Genethics Competition 2008 - Design a Poster about Designing a Child

Gender selection of children

The New Zealand Organisation for Rare Disorders, The Royal Society of New Zealand, and Toi te Taiao - the Bioethics Council, are pleased to present New Zealand’s 5th Annual Genethics competition for secondary school students in Yr 11 - Yr 13.

Prizes offered are $600 for the winner, $300 for second, and $100 each for the next three place getters.

Three easy steps:

1. Research the topic - some references are provided to assist you.
2. Consider how you will use graphics and words to convey your message.
3. Create your powerpoint poster and submit it in electronic form for judging.

Topic:

The New Zealand Human Assisted Reproductive Technology Act currently prohibits the use of assisted reproductive technology to select the sex of a child, except where the selection is to prevent a sex-linked genetic disease. Some commentators consider there is a case to be made for gender balancing of families for social or non-medical reasons. Consider the pros and cons of non-medical pre-conceptual gender selection and discuss whether or not there is a case to be made for a change to the law in New Zealand to allow gender balancing of families.

Judging criteria:

• Creative use of images and words to convey clear messages on the topic.
• Description of the techniques that can be used to select a baby’s gender.
• A summary of the social and ethical issues involved.
• The ability to canvass the issues and present a conclusion within the limited space available.
• The conclusion is related to the context of New Zealand society and laws.
• References are provided.

Closing date:

Please send your powerpoint on CD in high resolution by 25th July to:

Debbie Woodhall,
Royal Society of New Zealand,
PO Box 598
Wellington

Useful references:

Preconception gender selection for non-medical reasons - Ethics Committee of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Ethics Committee opinion #360 Sex selection

Sex selection - From Wikipedia

The UK human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority - FAQs about sex selection 

Pregnancy Info - Gender Selection

Male or Female, We Will Create Them: The Ethics of Sex Selection for Non-Medical Reasons - David Heyd 

The Ethics of Sex Selection for Non-Medical Reasons: A Defence of Common Sense - Antoon Vandevelde & Bart Engelen