Posts Tagged ‘Genetics’

It is not a secret that beautiful people tend to receive preferential treatment. But, how does that impact our ability to parent? A study from Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital looks to explore this phenomenon. Study volunteers were shown pictures of conventionally attractive babies and others with distinct facial irregularities, such as skin problems or cleft palates. Each photo was shown on a screen for four seconds, but volunteers could extend or shorten the viewing time of each photo by pressing certain computer keys. The study found that women shortened the viewing time of “less-attractive” children 2.5 times more than men. Researchers theorize this is purely an evolutionary response that parents, especially women, would innately devote more energy to the offspring most likely to yield the highest genetic payoff. On the other hand it’s possible that women chose to not look at babies with facial defects because they are more empathetic and sensitive towards these children. Men, on the other hand, chose to extend the viewing time of more aesthetically beautiful children just as often as women, but they did not hurry through pictures of children with facial irregularities.

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Congenital Generalized Hypertrichosis Terminalis (CGHT) is a rare condition in which the majority of one’s body, including the face, is covered in hair. Some colloquially refer to it as ‘wolf man disease.’ Until now it wasn’t exactly clear what caused the condition. However, a study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics suggests that large scale DNA changes may be the cause. By looking at the DNA of people with the disease and their unaffected relatives, scientist noticed that those with CGHT were missing some 500,000 to 900,000 DNA bases on chromosome 17. As well, in one patient there was an additional 1.4 million DNA bases on the same chromosome. It’s still unclear how these large scale changes lead to the condition. However, researchers say that understanding its genetics will likely help those with other conditions characterized by excessive hair growth or loss. Read more.

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A Los Angeles fertility clinic has sparked controversy by offering parents the ability to select the sex, hair color and eye color of babies. However, “designer babies” have actually been here for many years already. The technology, called preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), is currently used during in vitro fertilization to screen embryos for genetic diseases (such as Huntington’s disease, sickle cell anemia, muscular dystrophy) prior to implantation into the mother’s womb. The difference now is that you are selectively choosing an embryo based on physical traits.  The LA Fertility Institute’s first such designer baby is expected to be born next year and will no doubt spark discussions of ethics and morality.

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