Question

Huntington's disease is a disorder of the brain that strikes people in middle to late adulthood. People with this disease have a mutation in a protein involved in intracellular transport. Clumps of this protein build up over time in the brain, which causes destruction of brain cells involved in thinking, emotions, and motion, and eventually leads to death. Anyone who inherits one copy of this gene is destined to suffer from the disease. That individual, in turn, has a 50% chance of passing the mutation along to a child. At present, there is no treatment for Huntington's disease. Which of the following is an important ethical question that could be posed about this disorder? 0

A. How can researchers use modern genetic techniques to better understand how brain cells die as the disease progresses? O
B. Are their variations in phenotypic expression of Huntington's disease, and if so, do any environmental factors play a role that could be applied in treatment plans? 0 C. Are genetic tests for the Huntington's mutation 100% reliable? O
D. Could prenatal testing for the Huntington's mutation lead to artificial selection against human disabilities?

Answer 1

One important ethical question that could be posed about Huntington's disease is whether prenatal testing for the Huntington's mutation could lead to artificial selection against human disabilities.

Step-by-step explanation:

An important ethical question that could be posed about Huntington's disease is:

D. Could prenatal testing for the Huntington's mutation lead to artificial selection against human disabilities?

This question explores the ethical implications of using prenatal testing specifically for Huntington's disease. It raises concerns about whether the availability of prenatal testing could result in the selective abortion or avoidance of pregnancies with the mutation, potentially leading to a reduction in the occurrence of disabilities in the human population. This question is important because it prompts a discussion on the ethical considerations surrounding reproductive decision-making and disability.