Re:China’s embrace of embryo selection raises thorny questions
by GordonS on Saturday August 19, 2017 @07:05AM
(#15052744)
> almost no one with Down's reproduces because it is a physically/socially crippling disorder
People with Down's are almost always infertile.
Regarding how 'crippling' it is, it actually varies dramatically. Down's is associated with a whole host of additional physical and mental issues, such as heart problems, sleep apnea, low muscle tone, behavioural issues, autism and dementia. But not everyone with Down's has all of these issues, and the severity of them varies. IQ levels so vary greatly. Even the degree of facial features typically associated with Down's varies - for some people with Down's(especially children) it would not be immediately obvious to others, if they could tell at all.
How societies deal with people with Down's has also changed greatly over the past few decades. In most Western countries a lot of help is now available (speech and language therapy, occupational therapy etc), and life expectancy, prospects and opportunities for people with Down's have all increased.
People with Down's are almost always infertile.
Regarding how 'crippling' it is, it actually varies dramatically. Down's is associated with a whole host of additional physical and mental issues, such as heart problems, sleep apnea, low muscle tone, behavioural issues, autism and dementia. But not everyone with Down's has all of these issues, and the severity of them varies. IQ levels so vary greatly. Even the degree of facial features typically associated with Down's varies - for some people with Down's(especially children) it would not be immediately obvious to others, if they could tell at all.
How societies deal with people with Down's has also changed greatly over the past few decades. In most Western countries a lot of help is now available (speech and language therapy, occupational therapy etc), and life expectancy, prospects and opportunities for people with Down's have all increased.