University Discussion: Genetic Testing, Pregnancy, and Eugenics

This discussion board post reflects on a classroom discussion about genetic testing and pregnancy decisions, specifically focusing on the dilemma of whether to continue or terminate a pregnancy after prenatal genetic screening reveals potential impairments. The student initially favored keeping the pregnancy but changed their viewpoint after watching a video of a mother's difficult experience with a child with impairments. The post explores the relationship between genetic testing and eugenics, considering the implications of identifying 'undesirable traits' and the importance of improving the quality of life through genetic advancements. The author highlights the benefits of genetic screening in providing parents with information and choices, allowing them to prepare for their baby's needs and access potential treatments. The post concludes with a nuanced perspective on the connection between genetic testing and eugenics.

Name of the student:
Name of the university:
Author’s note:

According to the discussion the writer talked about two case studies. This case study was
about whether to keep the pregnancy or to finish the pregnancy after parents had a parental
genetic examination to identify that their baby would be born with any impairment. Autor’s
viewpoint about this topic was always to keep the pregnancy because the writer thought parents
should always embrace their baby no matter what. The author thought it would be a better idea to
keep the pregnancy than terminate the pregnancy because there will be a treatment or cure to
help a newborn baby with any impairment. The writer’s standpoint has been changed after seeing
a video and throughout the discussion. The video where mom wanted to terminate the pregnancy
after she finds out that her baby will be born with impairments was reasonable. She already had a
baby with the same destruction, and she went through emotional and physical pains seeing her
precious baby was having a hard time living. In this case, the writer truly considers that genetic
screening was a very supportive procedure for her. If she did not get a chance to do genetic
testing and gave birth to a baby who had the same impairments as her previous child, it would be
really hard for her to go through the same pain. She would not be able to have a decision if she
did not know or to prepare before birth. Positive eugenics is a reproduction and modification of
genes with attractive traits where negative eugenics is preventing the procreation of people with
unwanted traits. Genetic testing uses the word danger to characterize the difference between
desirable and undesirable traits and when they usually say danger. It refers to undesirable traits.
This reminded the writer of seeing a video of the Down syndrome. The video was describing that
Down syndrome was not a disease or disorder and it does not need any treatment or prevention
because it’s just naturally at occurring chromosomal arrangement. So, the writer thought when
genetic testing says that the baby will be born with Down syndrome, it is negative eugenics. Is it
an undesirable trait? It gave me a thought of eugenics is not about characterizing the difference

between unwanted and attractive traits because who determines what is undesirable and what is
desirable? The writer learned that eugenics should focus on how to improve genetics to improve
the quality of life. Author also saw a relation between genetic testing and eugenics because as
author mentioned, eugenics sees how to recover the quality of life. Getting genetic screening
before birth can provide the parent a relief from uncertainty and it gives them to have a choice
for their baby. It also would give them time to arrange if they decided to keep the baby with
impairments. Genetic screening allows them to research treatment and prevention as soon as
possible, so they are not overwhelmed and stress out. People can try their best to supply the best
for the baby and parents as well. The author wouldn’t say that genetic screening is eugenics, but
he sees the relation to eugenics.