I am indebted to Ramesh Ponnuru at the Corner for pointing his readers to this important article. I found it stunning. The following paragraph sounds like a positive announcement of the advance of science, something heartwarming, something for which we should give thanks. But read the article dissecting this news piece and find out what was going on behind the "achievement."
"First baby tested for breast cancer form BRCA1 before conception born in UK," says the press release from University College London. "The first baby tested
preconceptionally for a genetic form of breast cancer (BRCA1) has been
born." The release quotes Paul Serhal, medical director of the
hospital's Assisted Conception Unit: "This little girl will not face
the specter of developing this genetic form of breast cancer or ovarian
cancer in her adult life. The parents will have been spared the risk of
inflicting this disease on their daughter. The lasting legacy is the
eradication of the transmission of this form of cancer that has
blighted these families for generations."
Me: Don't forget to read the reality behind the announcment.