WHEN PARENTS CAN CHOOSE TO HAVE THE “PERFECT” CHILD: WHY FERTILITY CLINICS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPORT PREIMPLANTATION GENETIC DIAGNOSIS DATA

Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure used to screen embryos for certain genetic conditions before implantation via in vitro fertilization (IVF) so the desired embryos can be chosen for implantation. The procedure was originally used to prevent the birth of children with deadly genetic disorders, but it is now used for more controversial reasons, such as to select for sex. Limited information is available regarding how PGD is used in the United States and there are many ethical concerns surrounding the practice of PGD, most notably that it could lead to the creation of designer babies and eugenic practices. This Note proposes amending a federal act to require fertility clinics to report PGD data through an existing web‐based system. This data can then be used by policymakers to federally regulate PGD practices.     

Regulatory harmonization and agricultural biotechnology in Argentina and China: Critical assessment of state‐centered and decentered approaches

The international harmonization of technology‐related regulations seeks certain norms across diverse contexts. Harmonization efforts are based primarily on the promulgation of state‐centered command and control forms of regulation, though they may also be accompanied by the diffusion of more plural approaches that are decentered from the state. We contrast the ways in which the “proper” use of transgenic cotton seed technologies is understood in harmonizing regulations with the way this technology is used in practice in regions of Argentina and China. We find divergence that poses challenges for both state‐centered and decentered approaches to harmonization. While state‐centered approaches are blind to some critical processes on the ground, decentered strategies are found wanting in situations where norms remain deeply contested amongst actors situated in very uneven power relations. In both cases, we find that establishing and securing norms that are socially just and environmentally sustainable means attending much more explicitly to the political economies in which technological practices actually take root.     

The effects of corrosive substances on human bone, teeth, hair, nails, and soft tissue

Abstract: This research investigates the effects of household chemicals on human tissues. Five different human tissues (bone, tooth, hair, fingernails, and skin/muscle/fat) were immersed into six different corrosive agents. These agents consisted of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, lye, bleach, organic septic cleaner, and Coca‐Cola^® soda. Tap water was used as a control. Tissue samples were cut to consistent sizes and submerged in the corrosive liquids. Over time, the appearance, consistency, and weight were documented. Hydrochloric acid was the most destructive agent in this study, consuming most tissues within 24 h. Sulfuric acid was the second most destructive agent in this study. Bleach, lye, and cola had no structural effects on the hard tissues of the body, but did alter the appearance or integrity of the hair, nails, or flesh in some way. The organic septic cleaner and tap water had no effect on any of the human tissue tested during the timeframe of the study.