If everyone could choose what their baby would look like, would the world end up having a majority population of blonde-haired, blue-eyed people? Everyone could be tall, fair and very intelligent. But is this a valid goal? Should we be allowed to create the "perfect" baby?
Recently, a procedure allowing just this has been brought forth. Designer babies are babies whose genetic makeup has been preselected through in vitro fertilization and genetic engineering. Parents have access to new genetic testing methods which allow them to accurately predetermine their baby's gender, as well as any birth defects or disorders. With the new technique of PGD, (Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis) it is possible to discover any harmful or fatal diseases that an embryo may be carrying. Through PGD and DNA analysis, embryos with genetic defects such as Down's Syndrome or hemophilia can be detected. Embryos without these genes can then be selected and the others will be discarded.
I agree with the use of PGD for older parents and people with a history of inheritable diseases, where a process like this could be extremely beneficial for both the parents and the child. However, I completely disagree with parents who are using this procedure for purely cosmetic reasons. If someone wants to have a child, they should be willing to accept them and love them no matter what they look like.
While it may be tempting to be able to spare a child from the horrors of disease, we must think of how this course of action might affect society. Could genetic enhancement lead to a biased and prejudicial society? There is also the possibility of a gender imbalance to consider. Since countries like India and China value boys more than girls, wouldn't a process like genetic engineering worsen this issue?
Overall, I do not think that people should be able to decide how their baby turns out. I believe that we should allow nature to take its course and accept the child no matter what they are like.
Sources:
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989987,00.html
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/science/genetics/article6978400.ece
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/03/03/earlyshow/health/main4840346.shtml
http://jessy3149.blogspot.com/2010/11/i-asked-for-blue-eyed-baby.html?showComment=1291411230704#c3176441126472783667
http://biologyislyfe.blogspot.com/2010/11/bio-engineered-kids.html?showComment=1291412419466#c6320318391060227074
Hey Amanda,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is very well written and you really look at all the angles of genetic engineering. You also very clearly define where the line is between when this is ethical and when it is not. Good job! :)
HI!
ReplyDeleteConcerning the use of PGD for cosmetic use, I completely agree that it is not morally right but still would be misused. The gender imbalance is also a valid reason to cancel the use of PGD. However, since it's extremely difficult to prevent the use of PGD for cosmetic use but not for medical use, I think the costs outweigh the benefits and this procedure should stop altogether.
Like you said, we should let nature take its course and we could learn to adapt to the situation instead of the other way around.
Great post!
Hi Amanda.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your outlook on this insane idea of changing the look of children before they are born.
You opened my eyes as well because you introduced a new possibility of what PGD might promote. This idea is the thought of how the gender choice may affect the problems in our population. I had never thought or read about that idea before I read your blog. I agree that this could increase the ongoing problem of how imbalanced our ratio of girls to boys in certain areas of the world. Thank you for putting this idea visible to others.
The only thing that I might disagree with is you final statment that reads "I do not think that people should be able to decide how there baby turns out", I think that people have the right to do so but I don't think that it is a good choice on anyone's part.