Ever since 2004, the huge controversy of designer babies has been overflowing the media. Technology has developed so greatly that genetic modification could be performed on humans. The big question is, is it ethically acceptable?
Although the process has not been mastered yet, it is only a matter of time before scientists will able to safely perform the procedure. The main two reasons for designer babies are medical purposes, and cosmetic purposes. Some people say it is unethical to modify humans. Some say there are many benefits and it should be acceptable. I stand somewhere in between the two arguments.
It is almost certain that the future will be able to master genetic engineering
Although I believe it is true that the parents should accept their child no matter the genes they are given, in some cases, genetically engineering can be beneficial and prevent common diseases such as Down syndrome and blood diseases. If our technology is capable of safely removing these diseases, then I support them. Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis or PGD, is the term used to refer to embryo screening for medical purposes. I feel this is an excellent and safe procedure that can eliminate all unwanted diseases. If today’s technology allows us to diagnose and remove genes that cause harmful disease, then I think it is morally acceptable for us to perform these actions. Designing babies has been proven to save lives as well as successfully remove diseases. I think humans should take advantage of this technology and use it whenever necessary.
However, I do not support the modification of genes for cosmetic purposes. Designing babies should only be used for causes that will save lives or remove diseases. It should not be used to simply choose specific traits of a child. Designing a child for the wrong reasons can limit the Childs ability to make choices. There are certain characteristics that could be given to a child, however the child may not want to obtain them. Certain races and ethnicities will be rarer in the future if designing babies becomes more common. This can trigger an increase in discrimination and exclusion. The process of genetic modifications should be done under control with valid reasoning.
The risks of genetically engineering are very high, and they should not be taken for unnecessary reasons. The results are unpredictable and can have an effect on other genes. Any small errors can lead to death and other issues. When technology finally masters genetic engineering, I am almost positive it will be extremely costly. Certain traits and characteristics shouldn’t be only available to the wealthy. When the ability to change physical features and characteristics is made possible, it may be abused and can have negative impacts on our society. I believe that humans should have the control to refrain from designing babies for any reason other than medical.
Some things should be left alone.
Blogs commented on:
http://graceelkhechen.blogspot.com/2010/11/designer-babies-future-generation.html#comment-form
http://biologyislyfe.blogspot.com/2010/11/bio-engineered-kids.html#comments
Websites Used:
http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html
http://www.bionetonline.org/english/content/dbcont1.htm
