The Down Syndrome Conundrum

Consider, if you will , the following statement:

"If muscular dystrophy were completely cured, the world would lose something from the absence of that culture"

Or, perhaps:

"If celiac disease were completely cured, the world would lose something from the absence of that culture"

Would you agree with either of these?

How about this one:

"If Down syndrome were completely cured, the world would lose something from the absence of that culture"

That's the potential of promising new research being done at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, which claims that "it may be possible to switch off the genetic material responsible for the condition that causes cognitive delays, heart defects and shortened lifespans."

The trade-off for all of these hopeful changes is a loss of what at least a few in the DS community see as "the mechanism that creates people who offer lessons in patience, kindness -- and what it means to be human."

It seems to me that this is a rather selfish - and short-sighted - perspective; what do our readers think? Please take a moment to cast your vote, and we'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.