|
|
Article: Dwarfism gene found; reaction is ambivalent Some `little people' fear excess tests
- Article from:
- The Boston Globe (Boston, MA)
- Article date:
- July 29, 1994
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1994 The Boston Globe. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
A discovery of the gene for the most common form of dwarfism is
sending shivers through the nation's community of "little people,"
who fear it could mark another step toward widespread testing aimed
at ensuring that only "perfect children" get born.
And in another reflection of growing concern about the pace of
advances in genetic testing, even the scientist who found the gene
for common dwarfism, or achondroplasia, says it should be used only
to detect the most severely affected fetuses, who are certain to die.
"I wanted to let people with achondroplasia know that nobody's
going to try to get rid of all the small people in future
generations," said Dr. John Wasmuth of the University of ...