Potential "cure" for Down Syndrome found

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http://www.nbcnews.com/health/could-it- ... 6C10879213

Interesting that much of the debate mirrors the "would you cure yourself?" debates on WP. If you eliminate a condition entirely, are you opening Pandora's Box? If there are suddenly no Downs people, or autistics, or homosexuals, what's the impact on society? If we could make a world of perfect humans, should we? And who decides what is perfection? If we eliminated autism, for example, would we find technological innovation grinding to a halt for lack of new ideas?

How about letting Downs Syndrome happen but with an IQ boost?

ruveyn

I don't think there is a way to get all perfect humans. It's like the census; the numbers aren't quite perfect.

I think most propel would agree that preventing Downs syndrome would be a good thing.

Then these people should also agree preventing Autism would be a good thing. There is ZERO reason why down syndrome should be prevented, but Autism shouldn't.

Down Syndrome is different from autism. It's mainly genetic (trisonomy 21), and thus it affects many organs, like the hearth, and they have metabolics problems.

I hate those extreme opinions... "not to cure autism", "not to cure Down Syndrome"... soon they'll become "not to cure epilepsy" or "not to cure Alzheimer's". Please, be more open.

Should society treat these disorders, or ignore and learn to live with them?

While we Aspies accept who we are and wouldn't change what makes us unique for the world, can the same be said for persons with Down Syndrome? Would people with Down's want to see their condition perpetuated?

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer

I'd just as soon NOT have AS or pass it on to anyone else. Downs syndrome is entirely different, much much worse, and goes beyond being a mental condition.

Except for the fact that the average person with Down's syndrome has an IQ of 50, whereas people with Asperger's can have anywhere from 70 to over 200. More intelligent cases of Down's syndrome (IQ in the 60-75 range) are well aware of the fact that they're mentally challenged, and they're not exactly proud of it.

My daughter has inherited my autism, and I wouldn't have her any other way.

-Bill, otherwise known as Kraichgauer