PGD and fetal DNA tests
PGD is an abbreviation for pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. It is a process through which physicians genetically screen embryos for genetic problems before they are implanted in the uterus. PGD is often done when one parent has an increased risk of some genetic issues (Aghajanova et al., 2016).
According to Drury, Hill & Chitty (2016), fetal DNA test, on the other hand, is the process through which physicians evaluate fetus’ DNA and chromosomal makeup. It involves testing the blood sample from the mother, which contains a DNA sample from both mother and her fetus for chromosomal abnormalities and can as well provide information regarding the fetus sex and blood type and
PGD test is done on an in-vitro fertilized embryo in the laboratory where they are genetically evaluated, and genetically healthy embryos are implanted. In contrast, the fetal DNA test is done to a fetus in the uterus after their implantation. However, the two assess the genetic makeup of the embryos to determine their genetic health.
PGD and fetal DNA tests are more beneficial than other established procedures such as amniocentesis and chronic villus sampling. Firstly, the fact that these two procedures (PGD and fetal DNA test) are done earlier means that genetic defect is identified earlier, which gives parents timely and ample opportunity to choose suitable embryos based on their viability and preferences. Besides, PGD and fetal DNA test pose fewer risks to pregnancies since they are done early, for instance, in the case of PGD, where embryos are genetically evaluated before they are implanted into the uterus, which reduces pregnancy risk potential.
Fetal DNA test has a narrow scope, thus limiting the information that can be obtained necessitating other tests during pregnancy based on the fetal risk factors (Drury, Hill & Chitty, 2016). Additionally, recently there are critics that fetal DNA tests may deliver inaccurate and unreliable results, which can frustrate and confuse parents and drive to unanticipated complications. Most physicians are not experts in fetal DNA tests, and this may increase the risk of interpretation errors or inaccuracies.
PGD and fetal DNA tests procedures tend to play God’s work; worse enough, destroy lives (Gekas et al., 2016). The tests aim to identify genetically unhealthy embryos that might present with genetic and health complications in the future. Often embryos genetically unhealthy embryos are eliminated. Furthermore, these tests give information about characteristics such as appearance, height, and intelligence allowing parents to select embryos based on these characteristics after confirming the genetic health of their fetus, which were not their initial objectives. God is the maker, and He makes an embryo in His image. Anyone who discriminates embryo based on their appearance, for instance, does the works of God’s, which is unethical according to many believers.