JUNIOR HIGH

2nd Place: Jodi Antonio,

Grade 8

Many times we do not realize how important life is. It is natural for people to always try to have the best. That is why people want to have preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). During the process of in vitro fertilization (IVF) doctors can now tell what genetic traits the baby has when it is only a few cells in size. This is called preimplantation genetic diagnosis. Using this technique doctors can make parents their dream child.

Some people only want to have the "best" children with no mentally or physically disablements. If the new generation of people does not have any of the genes that are genetic diseases people will not be able to get genetic diseases. This makes people want to have a baby using IVF. JRR Tolkien wrote, "Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment. For even the very wise cannot see all ends." In other words, this quote can apply to tell us that so many times we can kill innocent babies for no reason at all. Even if some of the most specialized doctors think it is okay to have a PGD.

When people choose to have an IVF birth, the technology does now exist so that they can choose their child's genetic traits, by doing this they may think that they are doing it for the benefit of their child. Sometimes they want their child to fit in with other children, and not to be different, parents are afraid their child will not be liked by others if she or he does not look the same, or does not have the same thinking level as other kids his her age.

Even if these IVF babies will have a dangerous genetic disease it does not mean you can just go ahead and destroy them. These babies may be physically handicapped, but they still have feelings. Right when the baby is only a cell big, they have a soul and a future. One day some of these children may grow up and become famous like Beethoven, or become a Pope. Only God knows their future so why throw these children away?

If we could ask the children who were killed, because of their genetic disabilities, what would they have said when they found out their parents wanted to take life away from them just because of who they were?

Not only could the parent's decision of having PGD affect the babies being killed, but it may also affect their living children. It might make these children feel, "Would they have killed me if I had a genetic disease?" This could create a grudge in the family.

Who knows, possibly one day in the future scientists may be able to find a different method to help people with genetic diseases. If doctors see a lot more people with genetic diseases they might be able to find a cure for all those people sooner.