in Vitro Fertilization (IVF)

In the 1960s, the use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) to help couples conceive children was mired in controversy. Once media events, the birth of test tube babies no longer cause any surprise. For many people, the concept of IVF had become routine. However, recent developments in IVF technology have raised more ethical quandaries. Is it ethical for parents to use IVF technology to conceive and give birth to a child to provide donor marrow for an ill sibling? Could people ethically use IVF technology to screen for diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and breast cancer? Is it ethical for parents to "design" their baby's genes, to ensure not only health, but physical appearance, as well?

IVF could have tremendous potential in both preventing and curing disease. It could also cause a dangerous trend towards eugenics, where people screen out any factors that could be seen...
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