Holy shit!

I'm posting a link to the Q&A about this story because I don't want to link to the one that uses "horror" in the first few paragraphs: UK scientists have won permission to create a human embryo that will have genetic material from two mothers.

I think it's great that someone is taking steps to examine human biology and the nature of living things so closely. I will be incredibly pleased when this line of research results in two mothers being the biological parents of their child. (Note carefully that this experiement will do no such thing; if you didn't read the linked article before reading this, shame on you!)

Initially I worried some about the research's focus, which is to prevent muscular dystrophy: many studies and "treatments" for genetically based disabilities focus on how to detect them early enough to allow an abortion, which I can't support in general. In any specific case, I think a would-be mother is and should be free to abort for any reason, no matter how arbitrary it may seem to me or anyone else. But in the general case, I think aborting pregnancies because of test results isn't well-founded and only contributes to the fear and loathing of people who are disabled.

And so I have mixed feelings, but they're mine, and I may consult my backup conscience on this matter and see what she thinks. Mostly: yay, science!