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Designer Babies

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(Author)
(Professor)
Biology
18 September 2014
Designer Babies Designer babies are those babies, who are produced by in-vitro fertilization, and whose genetic makeup has been selected or altered by genetic engineering to remove the particular problem, or to make sure that a specific gene with desirable features is present. It is suggested that the phrase “designer baby” was originated from the phrase “designer clothing” and it is coined by journalists and not scientists in 2004 (Agar). With the technology of producing designer babies, people will be able to choose certain characteristics such as the height, color of the eyes, facial appearances, and probably personality and intelligences of their children. However, this concept of designer …show more content…

This identification of the gender can be done by removing the single cell of the embryo that would not affect the development. This identification of the gender is helpful in selecting healthy embryos of those parents, who have a medical history of some sex-linked diseases. Some diseases such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and haemophilia are only present in male babies (McGee 96), so parents will be able to decide, after doctor’s consultation, whether they want the implantation of the male embryo or healthy female embryo without any faulty gene into the womb of the mother. In the case of implantation of healthy female embryo, it can be considered as the production of designer baby. However, in many countries, selection of gender is only allowed to avoid the problems of sex-linked diseases or other fatal issues related to gender. Presently, Britain is not allowing parents to choose the gender of their children for personal preferences that can be considered as a good …show more content…

In this case, the process of Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) can be applied for designer babies. This process is helpful in screening out those embryos that may have a genetic disease. Parents would be able to select healthy embryos for implantation into mother’s womb after professional’s consultation. Many families with children that are affected with preventable disease often wish good health for their children. Now, the advancement in medical technology has made it possible for people to conceive only healthy babies and not those babies, who may develop some form of the deadly disease after birth. This is definitely a positive feature of designer babies as parents would have to pay only once for the procedure of implantation of healthy embryo and then they would be free of any costs of medical treatments during the life of their child. Moreover, it will also remove the pain of seeing their child in

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