As most of ya'll know I study psychology in my spare time. And I learned some intersting things today mainly about genetics and such. Some parts of this maybe touchy for some people so I hope there can be an exchange of insightful conversation about these things. The words in brown will be straight from the book...words in blue are my thoughts on the subjects...Ok ready this maybe long....

First one is about dogs that i found intersting that I did not know.
Humans have practiced selective breeding for thousands of years to create breeds of dogs and other domesticated animals that have desirable traits. The evidence suggests that dogs resembled wolves until about 15,000 years ago, when humans became permanent settlements. Using artifical selection, they bred dogs to be herders,guarders, beasts of burden, pointers, retrivers, and, of course, companions. Psychological were as important as physical qualites: Guard dogs need to be aggressive, but be totally loyal to the "head of their pack," their masters; herding dogs need intense concentration to control larger animals then they are; and so on. Today with more than 400 breeds, dogs are more varible in size and shape then any other species-with the possible execption of humans.
What I found intresting here was that we domesticated dogs more than 15,000 yrs ago. That I did not know.

This is the touchy subject....
Using families histories, genetic counselors can estimate the likelihood that children of a given marriage will inhert genetic problems. After conception, amniocentiesis and chronic villus sampling allow perspective parents to detect genetic abnormalites before a baby is born, and to decide whether or not to complete or terminate the pregnancy. These procedures genetic problems in about 2 percent of pregnancies. Many (thugh not all) people would agree with a desision to carry through with the pregnancy if the baby would be born with an incurable, painful fatal disorder. But what if tests show a baby will be mentally retarded? or blind? of deaf?

Now this is not whether or not to abort IMO. I am more concerned about the last sentence. Now my son was born with a birth defect and I could not see not having him because of it. I would lik eto have know before he was born that he had this defect so that I could have been better prepared and knew what to expect. It would not have been such a shock. This son is also slow to learn many things like speech, language, potty training and a whole list of things. He also has severe mood swings like none i have seen in an almost 4 yr. old. But would I have termentated the pregnancy probally not. But it would have been nice to know before hand once again so I could be better prepared.
But what if??? What if they started making "designer babies" . Where every child would be perfect. No faults..no flaws. That to me IMO is a scary thought.

Ok I am done I hit a road block in my thinking. So anyone have any thoughts or imput to these subjects.

(Mods. if ya'll feel like this could get heated then by all means delete. i was just wondering what other people thought on this.)