The Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications of Genetics and Newborn Screening

This event featured a panel of various experts in different fields in order to discuss the advent of genetic manipulation and the host of privacy and ethical concerns that come along with these advancements. Progress in prenatal screening and genetic manipulation may have the potential to all but eliminate birth defects and genetic disorders. For example, prenatal genetic testing in Iceland has almost completely erased incidents of down’s syndrome in newborns. This has led to growing concerns over creating “designer babies,” hyperbole about the potential for a new era of eugenics, and broader questions about whether science is outstripping societal and ethical norms in regards to human genetic diversity. Experts spoke to these concerns, each from their own professional perspective.