Genetic Defects and New Colonies

Bill,

Sounds like an emotional response to me. Please elaborate about your statement that "Regulation of reproduction is dangerous" in what way?

From: bill t
To: spacesettlers@egroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 23, 2000 2:36 PM
Subject: [spacesettlers] Re: Genetic Defects and New Colonies

The answer to all your question is NO.

Regulation of reproduction is dangerous. It assumes that there is an
authority capable of making a decision on what is desirable traits
(blue eyes, blonde hair, etc...). If you think I'm crazy you are
wrong. Would you have elimated Stephen Hawkings at birth because of
his genetic defect.

Tom - No, I would have fix his genetic disorder thus giving him an even longer and more productive life.

And why blame the children of alcoholics and drug
addicts.

Tom - I am not blaming the children, but I believe that most souls would prefer to be born into the body of a baby that is not handycaped from the start due to the mother's caring more about getting high than about her babies ability to succeed in school and society.

Perhaps you should study the problems associated with population
control in China. Example: near 65% of people between 15-25 in Cina
today are male, because of the one-child policy and the ability to
check gender near conception. Do you see a problem with that
imbalance?

Tom - No, this is the natural result of a nation that has failed to offer full and equal opportunities to females and so China has become over-populated and is taking steps to correct this failure. In this century we will also see nations that loose large proportions of their younger generations due to child mortality and death by parents who belatedly realize that they can not afford another mouth to feed.

Bill, you are mixing up population/abortion issues with the thrust of this thread, namely our responsibility to care for future generations by being more responsible parents and members of society now.
Tom

Bill

--- In spacesettlers@egroups.com, "Tom Tucker (Olympia)"
wrote:
> All,
>
> Has anyone given much thought to the regulation of reproduction on
space colonies?
>
> I would presume that visitors and new members would have to pass
through quarantine to assure freedom from contagious diseases such as
TB, so what about genetic disorders?
>
> A colony may be the root of many thousands of generations and much
suffering and premature death may be prevented if simple steps are
taken at the on-set. This is especially critical if the colony is
heading for a distant star system. If we know how to prevent the
passage of defective genes on to offspring, are we not obligated to do
so?
>
> In particular, should a colony continue to allow all comers to have
as many babies as they like, or should procreation be a privilege
monitored by the local society?
>
> Should drug addicts and alcoholics automatically loose parenting
privileges?
>
> What about carriers of significant genetic disorders? Should the
fertilized embryos be "fixed", if possible, or what?
>
> Should eggs and sperm be fertilized in a lab where the zygotes can
be examined for genetic defects, perhaps treated, before implantation?
(For the sake of discussion, lets assume that this is easily possible,
OK?)
>
> Regards,
>
> Tom

Sounds like an emotional response to me.
Please elaborate about your statement that "Regulation of reproduction is dangerous" in what way?

From:
bill t
To:
spacesettlers@egroups.com
Sent:
Saturday, December 23, 2000 2:36 PM
Subject:
[spacesettlers] Re: Genetic Defects and New Colonies
The answer to all your question is NO.
Regulation of reproduction is dangerous. It assumes that there is an
authority capable of making a decision on what is desirable traits
(blue eyes, blonde hair, etc...). If you think I'm crazy you are
wrong. Would you have elimated Stephen Hawkings at birth because of
his genetic defect.

Tom - No, I would have fix his genetic disorder thus giving him an even longer and more productive life.

And why blame the children of alcoholics and drug
addicts.

Tom - I am not blaming the children, but I believe that most souls would prefer to be born into the body of a baby that is not handycaped from the start due to the mother's caring more about getting high than about her babies ability to succeed in school and society.
Perhaps you should study the problems associated with population
control in China. Example: near 65% of people between 15-25 in Cina
today are male, because of the one-child policy and the ability to
check gender near conception. Do you see a problem with that
imbalance?
Tom - No, this is the natural result of a nation that has failed to offer full and equal opportunities to females and so China has become over-populated and is taking steps to correct this failure. In this century we will also see nations that loose large proportions of their younger generations due to child mortality and death by parents who belatedly realize that they can not afford another mouth to feed.

Bill, you are mixing up population/abortion issues with the thrust of this thread, namely our responsibility to care for future generations by being more responsible parents and members of society now.
Tom
Bill
--- In spacesettlers@egroups.com, "Tom Tucker (Olympia)"
All,
>
> Has anyone given much thought to the regulation of reproduction on
space colonies?
>
> I would presume that visitors and new members would have to pass
through quarantine to assure freedom from contagious diseases such as
TB, so what about genetic disorders?
>
> A colony may be the root of many thousands of generations and much
suffering and premature death may be prevented if simple steps are
taken at the on-set. This is especially critical if the colony is
heading for a distant star system. If we know how to prevent the
passage of defective genes on to offspring, are we not obligated to do
so?
>
> In particular, should a colony continue to allow all comers to have
as many babies as they like, or should procreation be a privilege
monitored by the local society?
>
> Should drug addicts and alcoholics automatically loose parenting
privileges?
>
> What about carriers of significant genetic disorders? Should the
fertilized embryos be "fixed", if possible, or what?
>
> Should eggs and sperm be fertilized in a lab where the zygotes can
be examined for genetic defects, perhaps treated, before implantation?
(For the sake of discussion, lets assume that this is easily possible,
OK?)