Older parents

[wendigo100]

This news about Gordon Brown's son got me thinking. Are older parents more likely to have kids with defects?

There is a school of thought that our DNA is gradually damaged as we get older - I presume that applies to reproductive tissue as well.

[shaunbhoy]

This news about Gordon Brown's son got me thinking. Are older parents more likely to have kids with defects?

Statistically yes, particularly where the woman is concerned.

[Zippy]

This news about Gordon Brown's son got me thinking. Are older parents more likely to have kids with defects?

There is a school of thought that our DNA is gradually damaged as we get older - I presume that applies to reproductive tissue as well.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disorder caused by having two faulty genes (ie recessive) so very, very, very unlikely that age had anything to do with it.

In general though you are right - non-inherited defects increase with age.

[Ardesco]

I belive once you are over 30 the chances of birth defects doubles, or something along those lines.

The depressing thing is that if this is ture, statistically speaking all the chavs are going to have the healthiest babies.....

[shaunbhoy]

I belive once you are over 30 the chances of birth defects doubles, or something along those lines.

The depressing thing is that if this is ture, statistically speaking all the chavs are going to have the healthiest babies.....

And that is why we need another War to send them all off to. Freshen up the gene pool and all that. You know it makes sense.

[BoredBloke]

In the same way that he introduced the child trust fund just after he became a dad, lets see what he does now!

[Troll]

And that is why we need another War to send them all off to. Freshen up the gene pool and all that. You know it makes sense.

We can make a start ( & apologies to anyone affected) by stopping IVF treatment- especially where the sperm is injected directly into the egg...

[Ardesco]

We can make a start ( & apologies to anyone affected) by stopping IVF treatment- especially where the sperm is injected directly into the egg...

Generally speaking it is not the chavs that have this done. It is the middle class with a bit of cash to spend on IVF.

I would go looking somewhere else

[Flubster]

I suspect Atw and Chico's parents were very old when they were conceived...

[Troll]

Generally speaking it is not the chavs that have this done. It is the middle class with a bit of cash to spend on IVF.

I would go looking somewhere else

Bean flickers seem to think it's their 'right' to concieve this way