For many years, the idea of being able to design and choose your children has long been a topic of science fiction. But rapid progress in genetics is making the idea of ‘designer children’ possible. A designer child is a baby whose genetic make-up has been selected in order to eradicate a particular defect, or to ensure that a particular gene is present. This can be used to improve the health of the baby, or enhancing particular genes to make the child achieve better in a particular area. These babies are also described as genetically modified, where the child contains genetic material that has been artificially altered so as to produce a desired characteristic. Despite the seemingly beneficial results, there are many negative as well as positive aspects to this new technique.
Firstly, in order for this process of genetic modification to be
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This will increase the segregation between the richer and poorer parts of society. Also this could create prejudice and discrimination between the “Designer” and “Non-designer” children, with “classes” created between them. The non-designer babies could miss out on opportunities, such as jobs because people are more likely to take the “optimum” candidate for something. The use of designer babies could also create a gap in society, as there will be a loss of individuality and diversity. This is because parents will choose the prime characteristics such as intelligence or athleticism resulting in everyone being relatively similar. The means the ability to “change” and evolve as humans will falter. Who would want a world with everyone the same? It is also concerned that these techniques will be developed with innocent intention, for example repairing a faulty gene, but will be marketed to people or abused by the government and turned more into a business rather than a medical
Many people disagree with the idea of genetically modifying babies but the pros are way more than the cons. The so called “designer babies” can prevent several genetic diseases such as Down syndrome, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, etc. This genetic diseases have been part of society since the beginning of time and until now there has been no way of preventing it other than aborting the baby when such disease is detected to spare it from the potential suffering. With “designer babies” all these diseases could possibly be completely eradicated which would give society a great benefit.
Should parent be allowed to genetically engineer their children? : The ethical dilemma of designer babies.
Notwithstanding, designer babies are seen as the potential cause of “classes” between society. It is argued that since designer babies would be better looking and more intellectual than “non-designer” babies. The article states, “[The process] could cause the “non-designer” children to miss opportunities because jobs among other things are more likely to take the “optimum” candidate for something.” It is also suggested that not everyone would be able to afford this process, making it even more inequitable. Nevertheless, these problems could create positive energy. This could give non-designer children the motivation to work harder for the jobs that they want. This could help to advance human intelligence in the long run as well as advance
For instance a couple is able to alter the sex, screen for diseases, pick an embryo based upon their specific traits and alter many other characteristics. For many, some of these procedures are necessary in order to check and prevent hereditary diseases; yet many advocates present the more ethical issues of designer babies. The pursuit for the perfect child many begin to grow wildly out of control as parents vie to make their child exactly what they want. Since this is a new process we are unaware of the possible future consequences. I feel that allowing people to design a baby will begin to take away the uniqueness of having a baby; knowing exactly what your baby is going to be like will take the fun out of it.
What if there was a future where having a child was as simple as selecting desirable genes out of a catalogue? A future where technology granted parents the ability to design and perfect their children. The notion of “Designer Babies” seems absurd; however the rapid development of technology and the potential of gene manipulation could make this a startling reality.
Among the few benefits are humans that have limited diseases, families that have children that they can raise into adulthood that never would have had this opportunity before, and options that have never existed before. The process is dangerous in the sense that it can quickly get out of hand. Putting limits on designer babies is the key. Humans are only humans, not perfect beings. The thought of trying to create a perfect human sounds very ridiculous. No matter how many operations and procedures one baby is given, they can only be a human. Limits and regulations should be applied to genetic mutations to end the possibility of getting out of hand. A baby should not be able to have every part of them changed, what good would this do for the parents or for the baby? A baby is only a baby, no matter what. A baby will have no choice in the way they are mutated. The process, as advancing as it may be, may lead to many issues in the future. This means that we must be wary in the proceeding
The advantages of designer babies is that it really can correct terrible genetic defects that ruin lives and some people who are not capable of having babies can now be allowed as designer babies changes the hereditary makeup of the egg. It can also reduce risk of inherited medical conditions such as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and HIV. Including children without similar medical issues, it can better chance the child to succeeding in life. Experiencing the whole process of designer babies can give one a better understanding of genetics, especially parents. Those who are ill can have an increased life span and the procedure can give a child genes that the parents do not carry as well as preventing the next generation of family from getting
Technology is quickly advancing, and many opportunities only dreamt about previously have developed. One of these opportunities arising is designing your baby. Currently, scientist can eliminate genetic diseases or screen for gender, and in the future, will be able to choose various traits. Pursuing this research of designer babies is creating a conflict though. Through multiple techniques, scientists can alter the embryo to the parent’s desire but while this has numerous benefits, there are also many concerns.
The act of genetically designing babies has been beneficial in The past and may continue to be in the near future.Creating designer babies are beneficial to the society in many ways.Creating designer babies has the possibility of preventing genetic disease,provide a tissue match or stem cells for a sick sibling or help infertile couples to have a baby.“….many more couples have created their own designer baby to save their sick child or prevent their offspring from inheriting a certain genetic disease.”To begin,since the year 2000 designer babies have been created to save the lives of other children. They have been created to prevent genetic disease that may be passed down. the last thing a parent would want is for their child to have a genetic
Because controlling the genetic content of the child’s DNA will prevent genetic diseases and disability, designer babies should be allowed. There are many illnesses which neither the child nor the parents could prevent the child from getting. This kind of disease is transferred from the parents to the child by genes like diabetes. Because of these genes the child will get a disability or illness, which can affect their not only physical but also mental ability. Because of that they cannot function as well as other kids, and it might lead to emotions problems and anxieties. So when this technology claims to have the ability to end most of the diseases, the community should give it the best chance. Also, Michael Bostrom, author of “The Morality of Human Genetic Engineering” argues that “the practice of genetic engineering might also lead to better treatment of disability” (1). Opponents show their disagreement by pointing out
As of now, the world is standing on the verge of one of the most consequential technological thresholds in history, a scientific discovery that has the power to alter the very fabric of the lives of generations to come, challenging what it means to be human. Imagine a world in which one can look through a catalog of possible traits while shopping for a new child, picking hair color, intelligence level, and athletic ability. However crazy this may seem, “designer baby” is no longer a science-fiction term, but an expression that has now found its way into even the dictionary. A designer baby is defined as “a baby whose genetic makeup has been selected in order to eradicate a particular defect, or ensure that a particular gene is present.” Currently, there are multiple functioning methods in which a scientist can genetically design an unborn child. For example, in a process of Pre-Implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), the most common process of genetic engineering, geneticists are able to screen the cells of the embryo for the specific disorders, as well as characteristics, only implanting those that possess the desired traits--effectively opening the door to the questionable genetic shaping of future offspring. Manipulating a baby’s genetic traits undermines humanity, for it fosters drastic inequality, disfigures the parent child relationship, and destroys the appreciation of the giftedness of human life.
Allowing a child’s genetic makeup to form naturally is healthier for the baby, considering the effect of the procedure. Although there are some advantages in modifying the traits of a baby, there are multiple negative effects from the process. Through the procedure of designing a baby there are multiple negative physical effects. Altering a child’s traits will provide the child with multiple health and mental problems. When someone, such as scientist begin messing around with life there will occur serious consequences. Through the development of changing the baby’s genes, chromosomes are also altered. When someone’s chromosomes are modified common health problems will occur, to illustrate, an increasing risk of mutations and possible genetic complications. Even though one were interested in having this procedure done, it is so expensive that only few individuals and parents will be able to afford it. However, designer babies tend to have social problems due to the
The argument of whether or not to pursue the concept of “Designer Babies” is one that has been very popular recently. First off, the cost of this process is extremely unaffordable for most. It takes about $18,000 to simply select one trait, the gender of your baby (Thedoctorstv). Doctors will charge more money for the more complex processes, so the cost of these procedures are not even worth it with all the problems that come with them. Plus, this technology is not even one hundred percent safe yet which makes it risky and expensive. Doctors can insert around four thousand different genetic markers (Discovery Science) so the possibilities for designer babies is quite extraordinary. However, there are many problems that arise with this new
When we look into the concept,one main controversy that faces us, is the gap that will occur between designed babies and natural babies. Our society already accommodates many societal gaps within its norms. If designer babies were legalised then gaps already exisiting in our society would expand rapidly. Due to the high cost of this process only those of the wealthy class will have the resources to change their babies features. Therefore those who are poor will not be able to customise their child. This then increases the gap between the rich and the underprivileged. Designer babies also creates gaps in many areas including; appearance, intellectual ability and athletic capability. As CGS executive director Marcy Darnovsky states "The worst-case scenarios are pretty horrific: a genetics arms race between nations or within societies, .. a world with new forms of inequality, discrimination and conflict”.With the creation of designer babies it will contribute immensely to many already existing and new issues within our society.
Changing the nature of nature with genetic engineering and testing. Due to these studies physicians have slowly altered the dynamics of the world. With the help of medical advancements with genetic technology many physicians have been able to create families, but with a certain price. As soon as you mix different embryos with certain sperm to create a “perfect child” it can cause more unwanted side effects. The public see this technology as an easy and simple way to get a perfect child, while it is way much more complicated and dangerous. When designing children with more advanced technology, such as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), can be dangerous. Such advancements cause deformities or diseases, along with gender imbalances, and social division, therefore, more safety and awareness regulations for the public should be put into place.