Genetic Engineering, Screening, and Prenatal Ethics
摘要
The field of genetics has been growing with advancements in genomic technologies, such as CRISPR-based gene editing, gene therapy, and noninvasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which have revolutionized reproductive medicine, enabling early diagnosis and potential improvement of genetic disorders. Although these developments are helpful to humankind in diagnosing different diseases, they also cause profound ethical questions about autonomy, justice, and the social valuation in terms of disability. This chapter is about the intersection of genetic engineering, prenatal screening, and bioethics within the framework of disability studies. The chapter emphasizes the ethics of “curing” and “valuing” disability, the cultural assumption of genetic normalization, and the moral conflicts brought by disability-selective abortion through case studies involving genetic disorders. Additionally, focus on addressing counseling biases and the challenges of obtaining informed consent in the era of precision medicine, inclusion of disability rights, as well as equitable and thoughtful genetic practices, stabilize scientific progress with respect for multiculturalism, physical integrity, and reproductive choices.