Britain carefully controls which traits are screened, and regulators are coming under fire for allowing conditions that many people have learned to live with, often with great success.
One example is Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects connective tissue and the pulmonary system – and contributed to the long, lean look of U.S. icon Abraham Lincoln.
In fact, many famous and accomplished people, have suffered from a range of genetic disorders that modern embryo screening promises to eliminate. The list includes:
Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec: Pycnodysostosis, which results in brittle bones that break easily, short stature and abnormal bone growth, particularly of the limbs, skull and jaw
Stephen Hawking: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease
Stevie Wonder: Blind from infancy because of a destructive ocular disorder
John F. Kennedy: Asthma
Michael J. Fox: Parkinson's disease
Neil Young: Epilepsy
Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin Jr.: Bipolar disorder
Ernest Hemingway: Depression
Further reading on PGD
Canada’s Assisted Human Reproduction Act (2004)
Health Canada’s Assisted Human Reproduction Glossary
Genetics & Public Policy Center
Center for Genetics and Society
