Designer babies is a term used to describe a child that was genetically modified to meet the specifications desired by the parent. This is done by the advancements in genetic technology allowing for the alterations of an embryo for either cosmetic or characteristic traits. While this is possible with our current technology, it is not stable to the extent that a person could randomly walk into a shoppers drug mart, take a number, sit down and have someone modify their child like it was a piece of deli waiting to be sliced to their preference. While the ability to genetically modify your child to become whatever you want sounds cool, there are too many conflicts that keep it from being a viable option for someone to choose without having an extreme case. Also, did we not talk about this in my last blog post? Designer fruits and such are scary things!
Test tube baby...creepy (not real baby)
There always seems to be moral conflicts with everything intense 
With all things extreme there are extreme controversies that follow. That’s just how it is, due to the nature of an extreme action. Many people have different conflicting views with something like designer babies. The ethical issues flood this topic with a torrent of both religious and humane conflicts. Even animal rights groups have problems with genetic modification. Scientists would perform tests on lab rats and mice first, and when these tests would prove to be successful, they would move on to primates. This is because of their similar genetic make up to humans. Someone who is against animal testing will have a problem with this which would give them a negative mindset on genetic modification. The rights of the fetus also come into question. One may believe that the child should have the right to choose while another may argue that the fetus has not developed enough to have its own conscience to warrant a decision. The extreme nature of these questions forces someone to either side, the grey areas in these types of cases are very thin. Its either you are pro designer babies, or against designer babies. Then again, there may actually be a happy medium.
MMMMmmmm technological developments 
While the advancements of science have gone to a far region of “awesome-ness”, the idea of designing children at will is still very far off, but we do have many procedures that are already developed, in which we are able to “alter” a child to a small extent. The process of In vitro fertilization (IVF) is one of them. During in vitro fertilization the sperm is injected in the egg outside of the uterus. The embryo would then grow in a test tube or Petri dish. After it is then inserted back into woman’s uterus to develop naturally. In vitro fertilization (IVF) also reduces the risk of the transfer of diseases. Infertility is a big problem amongst couples. 6.1 million Americans are affected by infertility according to a survey taken in 1997. Processes like in vitro fertilization are good options for these couples who suffer infertility problems, even though it is not a natural birth. While this is nowhere near to the point of being able to change the features of the child, some may still argue on the controversies of this procedure. In my opinion, there is no harm in the development of In vitro fertilization (IVF) or procedures like this, the problem is when the thin line of helping infertile people and designing “perfect children” are crossed.
That very thin line “that one -> ---“
There are good things that can come from the advancement of genetically modifying embryos. People who have genetic problems that may transfer it to their children now may have the option to have safe child births due to the genetic modification of the embryo. A genetic disorder is linked with an abnormality in the genes or chromosomes of a person. This is then passed through to the next generation when a child is born. These abnormalities can create problems like diabetes, asthma, obesity and can even be a cause for cancer. If one was to create a designer baby for the purpose of protecting it from such health problems, then there would be nothing wrong. It would save a lot of lives, reduce obesity rates, help people breathe, and overall improve the life of a person who was doomed even before their birth to the high probability of obtaining such disease. The problem is when a person would abuse the procedure of creating designer babies and make something like a supreme soldier in the army, or an over achieving athlete.
Metal Gear!!!
The video game franchise Metal Gear used genetic engineering to create the perfect soldier, and with their success that soldier was able to stop the feared weapon “Metal Gear”from being released into the world and ensuing chaos. This soldier was codenamed “Solid Snake” and he was the genetically modified clone of “Big Boss” who was considered to be “the greatest soldier of the twentieth century”, the only problem was, “Big Boss” was a natural born human, and would eventually die off. The government then decided to clone him and mass produce him to make an invincible army. “Snake”was just a test subject, a very sucessfl one at that. Even though he is considered as a perfect soldier, he is not a perfect human. Because he is a clone that isn’t perfect, he would age faster than a normal human, and because of that, he has an extremely short lifespan. This gives an example of how designer babies today are not perfect. They still have defects, and in the case of “Snake” it was his age. Now let’s apply “Snake” to the real world. Let’s imagine an army of “Metal Gear” stopping super soldiers fighting the current wars in this world. There would be absolute destruction of the side without these soldiers. So a country in poverty would be at an unfair advantage, and would just increase the social gaps of a country with money and without. The country that would be first to develop such fearsome soldiers would have the control of the entire earth. That country would be un-opposable and think of how life would be in a dictatorship world.
Designer babies are kinda scary… I mean look at him
Well ok, maybe not all designer babies will end up looking like him but still, they could! What I’m trying to say is that while designer babies do have good qualities, their potential to be abused is very great, and as well all know, humans are known for abusing things. The thing is that, we have the potential to do great things with genetic engineering. We could save thousands of lives, get rid of diseases and even stop cancer from harming further generations. I guess it really all depends on what kinds of people get their hands on this technology. Let’s just hope that the future is one without an army of eye patch wielding soldiers controlling our planet.
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/i/infertility/stats-country.htm
http://www.scienceprogress.org/2008/05/designer-babies/
http://media.arstechnica.com/journals/thumbs.media/ruliweb_mgs4_05.jpghttp://www.rogue-entomologist.com/media/images/Test_Tube_Baby_640x480.jpg
I agree designer babies would be scary, imagine a baby who was 300 times smarter than you? It would freak me out, it also wouldn't be fair to me, because I work so hard in biology and this kid got his rich parents to make him smarter than me.
ReplyDeleteI do agree video games are very much to blame, me being an avid gamer I now that video games give us wild imaginations, making us feel all powerful and that we can Bio Shock( game reference ) Anyone. It isn't fair than my son is engineered though I am quite curious as to what I could do.