Beings Less and Less Dependent on Parents to Exist Washington, D.C., April 10, 2014 (Zenit.org) Denise Hunnell, MD | 266 hits Both the 1932 novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley and the 1997 science fiction movie Gattaca are classified as dystopias because they depict societies riddled with misery, tragedy, and a dehumanizing culture. Both attribute this decline in civilization to manipulations of human genetics and perversions of human reproduction. In Brave New World the traditional family structure has completely disintegrated and children are manufactured in hatcheries through in vitro fertilization (IVF) and gestation. In Gattaca, human beings are enhanced through genetic alterations, and those who do not have their DNA modified are seen as second-class citizens. It is curious that genetically modified humans can be clearly seen as dangerous and undesirable in fiction but are celebrated as great achievements in current biomedical sciences. In the name of progress we are steadily marching forward to separate human procreation from human relationships and make it a laboratory procedure. The floodgates of artificial reproductive technology were opened in Great Britain on July 25, 1978, with the birth of Louise Brown, the first test tube baby. In the ensuing years the use of … Continue reading →

You probably wouldn't guess it, but some of the world's foremost genetics research is happening right here in South Dakota. Last Fall we introduced you to the rare partnership that Avera has with genetics research in the Netherlands. Now we'll give you a closer look at the research being done. At the Avera Institute for Human Genetics, scientists continue to dive into the deep end of the gene pool. "Things just continue to amaze me on how we progress and the findings we find!" Said Dr. Gareth Davies, a molecular geneticist and the scientific director for the institute. Thanks to the collaboration with the Netherlands Twin Registry, researchers here in Sioux Falls have access to more than 40,000 DNA samples to help further their study. "They (the samples) are stored with their co-twin and also with their parents; so each row we have two twins and then mom and dad." Said Dr. Davies. Studying twins gives scientists a better understanding on the role genetics play in behaviors and disease because identical twins share the same DNA; that is until you look very closely. "What we find is that if you look at copy number variations not all identical twins need … Continue reading →