A Married Couple Is Unable to Conceive on Their Own

question 7

Multiple Choice

A married couple is unable to conceive on their own. The wife's younger single sister freely volunteers to donate a viable egg to the couple. What difficulty might Callahan have with this seemingly altruistic arrangement?

• A) This self-sacrifice is being directed to fulfill the desires of the adult parents, not of the child who will be born.
• B) A member of the extended family should not feel obligated to fill the role nature has designated for a biological parent.
• C) The younger sister is not married; therefore, this violates the moral principle that only heterosexual married couples should conceive a child.
• D) No financial responsibility is being taken for the inevitable discomfort from invasive procedures or powerful drugs the donor will need to receive.

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Definitions:

Homeotic Genes

Genes that control the development of anatomical structures in various organisms by determining the identity of body parts.

Transcription Factors

Proteins that bind to specific DNA sequences to control the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA.

Enzymes

Biological molecules that act as catalysts to speed up chemical reactions in living organisms.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells contain a nucleus enveloped by a membrane, including animals, plants, fungi, and protists.