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Geneteic engineering? — 2 Comments

  1. That’s a lot of questions. Right now, the “suspect” genes are those which regulate very basic functions; in other cases where the individual carries a different type of mutation, the conditions may be fatal. So I don’t think that Drayna’s work is going to translate quickly into “genetic engineering”. In cases where there is no readily obvious family history, yes, there could be a mutation or pre- or post-natal developmental events that cause disfunction. Because the mode of transmission for stuttering does not yet appear to follow common inheritance patterns, I do not believe you can predict stuttering in offspring with any accuracy. As in most conditions, you talk about increased risk, but not certainties.

    Nan Bernstein Ratner

  2. Thanks Nan! Trying to understand stammering is like looking for life in outer space, it seems! It will keep us busy for quite sometime, I guess. Thanks again…