Genes for cash

I’ve never felt strongly about egg donation, mostly because I think it’s a personal decision and because many egg donors do it out of true generosity.

But a recent article on CNN.com left me a little disturbed about the whole concept of trading genes for cash.

The article says that interest in egg donation is surging because of the downturn in the economy. The payout — up to $10,000 in some cases — is luring more women to inject themselves with hormones and give up their eggs to bolster their bank accounts.

Generosity rewarded with a financial token is one thing, but it makes me sad to think a recession can send women to egg harvesters in droves — as if our procreative tissue is an economic bailout sold to the highest bidder.

What do you think — have we really become so callous about our genetic material that their highest value is purely monetary? Would you ever sell your eggs for money?

Check out the CNN article here.