Tom Daley: Mr. Perfect

Chapter 10: Problems like autism

AUTHOR'S NOTE!!!

An embryo is a baby that's not fully developed. It's called that until it reaches 8 weeks, when it becomes a fetus. Here's a little info on baby development if you're interested:

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/healthy_living/pregnancy/hic-fetal-development-stages-of-growth.aspx

And there's a picture of an embryo somewhere over there ------------>

Bet you're curious about what this chapter is now hehehehehehehehehehehe!

Is someone pregnant???? You shall find out!!!

<3/Tori

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"THAT IS JUST SICKENING!" Rachel exclaimed.

"What is?" I asked, as I walked into the TV room. She pointed the remote at the screen and rewinded.

"In 1990 a $3 billion dollar project was founded, to help find out the exact function of DNA and every chromosome in the human body. This Human Genome Project would help us discover ways to cure genetic diseases and problems, like cancer, diabetes, down syndrome,autism, and Parkinson's disease."

The news lady rambled on as I looked at Rachel. This infuriated me. "Problems. PROBLEMS? Problems like autism?" I growled.

"I can't believe this," Rachel whispered, looking at the TV.

"The project was finished in 2003, but based on their knowledge, and DNA, gene, genome, and chromosome models, other projects studied how to use them to fix genetic disorders. They also discovered how to fix imperfections, such as change eye color, help you lose weight, fix any blemishes, etc."

Both of us glared with our eyebrows crinkled. "How do they do it?" Rachel asked.

"So how do they do it?" The news lady echoed after Rachel. "Theories have been tested, but the most successful is to take human embryos and inject the DNA in them. Since they are chock full of stem cells, a cell which can become any kind of body part it chooses, they inject the DNA, and can grow whatever they need. This means organ donors will no longer be needed."

She went on talking about how many people are waiting for an organ transplant.

"Embryos." I said. "Humans. Human embryos!!! Those things could grow up to be like us. To have a life. But nope. They grow up to become kidneys???"

"Or worse," Rachel added, "Nice perfect pointy noses, for those celebrities that need nose jobs."

I shook my head and turned back to the TV. "These services may be open to the public soon, congress will be voting on it next week. This project will change the future if it is passed. Genetic diseases will be eliminated and people will live longer, happier, healthier lives."

"Except the embryos. They won't live long lives," I muttered.

"Well, they can't feel or think or anything." Rachel noted. "The question is, are they really humans?"

"What are you talking about Rachel? They are potential humans!! They could have a life. They do have a brain, even though they don't think as advanced as us."

"But just think, getting rid of cancer and diseases that end peoples lives." Rachel added.

"Yeah, curing cancer is great!" I said, " But they will go too far. It'll start with helping people who are sick, and then it will gradually go to creating the perfect human, and we can't prevent that. It's sick that we can't accept people's flaws. That is the worst part."

Rachel didn't say anything so I went on. "My sister Olivia, she has autism. They can cure that, but I don't want them to. She is perfect. I wouldn't want her to change at all."

"But Zoey, dude, cancer. They can cure cancer. The evil thing that killed my grandpa, my aunt, and my best friend."

I grabbed the laptop and looked up more information on stem cell research. Rachel did the same. We spent hours reading, and firing facts and information at each other.

"Rachel! They can use umbilical cords! Umbilical cords have stem cells!! They don't need to use embryos. The don't need to take lives, if people would just donate their umbilical cords..."

"Well that's the answer." Rachel read over my shoulder. "That's the best argument we could get. If there's another solution that doesn't involve taking lives, then why would we not do that?"

"I don't know," I said. "Us humans are so strange."