Jan 2015 #54

Up until a few years ago d_r Jan 2015 #62

You'll have to trust me on this, but MR is still being Ilsa Jan 2015 #70

oh I do not doubt that d_r Jan 2015 #78

It's not "colleagues" for me. I'm the parent. nt Ilsa Jan 2015 #80

In this case, it's being directed by those who ARE special populations. KamaAina Jan 2015 #75

If you take away the "R" word that Ilsa used and substituted the words you suggested madinmaryland Jan 2015 #68

The question was directed at Terra Alta KamaAina Jan 2015 #91

I have a genetic disorder myself Terra Alta Jan 2015 #26

Dear New Parents of a Baby With Down Syndrome, I Feel Compelled to Tell You This KamaAina Jan 2015 #31

thank you for sharing that. Terra Alta Jan 2015 #35

Ha! Here in California, "thank you for sharing that" is used ironically KamaAina Jan 2015 #37

lol, didn't realize that. Terra Alta Jan 2015 #38

Do you support a woman's right to choose an abortion? pnwmom Jan 2015 #34

I am unequivocally pro-choice, getting to choose whatever Ilsa Jan 2015 #53

I didn't see any reference to the scientist saying that anyone Ilsa Jan 2015 #52

Thank you for your painful honesty in your posts here. pnwmom Jan 2015 #60

most people don't know how hard it is unless they Ilsa Jan 2015 #69

Ilsa, thank you for the reality check. pnwmom Jan 2015 #32

I think knowing if there's an issue, then having the opportunity for Ilsa Jan 2015 #55

Do you also oppose amniocentesis followed by abortion or selective abortion? pnwmom Jan 2015 #23

As far as the abortion issue goes, KamaAina Jan 2015 #27

Women get information from their doctors, who can give them reliable information REP Jan 2015 #42

About those heart defects KamaAina Jan 2015 #44

That isn't the mentality that this whole thread is about. pnwmom Jan 2015 #46

I would hardly describe these as "medical procedures". KamaAina Jan 2015 #47

Then what are they and what exactly is your problem with them? pnwmom Jan 2015 #48

Both these measures seek to eliminate disability KamaAina Jan 2015 #77

Individual people should get to decide which of their defective genes they pass pnwmom Jan 2015 #88

That is a terribly broad assumption to make about Ilsa Jan 2015 #57

I am 100% pro-choice. Terra Alta Jan 2015 #33

Then why don't you support women having the same control over their pregnancy pnwmom Jan 2015 #36

90% of women, when they get a DS diagnosis, abort. AngryAmish Jan 2015 #41

might act out? laundry_queen Jan 2015 #63

Thank you for having open eyes and understanding that Ilsa Jan 2015 #71

Republicans and the rich are 'hell on Earth'. If we're going to genetically engineer, let's start KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #82

I do sincerely hope you're kidding. NuclearDem Jan 2015 #84

Not kidding about Republicans and the rich being "hell on Earth" (both literally KingCharlemagne Jan 2015 #86

As a parent of a child with a chronic developmental Ilsa Jan 2015 #15

It seems to me that the real nightmare is hifiguy Jan 2015 #17

Thank you! People are passing judgment on this scientist's Ilsa Jan 2015 #18

There are at least two autistic people in this thread who disagree with you (n/t) Spider Jerusalem Jan 2015 #20

And one who agrees with her. Me. nt hifiguy Jan 2015 #39

I'm sorry that you think your existence is a mistake (n/t) Spider Jerusalem Jan 2015 #40

I don't but if I weren't here hifiguy Jan 2015 #43

The discussion isn't just about Down syndrome but eugenics in general, though. Spider Jerusalem Jan 2015 #45

But wouldn't anyone on this thread ecstatic Jan 2015 #67

And you have the ability to disagree with me because Ilsa Jan 2015 #58

Thank you. You said it much better than I could have. If I had the Nay Jan 2015 #22

He's stretching his r�sum� pretty thin. GeorgeGist Jan 2015 #19

If those techniques can eliminate diseases like Cystic fibrosis, I'm all for them. pnwmom Jan 2015 #21

Or Tay-Sachs, Sickle-cell, MS, etc. nt Ilsa Jan 2015 #59

Same here abelenkpe Jan 2015 #87

These rich brats should be the last to represent the human race genetically. Sociopathy is genetic. Dont call me Shirley Jan 2015 #29

married to a speech path who worked in a sheltered workshop she had full genetic testing dembotoz Jan 2015 #49

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2015 #50

What if there could have been that DS person or AS person, but without the impairment? raging moderate Jan 2015 #56

Temple Grandin (her you know) says that if science came up with a blue pill KamaAina Jan 2015 #89

I've been lucky enough to have a few people with DS in my life KMOD Jan 2015 #61

ugh! The road to hell paved with good intentions comes to mind loyalsister Jan 2015 #64

I know some artists with Down. Recursion Jan 2015 #66

Do you have a child with Down Syndrome? Just curious what precipitated this post. madinmaryland Jan 2015 #72

No, I do not. KamaAina Jan 2015 #90

I remember a Twilight Zone from years ago KamaAina Jan 2015 #81

Eugenics is inevitable LittleBlue Jan 2015 #85