The Birth Of A Baby With Genetic Defects

Parents who have a high risk of passing on a painful or fatal genetic disorder to their children often use the method of picking an embryo and determining whether or not the gene runs in them as well, some of the genes that could run in them include tay-sachs, cystic fibrosis, down syndrome, and hemophilia A. This gene can then be targeted, and taken out of the child ensuring that it will be safe from the almost inherited trait from one of its parents. This was the main purpose of this procedure when it was first developed by the English physician, Walter Heape (1855-1929). But it was later discovered that instead of taking out genes, some could be added. That is then how ‘designer babies’ started to be developed.

Imagine a world where having a baby was like looking through a menu at some fancy restaurant. Imagine being able to choose how a baby will look and act. As mind-boggling as it sounds, scientists and researchers came across an unbelievable discovery: it is possible to design and edit a baby however a person may like. Hanson asserts that personality, gender, appearance, intelligence, hair color, and height can be changed using technology that was originally used for animals (Hanson). These babies are called designer babies. Phillip Ball, a science writer, claims that it is possible to change the genetic makeup of an unborn baby using bio-technology. However, these changes can have more negative effects than positive. Although most countries have not legislated the use of genetic modification, studies have been done on human embryos in China (Ball).

As we stand in the world today, we as humans have never been more technologically advanced or scientifically intelligent. We have the ability to explore outer space and the depths of the oceans. We are even in the process of developing organs using 3D printing technology. But there is a limit to the extent of advancements that humankind can reach before some begin to pose dangers to humanity or become unethical. Currently, technology is being developed to expand the procedure of in vitro fertilization to genetically modify embryos. The products of this engineering are commonly known as “designer babies”. This technology, when fully developed, would grant parents the opportunity to select against possibly life threatening or altering conditions such as cystic fibrosis, schizophrenia and Alzheimer’s. Using this technology, parents would also be able to make extensive selections regarding their baby’s gender, physical characteristics, and possibly even personality traits and talents. While it is positive advancement to be able to select against life-threatening diseases, the creation of an a-la-carte baby is unethical and crosses the line between positive sociological developments and immoral manipulations of nature for many reasons.

Picture a young couple in a waiting room looking through a catalogue together. This catalogue is a little different from what you might expect. In this catalogue, specific traits for babies are being sold to couples to help them create the "perfect baby." This may seem like a bizarre scenario, but it may not be too far off in the future. Designing babies using genetic enhancement is an issue that is gaining more and more attention in the news. This controversial issue, once thought to be only possible in the realm of science-fiction, is causing people to discuss the moral issues surrounding genetic enhancement and germ line engineering. Though genetic research can prove beneficial to learning how to prevent hereditary

Imagine a world where maladaptive genetic diseases have ceased to exist, parents have the ability to alter and improve their unborn child’s attributes such as height, intelligence, and attractiveness, and each generation becomes healthier, smarter, and stronger. Sounds like an unfeasible utopia, does it not? However, due to scientific advancements in the field of embryonic gene modification, this fantasy may soon become a reality. In a nutshell, embryonic gene modification refers to scientists altering the genome of an embryo in vitro for a multitude of reasons, ranging from eliminating harmful genetic diseases to altering superficial characteristics. Although embryonic gene modification may seem like a dream come true to many, it is not without ethical concerns that require intense debate.

Day by day, an accretion of advancements and improvements are formed across the world. Prominent developments occur rapidly, like the use and creation of technology. Technology has and continues to create an immense effect on how we live our daily lives. Its use is ranged from how information is found, travel, communication, and more. However, the advancements of technology seems to interfere with the circle of natural life, life that is brought into our world. It has changed the lives of unborn children, whom are in the form of an embryo. Altered by a new technique and process of genetic modification, that is commonly referred to as “Designer Babies”. This genetic modification, genetically modifies the DNA of an embryo to achieve desirable traits amongst them. It changes an unborn babies development and future life. While it may seem that designer babies can be a positive life change, there are negative effects that outweigh, due to the fact that it goes against human nature; genetic probability, expectations, diversity, and religious prospects.

A designer baby is a baby genetically engineered in vitro for specially selected traits, which can vary from lowered disease-risk to gender selection. Before the advent of genetic engineering and in vitro fertilization (IVF), designer babies were primarily a science fiction concept. However, the rapid advancement of technology before and after the turn of the twenty-first century makes designer babies an increasingly real possibility. As a result, designer babies have become an important topic in bioethical debates, and in 2004 the term “designer baby” even became an official entry in the Oxford English Dictionary. Designer babies represent an area within embryology that has not yet become a practical reality, but nonetheless draws out ethical concerns about whether or not it will become necessary to implement

The phrase “designer baby” was not added to the dictionary until 2004, but the idea had existed in the form of the eugenics movement since Sir Francis Galton published his book Hereditary Genius in 1869. Galton’s research suggested that intelligence is hereditary, and he believed that success is due to superior qualities that were passed down generation through generation. His research further suggested that personality traits and mental abilities were also hereditary (Plucker, 2013). Eugenics, a term coined by Galton in 1883, advocated for human breeding restrictions so as to improve the biological make-up of the human race (Steen, 1996). Technology since then has advanced greatly, and designer babies are now a very real possibility.

In his essay, “Building Baby From the Genes Up”, Ronald M. Green highlights the significance of Britain’s Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority’s ruling in favor of two couples seeking to eradicate breast cancer from their lineage through preimplantation genetic diagnosis, before building a case for why reproductive genetic technology is part of our future and why he believes that is a good thing. Tackling common criticisms, such as the effects genetic manipulation will have on parenting, the potential for discrimination and oppression, and religious objection, he ultimately concludes that we can overcome the risks to enjoy a host of improvements to our quality of life. On the surface, his ideals project a healthier, stronger human race; however, they fail to account for human nature and try to package life into neat, sterilized package.

Humans have been able to genetically modify crops, food, and animals over the years with many regulations. Now, they are able to genetically select/modify babies with the rapidly advancing technology that is available. Until recently, parents did not have the option to choose how their child will look and the many genetic features that their child must have. Genetically modified babies (GMB) are commonly referred to as designer babies. Designer babies’ genetic makeup is “selected in order to eradicate a particular defect or to ensure that a particular gene is present” (Catalano, 2012). Although the purpose for genetically modifying the fetus is to eradicate diseases many nowadays use it to alter physical genes such as eye color and hair color which is an abuse of the technology. This has caused a debates regarding whether or not GMBs are ethical and if the United

Technology has made leaps and bounds over the past several years; it has come to have tremendous effects on how we live our lives; from transportation to how quickly we can access information. Recently, technology has begun changing the lives of children, especially infants. A new form of genetic engineering can genetically modify the DNA of an embryo to achieve specific or desirable traits; this is referred to as “Designer Babies”. This procedure will ultimately change lives, for better or for worse. While it may seem to most that designer babies are beneficial, they will actually cause more harm than good.

However an advancement in technology before the turn of twenty- first century makes designer babies a real possibility, staates, Sarah Ly Keywords. This article shows that designer babies have created controversy about whether it's ethical or unethical and on whether it is necessary to implement limitations regarding designer babies in the future. Like I said before, PGD allows viable embryos to be screened for various genetic traits, such as sex-linked diseases. Furthermore, this article proves that people may use PGD for a different reason. For example, this article explains about a couple who already had conceive two boys, but they wanted a girl.

Over the past decade, the scientific technology of genetic engineering has grown drastically. Online articles propose that the chance to pick the accurate characteristics a guardian wants for their child will be accessible, “Any couple with several thousand dollars to spare can choose the sex of their offspring” (Ehrich and Williams, 2004). Progressed regenerative advances permit people and specialists to screen embryos for a hereditary issue and select solid developing lives. Although Designer babies have been a subject that has been banned in China, UK, and India, it is still a mainstream point far and wide. This subject brings a considerable measure of verbal confrontations about the basic, yes and no, but additionally about when and when not.

Science is now able to better improve human health and safety thanks to the advanced modern technology and medicine that are available. Yet with today's technology being implemented into science comes the questions of human morality, or bioethics. One of the bioethics debates is on the coined term “Designer babies”; on if or where society should draw the line on genetically altering our children before they are born. With the technology able to stop hereditary diseases, the scientific development’s are able to change the child’s “eye color, hair color, social intelligence, right down to whether or not your child would have a widow’s peak” before the child is born. From the options on choosing whether or not your child will look or act a certain

Should parent be allowed to genetically engineer their children? : The ethical dilemma of designer babies.