Teen Biology Magazine May/June 2013 | Page 14

I feel that genetic screening should not be available to parents. There may be chances that the parents may choose to abort there baby before it is born because they have a genetic disease or to give them up for adoption some time after birth. There should be no factors that could influence the parent in giving birth to a child or in raising the child.

Victoria Breckenridge

Toronto, Canada

In my opinion, genetic screening should be allowed, as long as parents do not become too protective of their child. I feel that parents should be well prepared to deal with genetic diseases in their child if they are present, and to try to treat their child like normal so they can fit in with others. By doing this, the child doesn't have to feel as though they are a burden to the family.

Julia Wayne

Salt Lake City, Utah

I believe that genetic screening should be allowed and that parents should do whatever they can to help their children. Since most parents want the best for their child, they must know whether or not their child has a genetic disease. If their child does, the parent should know what actions to take towards helping their child.

Carson Mahoney

Oxford, England

I feel that genetic screening should be up to the parent to decide whether or not they should to do it. It all depends on whether the parent decides that they should let their child know that they have a genetic disease. The parent may decide that the choice is to be left for their child when he/she is old enough or to let the child figure out on their own.

Madison Sartre

Edinburgh, Scotland

I consider genetic screening a must when it is absolutely necessary. Genetic screening should only be done when one of the parents or a close relative is suspected of an inherited genetic mutation that has no affect on them, but may have be passed on to their children. The child and their parents should learn to cope and find support when the child’s genetic disease becomes apparent because genetic screening may reveal genetic diseases that may have no affect on the child throughout his/her life.

Ismael Terrell

Berkeley, California

Letters to Editor

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