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Scientists Silence Extra Chromosome In Down Syndrome Cells

An anonymous reader writes "Scientists have silenced the extra copy of a chromosome that causes Down syndrome in laboratory stem cells, offering the first evidence that it may be possible to correct the genes responsible for the disorder. The discovery provides the first evidence that the underlying genetic defect responsible for Down syndrome can be suppressed in cells in culture."

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  1. Re:Practicality? by jabuzz · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    The reason is that when actually faced with the prospect of bringing a DS child they are forced to properly consider the issues around abortion and change their minds.

    The problem with most anti-abortion thinking is that it is based on Christian thinking and is intellectually bankrupt.

    For example take one of the standard retorts of Jeremiah 1:5, (basically God claims to have known you in the womb), So ignoring the fact that most pregnancies end in spontaneous abortions without the mother even being aware, what about all those anencephaly fetuses (1 in 10000 births) because without any cerebrum they are incapable of ever achieving a conscious existence? I would really like to know how God knew such a person, and how an abortion can possibly be considered killing a human? Personally I consider people saying that aborting an anencephaly fetuse is wrong are evil bastards that deserve to burn in hell.

    Suffice as to say I using any piece of scripture as an argument against abortion will allow me to make you look like an idiot spouting scripture without remotely understanding it.

    For the record I consider the idea of aborting healthy fetuses that where not conceived through violence as wrong.