Gene Editing

By: Arielle Johnson 

What is it?

 Gene editing is the ability to remove or alter an individual’s genome to modify or enhance certain characteristics. 

Gene editing is a major controversial topic in the field of science today.

There are two main types; Germline gene editing and somatic gene editing.

Germline Gene editing	Somatic Gene editing
Germline gene editing is changing or editing genes that are passed on to children. Essentially this will produce genetically modified children known as “designer babies”	Somatic gene editing is also known as gene therapy and it is designed to help people who are sick with genetic illnesses.

https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/internal-content/about-human-germline-gene-editing

The term “designer babies” has gone viral due to the possibility of being able to edit your baby’s genes. However, it has also caused a lot of controversy.

Gene editing is possible due to a new tool known as CRISPR-Cas9.

CRISPR Cas9

CRISPR: stands for (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)

CRISPR is a gene editing system that is naturally found in bacteria. CRISPR uses the Cas9 enzyme which is a naturally occurring protein in the human body. The Cas9 enzyme is used to cut the DNA at a targeted location. CRISPR is able to identify different parts of the DNA and find the specific piece of strand it is designed to cut out.

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/genomicresearch/genomeediting

The Process:

CRISPR uses the Cas9 enzyme which is a naturally occurring protein and guide RNA. The cas9 enzyme is used for cutting the target DNA.

1. The guide RNA (gRNA) is used to bind to the Cas9 enzyme 
2. The Cas9 enzyme will locate the targeted DNA based on the sequence of gRNA
3. The Cas9 enzyme is used to cut the DNA at the targeted location. 
4. After the Cas9 enzyme precisely cuts the DNA the natural occurring DNA repair process happens to repair the strand.

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/genomicresearch/genomeediting

http://www.crisprtx.com/gene-editing/crispr-cas9

Pros: 

There is a possibility that you could edit out genes that cause illnesses or disabilities. Scientists are currently researching what diseases this could be beneficial to prevent. They think that single-gene disorders would benefit the most such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and sickle cell disease. Scientists are also trying to research its benefit of treating and preventing disease like cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Cons: 

There is not enough research that determines what genes and more specifically what segment of genes cause certain disabilities. This is due to the fact that every human’s individual gene makeup is different. Also, some genes are responsible for multiple functions. So, if you were to cut out a certain gene for prevention of a specific disease it could also cause more harm because that gene plays an important role in the body.

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/genomicresearch/genomeediting

http://www.crisprtx.com/gene-editing/crispr-cas9

Ethical Concerns:

• Germline cell and embryo genome editing are currently illegal in many countries.

• Editing the cells in the embryo is causing a lot of controversy because it is possible to use CRISPR to edit characteristics such as height and intelligence. This is bad because gene editing is a very expensive process. If this becomes legalized in America it will not be easily assessable for all groups of people. That could lead to unfair cognitive and physical advantages. For example: in school a child who is not genetically modified could be in the same class as genetically modified child. 

Current Events

Last year a Chinese scientist He Jiankui was the first ever scientist to make gene edited babies. However, he did this in secret which caused him a lot of negative backlash. He announced the birth of his gene-edited twins called Lula and Nana in a video in November 2018. Globally scientists were not happy that he did this because of the lack of research about CRISPR and its accuracy. He is currently serving jail time for three years in China for his work. No photos or information has been released about the health of the gene edited twins.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-50944461

Is Gene editing ethically correct? That is for you to decide.

ON MAY 3rd, 2020 BY JULIA FLOREK

Image retrieved from: Haleh Rabizadeh Resnik

Nutrition in Kids: Promoting a Healthy Diet

In a perfect world, kids would eat exactly what they need to: Fruits and veggies, protein, and drink all their milk. We all know this is not the case, and oftentimes tonight’s dinner plans get thrown out the window. Parenting has its challenges, and ensuring that your child is getting everything he or she needs to maintain a consistently healthy diet is definitely one of them (especially with picky eaters!). Here is how you can ensure that your child can get everything they need in their diet. 

Hard Facts: Obesity Epidemic

Sadly in today’s age, obesity has taken over. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 18.5% of children in the United States aged 2 to 19, are affected by obesity. That’s roughly 13.7 million kids. 

   

Image retrieved from: Medical News Today

Risks Associated With Childhood Obesity

• Heart disease
• High cholesterol
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Sleep Apnea
• Cancer

Although it seems a bit exaggerated, improper eating habits can quickly lead to obesity. According to Jack Shonkoff, the earlier you invest in at risk children, it is more likely that they adapt to favorable outcomes (Shonkoff 2010). Sometimes yes, it is difficult to get the perfect balanced meal on the table each and every day. But the consequences of not teaching children healthy habits can lead to a miserable and unhealthy adulthood. Especially since most behaviors adopted by children follow them for the rest of their lives, it is important to teach kids about proper eating habits as early and as soon as possible!

Modeling Healthy Habits

Remember: It is a parents job to feed their kids a nutritious and healthy meal, and is a kids job to eat!

A big part of getting your kids to eat healthier, is modeling the behavior too. A study conducted on children between the ages of 7 and 12 years old revealed results that proved modeling healthy habits makes a difference (Banaei, Peyman, & Vaghar, 2018).

To assess eating style in kids, researchers looked at five categories: responding and accepting food, enjoying food, early satiety, eating slowly, and finding mistakes with food. 

Parents were asked to model the following behavior:

• Try to eat healthy food in front of the child
• Always have my baby observe me eating healthy food
• Always have my child observe me eating healthy snacks

Results:

 

Unsurprisingly the study found that there is a correlation between observing parents healthy eating habits and children accepting food. 

What to do with Your Picky Eater

Having a picky eater can be a huge problem while trying to encourage healthy habits. It can get frustrating trying to keep things consistent and to actually get your child to eat more than two foods. But I mean, broccoli (yuck!) does not appeal to everyone… 

Here are some simple tips on how avoid frustration and to keep your picky eater under control: 

• Have a meal as a family as often as possible
• Avoid fussing when your child refuses food
• Stay away from bribes

And lastly… 

• Make food fun!

It is easy to focus on the negatives with your picky eater. But if you make slight changes like eating together more often, it will discourage the picky eater from requesting different food if they see everyone else eating the same thing. Fussing about if your child eats what is offered only frustrates you in the end. They will end up associating you pressuring them to eat a certain food with it being horrible, and avoid it entirely. Bribes can also make eating the target food seem like a chore, and lead to unwanted tension. 

Most importantly, if you really want to get their attention focussed on eating healthy you have to make it fun. Kids are much more interested when things are displayed to them in a more exciting and creative manner. You can also take this opportunity to get them more involved in the kitchen and spend some quality family time together.

 Image retrieved from: Pinterest

Superfoods: How They Can Help

First, let’s get into what a superfood is. According to Harvard School of Public Health, a superfood is a type of food that has high levels of desired nutrients, is linked to the prevention of a disease, or is believed to offer several simultaneous health benefits beyond its nutritional value. 

If you want an easy way to cram as many nutrients into your child’s diet as possible, introducing superfoods is a great place to start. If you are lucky enough to have your picky eater like a superfood, it can make things much easier. 

Some superfoods to add to their diet:

• Apples
• Dark Berries
• Tomatoes
• Nuts
• Greek Yogurt

Although these are only a select few superfoods, there are tons of options on how to incorporate them into your child’s diet. Monitoring and modeling a healthy diet is important in your child’s growth. By teaching them to follow healthy habits, it will promote a healthy lifestyle that will follow them into adulthood.

BY: Stella Madden

3/5 WAYS YOUR CHILDHOOD HAS HAD AN IMPACT ON YOUR RELATIONSHIPS according to Alysha Jeney:

1. Your Biggest Coping Strategy is to Shut Down
   1. If you find yourself slowing down a lot and trying to “get away” from your partner, it could be because you’re dealing with conflict. You may have a vulnerability to conflict because you didn’t grow up with it, so you weren’t taught how to combat and settle conflict effectively. Learn how to have a healthy debate, and consider each other’s impulses and sensitivities, and recognize and interact with your partner and “Why you shut down,” particularly if it is relating to childhood (the better your partner knows you, the fewer they have their own conclusions about your attitude). 
2. You struggle with intimacy
   1. Vulnerability is anytime you roll the dice and become 100% real.  Intimacy is where the vulnerability is being reciprocated by another person. This may be physical, intellectual, and emotional.If you found yourself struggling with some sort of intimacy, it may be because you felt a lot of misconception; maybe you felt a lot of rejection, or you struggled with your parents’ frustration, because nothing you may do was good enough. Such signals play a major role in our adult self-talk and unconscious feeling responses.  Learn to become more mindful of your partner’s relationship offers and take notice of what you’re experiencing,  and what you’re grappling with.
3. You Don’t Trust Easily
   1. Trust is the cornerstone of any sort of bond. When our parents ignored us, deserted us, beat us, judged us, and/or built a partnership that was reliant on us, we don’t know that we innately feel a sense of vulnerability as we mature into our world and a sense of self as we evolve. Sometimes, our parents “did the best they could for what they had,” but this doesn’t suggest the effect (or lack) of such resources can be ignored.Recognize that confidence is complicated for all, irrespective of their background. When you’ve encountered any sort of disconnection from your family and/or parents growing up, it’s necessary to consider and allow yourself permission and see if it might have been more relevant. 

Image From:http://www.modernlovecounseling.com/ways-your-childhood-impacts-your-relationship/

The More Attentive and Expressive Your Parents, The More Open & Sociable You Might Be in The Future

A number of recent studies highlight the link between affection in childhood and health, happiness and social activity in the future. It’s clear that one of the most important things you need from the parents is love.

When your parents love you in infancy, you realize what affection is and how it can be seen. In this situation, you won’t be ashamed to express your affection to your friends, brothers and sisters; and to those who will fall into your life over time. Traditionally, these people enjoy family vacations and tiny family events.

Scientists agree that true love and commitment on the part of parents will make their child emotionally happy and less nervous. In fact, parental love may potentially shield individuals against the adverse consequences of childhood stress.Therefore, parent-child contact affects how open you are to potential partnerships. There is a cardinal rule: increased parent-child contact implies less developmental and behavioural issues for children in adulthood. More notably, diligent and articulate parents strive to grow up stable and happy children who are confident in sharing their thoughts and ideas.

                           

How to build secure attachments based off of Phillip Shaver and R. Chris Fraley’s Work:

Here is the application on how to build secure attachments:

Attachment theory is increasingly being applied to help parents and children as well as adults develop closer and more developmentally beneficial relationships. For example, interventions that teach parents how to be more receptive and attentive to their children have led to increased parenting and child and child growth in households of anxious, low-income moms dealing of irritable children (van den Boom, 1995) as well as distressed moms (Berlin, Zeanah, & Lieberman, 2008; Van Doesum et al., 2008; Velderman et al., 2006).The plan targeted at moms at high risk to maltreatment to their babies offered 10 sessions that stressed “providing loving care when children are in pain, pursuing children’s guidance and showing joy when children are not in danger, and not behaving in a terrifying way,” as violent parents frequently do (Bernard et al., 2012, p. 623).Compared to children whose parents provided control care, participants in the special plan had substantially higher levels of stable connection (52% vs. 33%) and lower level of disorganized connection (32% vs. 57%).

Attachment-based therapy is also used to treat adolescents and young adults with problems (Diamond et al., 2016; Kobak & Kerig, 2015). For example, attachment-based family therapy — family therapy guided by attachment theory — has proved effective in helping parents provide depressed and potentially suicidal adolescents with a more secure crisis support base (Ewing, Diamond, & Levy, 2015). This has also helped young people conquer the unresolved resentment they may have against one of their parents (Diamond et al., 2016).

Finally, attachment theory provides a basis for treating couples with relationship problems (Berry & Danquah, 2016). The emotionally focused therapy developed by Susan Johnson(2004, 2008; Johnson & Wittenborn, 2012), for example, helps partners understand their attachment-related emotions (to appreciate that it is okay to need one another or to be fearful of separation); to communicate their emotions, including painful ones about experiences of betrayal or unresponsiveness; and to collaborate to better meet one another’s emotional needs and heal old wounds. Apparently, then, insecure and troubled relationships can be converted into more secure ones that serve as secure bases for exploration, safe havens in times of stress, and foundations for healthy development across the lifespan.

All research is cited below:

Jeney, Alysha, et al. “5 Ways Your Childhood Impacts Your Relationship(s).” Modern Love Counseling™, 15 Oct. 2019, http://www.modernlovecounseling.com/ways-your-childhood-impacts-your-relationship/

Western, Dan. “How Your Relationship With Your Parents Affects Your Life.” Wealthy Gorilla, 21 Feb. 2018, https://wealthygorilla.com/how-relationship-parents-affects-life/

R. Chris Fraley, http://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/research.html

The Effects of Divorce on the Adolescent Child Throughout Their Adulthood

By: Hannah Grassi

So, You Have a Teen and You’re Going Through a Divorce

It is fair to assume that divorce affects the children involved. There are many studies proving that divorce affects their academics, behavior, emotions, risk-taking, etc. When you and your partner separate, you will most likely see a variety of these traumatic accounts taking effect on your child.

I’m sure there are many questions running through your mind, such as; What can I do? How is this going to affect him/her in school? How will I get through this and be a good parent? Should we just stick it out until he/she is old enough to know? These are all good questions and if you’re asking yourself them, you’re a good parent. Trust me, because taking your child’s best interest into concern is crucial at this extremely stressful point in their lives.

In this blog we’ll discuss some answers to these questions you may be asking yourself. Primarily the effects divorce will take on your adolescent child into their young adulthood. Therefore, we can see exactly what may happen if you wait till they are old enough to know. We’ll also discuss some tips and strategies you and your partner can use during this time to limit the intensity of these effects.

Effects on Adolescence

Psychologically speaking, a lot is going on in your adolescent years, a sentiment that most of us can relate to. Not just hormones are running ramped, but your brain was especially “vulnerable as a consequence of potential disjunctions (Trends in Cognitive Sciences)”, busting your window of thought wide open. While an adolescent, you are seeking your identity. To do so, it is important that you have a stable home life to rely on while exploring yourself. Now imagine taking part in a life-altering event such as divorce, which you have zero control over, at this hectic point in your development. Talk about stress, right?

If you’re getting a divorce and your child is an adolescent, prepare for an aggressive response from your teen. This response is fueled by their acceleration into independence caused by the divorce effects on the life-experience-seeking adolescent. Divorce creates feelings of abandonment and selfishness towards their parent. This will cause a vengeful response, causing the teen to engage in rebellious activities usually with the intent to hurt the parents emotionally, as the parents have hurt them.

Effects on Young Adulthood

The Young Adulthood stage of development has its difficulties as well. The brain is nearly done developing the frontal lobe. A study looking at the young adult brain in comparison to the adolescent brain revealed that “by adulthood their brains are better able to dampen reward reactivity, including peer-related rewards, and demonstrate greater engagement of executive reward processing. (Institute of Medicine).” People at this age also react differently towards divorce depending on gender.

When young women come from divorced families, they will most likely contain a desire for love and attention, yet a fear of abandonment. This often makes them prone to anxiety, especially when it comes to marriage in their own lives, sometimes overwhelming them.

When it comes to young men from divorced families, they vary quite differently from their female counterparts. Due to a loss of a male role model of intimacy in his life, and the lack of one outside his family (especially in comparison to women), he will most likely be inclined to label himself more of a “rescuer” of women and simultaneously be characterized as hostile. This contrasts dramatically from young adults arising from intact homes who are more open and affectionate in their romantic lives.

Effects on Your Parent-Child Relationship

Divorce has a negative impact on your relationship with your child. I’m not going to sugarcoat it; it is what it is. It is proven that divorce will cause a divide between parents and children. Although this divide is seen more deeply on the relationship between the child and the parent of the opposite-sex.

Divorced mothers have a divide with their child usually at first but eventually subside slightly throughout the years following the divorce. This is mostly true for the father-child relationship as well. Boys living with their mothers often respond with more hostility than girls immediately following the divorce and possibly for years following. 

Divorced fathers however will usually have a more distant relationship with their children. The good news though is that older children typically experience less conflict with their nonresident fathers than do younger children. Girls living with their fathers or stepfathers post-divorce usually stray from their relationship with them by the time they are in college.

“The best security blanket a child can have is parents who respect each other”

– Jane Blaustone

What to do With Your Partner

Relationships ending are definitely tough. There is no doubt about that. Most people after the end of a relationship want to get the furthest away from their ex as possible. Especially when a relationship ends on bad terms. However, when children are involved, co-parenting is necessary in order to help maintain their mental health.

Based on an article published by HelpGuide, the following tips can be useful in co-parenting your child:

1. Set Hurt and Anger Aside
   • Get your feelings out somewhere else.
   • Stay kid-focused
   • Don’t put your children in the middle
2. Improve Communication with your Co-parent
   • Set a business-like tone.
   • Make requests.
   • Listen.
   • Show restraint.
   • Commit to meeting/talking consistently.
   • Keep conversations kid focused.
   • Quickly relieve stress in the moment.
3. Co-parent as a Team
   • Aim for consistency
   • Make important decisions together
   • Resolve disagreements
4. Make Transitions and Visitations Easier
   • When child leaves:
   • Help children anticipate change
   • Pack in advance
   • Always drop off—never pick up child
   • Keep things low-key
   • Give your child space
   • Establish a special routine

You’ve Got This!

So as you’ve hopefully gathered from this blog, divorce negatively effects the child, no matter their age. Unfortunately, this is inevitable. However, you as a parent can help keep the effects of the divorce from affecting them into adulthood. Based on a book written by Psychologist Paul Amato in 2002, “Research showed even after a crisis phase has passed, divorce can leave a residue of negative effects on as many as 25% of children into adulthood. (Amato, 2006; Hetherington and Kelly, 2002).” Your child doesn’t need to be part of the 25% and hopefully, with the help of this blog and the hard work you will do, they won’t be.

Having children is something that most women, and even many men, dream of. When it’s time for that dream to come true, not all find that the process of having children comes with ease. Infertility affects more people than most think. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that out of 100 couples, anywhere from 12-13 will experience difficulty conceiving. Thanks to new technology that is ever growing, there are options for those who experience this issue. For some, simple advice from a consultation fixes the problem, but for others more drastic measures must take place. Two of the most common are IUI (intrauterine insemination) and IVF (in-vitro fertilization). Although these treatments are an incredible resource for those looking to become parents, the mental health impact of infertility and these treatments is less talked about.

Medication:

One of the more common treatments for infertility comes from medications that work toward many goals. These medications aim to increase sperm count, improve ovulation, stabilize hormones, and more. As with any medication, these have side effects that change the body and can ultimately change a person’s mental health. In a report of research done by Harvard Medical School, certain drugs such as Clomid and Serophene can lead to major mental changes. Women have shown to experience anxiety, sleep problems, mood and swings and irritability when on these medications. Other medications used have shown to cause depression, mania, and difficulty thinking.

Economic Struggle:

Undergoing fertility treatments in the United States is far from inexpensive. More basic processes such as consultation, blood tests, sperm tests and medications aren’t entirely bank breaking in most cases. These processes are more likely to be covered by insurance compared to larger processes. The larger treatments such as IVF and IUI come at a much higher price.  The Advanced Fertility Center of Chicago claims that the typical price for a cycle of IVF falls between $11,000 and $12,000 dollars. These practices are much less likely to be covered by insurance (only 15 states mandate coverage according to the Harvard report)  and can create serious financial strain on those who are paying out of pocket. Financial strain has proven to be a major cause of stress which can grow into bigger mental health issues

Treatment Failure and Success:

With the new advancements of treatment, the success rate for those undergoing fertility treatments is quite high. The figure above details just how likely it is for a couple to take home a baby after experiencing IVF. Despite the high success rates though, factors play into how successful a couple will truly be. The higher the age of the couple the less likely for success, with the decline starting after the mid 30’s. Success rates also differ with the amount of embryos available for transfer and how many are transferred at once. Even for those who fit the ideal category, success may not happen immediately or at all. The failure of treatment may stir up a new cycle of grief and sadness for the couple experiencing it. Harvard Medical believes the negative effects of failure is stronger in the U.S due to the cultural belief of hard work leading to success. Prolonged failure may increase these feelings and lead to increased risk of mental health disorders.

Martial Struggles:

Through the process of fertility treatment, couples may experience issues they previously had not. The stress of the above mentioned parts of fertility treatment may lead to stress within the marriage. In a study done by Samuel H. Nyarko & Hubert Amu on couples in Ghana undergoing fertility treatment, significant findings on sex life, communication and marital stability were found.  Around 64% of those surveyed reported sex was unfulfilling and unenjoyable and around 68% reported communication as struggled and strained. When asked about divorce, 40% reported that their partner had threatened divorce within the times of treatment. The strain within a couple’s relationship can be another large factor that creates stress, anxiety, depression and other issues for both partners.

Coping with the Effects:

These findings are not true for every individual and couple that undergoes fertility treatment, but for some the feelings that come along with treatment may become too much. For those who experience these feelings and experience mental health strain, there are a variety of options for coping available. These options include:

• Medications to treat anxiety and depression
• Other resources such as family, friends or support groups
• Therapies, both individual and for couples

Finding the proper coping method has proven to change the way individuals adjust during and after the path of infertility. One way will not work for everyone, but the wide range of options allow choices for those seeking to cope.  If you or someone you know is struggling with the effects of fertility treatments, know the options and do not be afraid to get or give help. Included are some links and numbers for those suffering the mental health effects of infertility.

Find Support Groups– https://resolve.org/support/find-a-support-group/

National Alliance of Mental Health – 1-800-950-NAMI (6264)

Online Therapy– https://www.talkspace.com/online-therapy/   

End Outcome:

Despite the struggles during the time of infertility, the couples that endure the process have proven to not regret it. This has been shown in both those with positive and negative outcomes.  A German study showed that in the 10 years after infertility, those with children experienced increased self-esteem while those without experienced increased job satisfaction. Many found positive aspects of not having children, instead of letting the negative take over. In both outcomes, there was similar satisfaction with friendships, sex life and overall life quality. These findings prove that the struggles of infertility do not last forever. The road of fertility treatments may seem harsh and unforgiving in the moment, but finding happiness through it all is not impossible. It is important to recognize the mental health toll that comes with the process of infertility, for both those going through it and those on the sidelines. Recognition leads to further understanding, increased support and a push for a more positive ending for those dealing with infertility, whether it end in conception or not.

April 30, 2020 By:Lauren Rankin

APRIL 28, 2020

By Hayley Byers

We all have various relationships in our lives, whether it be a relative, friend, neighbor, or a random person you walk by every day. However, a lot of these relationships lack the strength and depth that is supposed to keep them together. Relationships nowadays are only surface level. People only share the parts of their personality that makes them look the best in the eyes of others. We don’t get to truly know a person in this society. We know what that person wants us to know, and what they don’t share is generally dug up after one person does some snooping on social media. These are relationships that generally don’t last Romantic relationships are even harder to create in today’s society. No one really wants commitment, and if they do, they never feel like it is the right time to settle down with just one person. There is a whirlwind of mixed signals, feelings, and actions that create a very negative mindset. There is always another person in today’s society. You may be told that you are the “only one”, when in reality, there are six or seven other “only ones”. There is very little trust in these types of relationships. The mistrust goes both ways as well. People check locations, snapchat scores, and may even snoop through their partners phone if they feel unsure about where they stand. It is a toxic dating world and many relationships end on bad terms with both parties going at each other to make them seem like the one who was wrong.

Many of the problems brought up by weak relationships can lead to divorce. The current percentage of divorce in the United States today is between 40% and 50%. That means that almost half of ALL marriages end in divorce. Everyone believes that marriage is the strongest relationship you can have with another person. But somehow today’s society still manages to mess that up.

The types of romantic relationships we should be building should be made to last. In order for relationships to last, they have to be strong, and have effort from both parties. Since human connections are some of the best experiences we get to have, here are some do’s and don’ts of building strong, lasting relationships

• Talk About Things That Are Important for You.

One of the easiest ways to create a strong relationship is to communicate. As your relationship with a person builds, communication becomes even more key. You want to make sure that you voice your opinions on things early on, specifically during the beginning parts of the relationship. You want to give the other person a chance to get to know what you care about and what you believe in. They will be eager to tell you that they agree, or that they disagree.

• Be Honest

It may sound cliché, but honesty is really the best policy. It is better for a person to be able to trust your word, rather than be hurt by you not being completely open with them. Even if you know the truth will hurt the person you are talking to, it is better to be completely honest about how you are feeling.

• Listen

Listening is a key skill to have when trying to build a relationship with another person. It makes the person feel so much more important when you are actively listening to what they have to say. Ways to be an active listener include, not staring at a phone screen, making eye contact with the other person, and waiting to add your own input until the other person prompts you too.

• Make Time for The Person

No one likes to be told excuses every time they ask someone to hangout. In order to develop any relationship, you need to spend a decent amount of time with that person. It is important to make it seem like you want to spend time with them. It is also important to not let them be the only one reaching out. Making time also includes giving your full attention to that person when you are with them. That means putting away any technology that might distract you and prevent you from being completely present.

• Try and Change Them

There may be things about the person you are getting to know that you don’t like. The worst thing you can do is try and change the way that person is. If you cannot look past something that person values or does, then it might not be a relationship worth building. Changing a person makes them seem like the way they are isn’t good enough for you. It may also make the person become defensive and fight back, causing a rough falling out that could’ve been avoided.

• Put Them Down

No one likes to be made fun of. Yes, there are times to joke around, but there may be sometimes or topics that may make the other person feel bad about themselves. When building a relationship with someone you want to make sure that you are making them feel like their best self. You want to build up their self-esteem, not tear it down.

• Hold Your Past Against Them

Everyone has baggage from their past that they bring with them from relationship to relationship. But this is not an excuse to lose it on your partner when you feel insecure. Just because some other person made you feel inadequate, or made you feel like you couldn’t trust them, doesn’t mean that this person will. The past is always in the past, and the only way to move on is to leave it there and create new memories and feelings with this person.

• Sneak Around

We all have times where we feel uncertain about where each person in a relationship stands. This is not an excuse to go sneaking around to find out what is going on. Looking through your significant other’s phone is NOT the way to find out what they are doing. If you are feeling uncertain, you need to speak to your partner and talk it out together. Going behind someone’s back goes back to trust. If they catch you snooping on them, they may feel like you aren’t comfortable enough to talk to them about it.

Check out these articles to find out more ways to develop a strong romantic relationship!

• https://trainingmag.com/content/8-tips-developing-positive-relationships/
• https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/5-ways-to-build-stronger-relationships.html
• https://thoughtcatalog.com/kirsten-corley/2017/09/30-little-dos-and-dont-if-you-want-a-relationship-that-doesnt-end/
• https://www.apa.org/topics/divorce/

Pictures brought to you by:

• https://www.concretedecor.net/decorativeconcretearticles/vol-18-no-2-febmarch-2018/relationships-between-contractors-suppliers-maufacturers/
• https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-important-dos-and-donts-for-teenagers
• https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartfem.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2016%2F03%2Frelationships-300×225.jpg&imgrefurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.smartfem.com%2Frelationships%2Ftips-to-build-a-strong-romantic-relationship%2F&tbnid=G3MsRcodaBuUMM&vet=12ahUKEwiTp_PLqPDoAhUZTjABHetjD44QMygBegUIARCAAg..i&docid=dudyqxLevyWotM&w=300&h=225&q=strong%20romantic%20relationships&ved=2ahUKEwiTp_PLqPDoAhUZTjABHetjD44QMygBegUIARCAAg
• https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmilewalk.com%2Fmwblog%2F12-great-ways-to-improve-any-relationship%2F&psig=AOvVaw2V-hn5yurCUpU1ePlMrpOK&ust=1588187519250000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAIQjRxqFwoTCIjMnefpi-kCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAD
• https://stock.adobe.com/images/word-writing-text-learn-more-business-concept-for-deepen-knowledge-of-the-thing-you-want-to-do-or-new-skill-megaphone-loudspeaker-red-frame-communicating-important-information-message/218162998

ON NOVEMBER 4, 2019 BY ALEXIS WEARY

What is a Designer Baby?

         The idea of parents having the ability to select certain genetic and personality traits for their child sounds like something straight out of a movie. It sounds like something that certainly wouldn’t be scientifically possible until the year 3000. But what if I told you that that possibility is a lot closer and a lot more realistic than it seems. Designer Babies are babies that are genetically engineered to have specific traits while they’re in vitro¹. A baby that is created in vitro is a baby that is created by extracting eggs from a woman which are then combined in a petri dish along with sperm. Once the egg and sperm form an embryo, the embryo is transferred to the uterus of the woman². With designer babies, the scientists are able to select genetic traits that are either desired or remove genes that are not desired, thus, creating a designer baby. Some of the specific traits that can be selected or “designed” are gender, appearance, intelligence, disease, and personality³.

What are the Pros and Cons of Designer Babies?

Pros of Designer Babies:

         Some of the pros of designer babies are that they reduce the risk of the baby inheriting genetic diseases and conditions. When deciding the genetics of a child, you are able to select certain traits that enable the child to be healthy. This can happen by deciding that you don’t want the child to have a gene that could be genetically passed down from the parents and could be linked to a disorder or disease. When selecting the genes for a child, the parents are able to select for traits that would enable the child to have a longer life, the parents could potentially give the child genes that they do not have. For example, if two parents are both short but want a tall child, they could give that child a gene in order to be taller.

Cons of Designer Babies:

         Some of the cons of designer babies is that they will create a gap in society and could possibly negatively impact the gene pool. Many believe that this would be a procedure that only the “rich” could afford and thus would create a greater gap between the rich and the poor. When designing designer babies, the baby also has no say in the decision and the genes that they are given. Another con of designer babies is that when selecting a certain gene that parents want for their child, they could accidentally give their child another genetic trait without realizing it. This is because some genes have multiple uses and display numerous genetic traits. This could potentially lead to another genetic disease or challenge the child could develop³.

In What Circumstances Are Designer Babies Ethically Moral?

Preventing Inherited Diseases

         In a Citizens Jury decision about if designer babies are ethically moral, the members deliberated upon three circumstances in which people tend to want to create designer babies. The three circumstances that they debated were: inherited conditions, savior siblings and sex selection. When deciding about creating designer babies to prevent inherited conditions, the jury made an easy decision that parents should have the right to select certain genetic conditions in order to avoid fatal genetic conditions that would put the child through a lot of pain and suffering⁴.

Savior Siblings

            The second topic that the jury debated over was if designer babies should be allowed as savior siblings. Savior siblings are children who are born for the sole purpose of giving their organs or other body parts to a child who is already alive and lives with a serious medical condition. They are created in order to fix another child, they are not created out of love. The majority of the jury agreed that savior siblings were an ethical reason for parents to create designer babies on the principle of curing a child who is already alive and has a detrimental or fatal existing medical condition. However, those opposing the moral grounds of creating a designer baby in order to help an already existing child to survive argued that creating a baby for the sole purpose of using it in order to save another child undermines the child who was designed solely to save another child, not to be loved⁴.

Sex Selection

The last circumstance that the jury deliberated was the morality of creating a designer baby for sex selection. The Citizens Jury decided that parents selecting their child’s sex was not considered a morally correct reason for selecting the baby’s genes. They felt that changing a child’s genes for a non-medical reason is not considered ethically right. They felt that interfering with a child’s sex could mess up family dynamics and could also impact the lives of the designer babies other siblings⁴.

The Risks of Selecting Genes 

         An extremely new experiment was conducted in China in 2018 in which a scientist, He Jiankui, edited two babies genes in order to try to prevent them from developing HIV. Their father has HIV and their mother did not have HIV and she was not a carrier. However, after his experiment came to light within the scientific world, his experiment was shut down for the health risks he was putting the babies through. He believed that he could disable a gene called CCR5 which would make children more resistant to HIV. However, by Jiankui disabling the gene CCR5 he has put the babies at risk for off-target effects. Off-target effects are problems that arise in other parts of the organism’s genetic code by disabling the CCR5 gene. For example, by Jiankui editing genes, he could potentially put the babies’ at risk for developing eye cancer by disrupting a genetic system that protects from eye cancer. Another risk that Jiankui has put the children at risk for is dying of the flu. Researchers have found that mutations of the CCR5 gene can lead people at a much higher risk of dying from the flu.

Ways to Assess Risk for Child Inheriting Genetic Disorder

         Considering that designer babies are an extremely new concept to scientists, they’re not a likely option for parents to consider when having a child. An option that is reasonable and affordable is something called a Genetic Counselor. Genetic Counselors help a couple to assess their likelihood of having a child with a certain genetic condition that runs in their family. This can help the couple to assess if it is worth the risk of having their own child who has a fatal genetic disorder or if they want to go about having kids in a different way⁵.

Is the use of technology hurting our child’s brain?

There have been years of speculation, bickering and self-made theories of whether or not the use of iPhones and iPads would harm our children’s cognitive development. We finally have an answer, well… sort of. A study conducted in early November, 2019, showed a strong correlation that high levels of screen time may negatively impact brain development. The correlation was especially high in preschoolers. An emphasis was placed on correlation because it does not necessarily mean causation. Let’s dive deeper into the subject matter…

Children exposed to high amounts of screen time showed lower levels of white matter.

The brain consists of both grey and white matter. The white matter is the tissue through which the neurological messages pass between the gray matter within the brain.

Many of you may be wondering why white matter matters (pun intended). After conducting some research I found that white matter refers to the central nervous system (CNS), specifically the myelinated axons called tracts. The white matter in the brain affects things such as: learning, brain functions, distribution of action potentials and relaying communication between brain regions. This all impacts overall cognitive development in children.

This was the first study ever to document associations between high screen use and low measures of brain structure says John Hutton, pediatrician and clinical researcher at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital.

Parents of the children (ranging from ages 3 to 5) had to fill out surveys regarding how much screen time they allowed their child to have. Some other criteria consisted of whether or not they had a television in their room and/or if they were exposed to screens before 18 months.

After the survey was conducted, scans of the children’s brains were taken and they were given a “ScreenQ Score”. This score reflected the criteria within the survey. The scores ranged from 0 to 26. The higher the score, the less of the compliance held to the recommendations given by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

What are the statistics?

Out of the 69 preschool children that had been exposed to high levels of screen time, 47 of them had decreased levels of white matter in the brain.

Please do not become a nervous rex and feel like you have been failing your child just yet!

Remember from the beginning when I said correlation does NOT equal causation? Well there is a strong possibility that other factors could be at play. For example, the study as a whole was very small. It was a miracle that 10 of those kids even got into a scary looking MRI machine that looks like it will swallow you whole, never mind 47!

The extended screen time could just be taking away necessary activities that are crucial to cognitive development. The AAP says that the best toys are the ones that involve interactions. An example of this would be books. Books are great for cognitive development, especially if they are picture books. Picture books will broaden vocabulary and stimulate curiosity.

Some other crucial activities include just having conversations with your child. Taking them to museums, aquariums and parks can stimulate developmental abilities.

It is important to remember to take time out of your child’s day and really connect with them! The lack of conversing and playing with your child could be the real reason of the decrease in white matter in the brain.

Something you absolutely need to avoid at absolutely all costs. DON’T BE LIKE THIS GUY!

NEVER use electronics to calm a child down. The AAP claims that this will lead to children developing problems with emotional coping skills.

They encourage parents to conversate with their kids during the brief time they are using electronics.

Additionally, kids should avoid screens at all costs before the age of 18 months.

References

Fox, E. G. (2019, November 7). There’s evidence that high levels of screen time in preschoolers may hinder brain development. Retrieved from https://www.insider.com/high-screen-time-use-kids-linked-to-lower-brain-development-2019-11.

Hutton, J. S. (2019, November 4). Associations Between Screen Use and White Matter Integrity in Preschoolers. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2754101.

Ignore the Flashing Screens: The Best Toys Go Back to the Basics. (2018, December 3). Retrieved from https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/Ignore-the-Flashing-Screens-The-Best-Toys-Go-Back-to-the-Basics.aspx.

Kraus, R. (2019, November 6). 4 reasons not to freak out about the latest scary screen time study. Retrieved from https://sea.mashable.com/tech/7300/4-reasons-not-to-freak-out-about-the-latest-scary-screen-time-study.

White matter of the brain: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (2019, November 6). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002344.htm.