...Designing your own baby is a very sophisticated and innovative thing; you can potentially free your child from having any mutations from occurring within their body and to screen possible diseases that will affect them. However, there are many negative standpoints that overpower the pros. A gap in society could be created, this would create classes that distinguish designer babies from those that are not. Potentially, there will be greatly dominated traits whereas, the lesser favoured traits will go extinct. A lack of genetic diversity has been shown to lead to defects and other problems. Lastly, the technology used is only in the experimental stages at this point, not to mention the costly effects. All in all, the question that should...
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...| Should parents screen for desirable genetic traits in their offspring? | | | | | | Critical Thinking 11 June 2012 Final Project As technology advances and scientists carry on with everyday research in medicine, a new way of life is created. With simply a test tube and perfectly selected genes a family can welcome their designer baby to the world with open arms. Should parents screen for desirable genetic traits in their offspring? Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) also known as a designer baby is a genetic modification that is used to alter anything from gender to disease, even appearance, personality, and IQ. The Oxford Dictionary defines the term 'Designer Babies' as "a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with in vitro fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics." According to Wall Street Journal, “PGD is a technique whereby a three-day-old embryo, consisting of about six cells, is tested in a lab to see if it carries a particular genetic disease. Embryos free of that disease are implanted in the mother's womb. Introduced in the 1990s, it has allowed thousands of parents to avoid passing on deadly disorders to their children.” Are you willing to pay the price to have this perfect child? Many do not but the few that do, fully support it. Despite the limited amount of knowledge and awareness of the potential threats that are to be had by going...
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...(c) Playing God: Another area of concern, is whether we are playing “God” with human evolution. (Cite – Pro/Con) The notion being science should be left out of childbirth, childbirth is a natural event and has been from the beginning of time. While this may true and childbirth should not be left to science, science is sometimes necessary to intervene when it comes to natural events. “People say we should not go against nature, but that’s illogical because every time we cure a disease we go against nature” (Schishor, Simonet, Canaon) Just because an event is natural or unnatural does not make it right or wrong, rather, the purpose behind the intervention should be the focus. (b) Social Fears: The most problematic social concern opponents...
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...place by collecting eggs from the mother which are then fertilized in vitro with the father's sperm. After a successful fertilization, many genetic tests, called pre-implantion genetic diagnosis or PGD, are run to determine if the embryo has any defects such as down syndrome, heart issues, spina bifada, deafness and blindness. If the embryos pass this stage, they go into more indepth and specific tests. The parents set out a list of desirable and undesirable characteristics such as hair colour, eye colour, and skin colour, height and even their build. In some cases, the parents can select their future child's attitude, temperment and other characteristics. In some places, genetically modified babies are banned. There are many ethical issues associated with eugenics, often called "designer babies" amoung activist groups, religious organizations and average citizens of Earth. 2007 in...
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...Human Genetic Engineering Society presents a large issue within the scientific world in terms of genetic engineering, weighing the pros and cons from both scientific and moral perspectives. Genetic engineering for humans, more commonly referred to as “designer babies”, strikes a debate between those who believe that genetic engineering is unethical versus those who believe that designer babies are moving the human race towards a better future. The moral platform that society has raised us as well as scientific research in puts an obvious answer in our hands- that genetic engineering is more dangerous and detrimental for humans rather than beneficial. To argue my thesis, I will thoroughly present both the scientific evidence and psychological perspectives that express the overall morality and ethics of this issue. Rahul Thadini’s article “The Public Should Avoid Designer Baby Technology” will assist my arguments within my report, as Thadani expresses useful scientific and moral points that focuses on the harm that genetic engineering would add to humans’ posterity. Using Thadani’s points, I question what people claim to be the benefits of genetic engineering. If we are able to use genetic engineering to cure diseases as well as disable the genes that trigger them, then how would our genetic diversity be kept as such a diverse group, considering the fact that our genetic diversity is what keeps humans at less risk for such health issues? In a more ethical and moral light, how...
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...Is it Ethical to Produce Designer Babies? What if parents could have the child of their dreams? Now scientists are close to making it possible to where parents can design their own “perfect” child. It means that they will be able to pick out their child’s hair color, personality traits, and even if they want them to be athletic or not. According to, (www.infertility.com), out of 1000 surveyed, 40% of people said they would pick the traits of their child. Only 9% seen something wrong with the idea of designer babies. I am going to tell you about what exactly is a designer baby, the pros, and the cons of having a designer baby.. The positives: Take the case of Cindy and John Whitley. Their first child died at the age of 9 months from a deadly genetic disorder called spinal muscular atrophy. Genetic analysis uncovered that the Whitley’s statistically had a 1 in 4 chance of creating a child with spinal muscular atrophy each time they conceived. Unwilling to risk having another child with the deadly disorder, the Whitley’s used PGD to conceive three children, all healthy. To start off with, designer babies aren’t easy to develop it takes a lot of knowledge. According to research done by scientist Keith Kleiner, “…Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis is used with in vitro fertilization to look at embryos for over 100 diseases before it is in the mother.” After seeing what embryos have diseases they then destroy them. Scientist use in vitro fertilization to fertilize the eggs...
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...TOPIC “Designer Babies” Introduction We all know that designer babies are likely to become the 'thing' of the future. The rich will be able to change their child's eye color, hair color or possibly even how intelligent they are. Medicine will be able to advance to an all new high, with Downs syndrome, Huntiongton's disease and Tay-Sachs being all but distant memories. Designer babies Since the discovery of DNA in the late 1950's, the possibility of genetic modification of animals and plants has become a reality. The term designer baby refers to the genetic modification of the child in its early fetal life. The world of genetic modification has long moved on from the days of Dolly the Sheep. How is a designer baby created? * An embryo is created by in-vitro fertilization (IVF). * A single cell is removed from that embryo within the first 5 days of its creation. * The cell is genetically tested. * The parents decide whether to discard the embryo or implant it in the mother's womb. Human Genome Project The Human Genome Project (HGP) was the international, collaborative research program whose goal was the complete mapping and understanding of all the genes of human beings. All our genes together are known as our "genome." The Human Genome Project started in the 1980s as an organized effort to provide the information researchers need to understand the genetic basis of all disease. GINA is the first major federal law to come out of the Ethical, Legal...
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...Designer Babies A couple just got married a few weeks ago, and they are looking for the perfect car. They go down to the dealership in hopes of finding their dream car. The couple gets there and continues to look around, when they find a Buick Enclave. It is brand new and looks nice, but it does not have everything they are looking for. A salesman comes over to ask if they need some assistance, and they tell the salesman they like the car but it just does not have all the things they are looking for. The salesman tells them it is not a problem; they can just special order the car if they wanted. The salesman brings them inside and hands them a list of options they are able to choose from. Color? Blue. Seats? Leather. DVD player? Heck yes! Seat warmers? Yes please. Chrome wheels? Of course. The salesman then sends the lists of options to the Buick Company so the couple’s car can be custom built. The couple is happy with the car they got to design themselves, but now it is time for them to have a child. The couple wants their child to be a girl, somewhat tall, with blonde hair, big blue eyes, and olive skin tone. They go to the doctors and the doctor tells them that it is possible for them to have their “dream child”. The couple is ecstatic and tells the doctor what they want. Nine months later they have themselves their perfect child. Scientists have already modified animals and crops, so why not babies? There are arguably positive and negative results...
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...ENG100 Ryan Bloom 10 April 2013 Baby’s First Word: Designer There was once a time when the term designer was used only in terms of style and fashion. It was a choice between brands such as Gucci, Prada, or Armani and never a choice between disabilities, skin color, or gender. It is sad to say the word designer no longer applies to just materials anymore, it’s reached a new level; genetics. There is nothing ethical about being able to essentially manipulate the genes of a fetus to reflect characteristics deemed suitable by the parents. The characteristics chosen by the parents, such as a medical miracle match of genes to another sibling, set the child up to become what the parents want and not necessarily what the child wants to be. Genetic alteration of the baby also contributes to the unfairness that is gender preference and gender based discrimination. The possibility of genetic hierarchies, to which those that are not genetically enhanced are considered inferior, will increase tremendously because of the increasing gap between classes. It is understandable that technology is moving humanity towards a better more advanced future, but what shouldn’t be forgotten is that some things created in nature cannot be replaced by technology. Designer babies are just one of the few gray areas in which science infringes upon the way of nature. Scientists claim that not everything about genetically altered test tube babies can be considered bad. Science has been able to manipulate...
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...Hassan 1 Hussein Hassan Mr. Horn AP Seminar February 2 2015 The Perfect Human: The Flaws in Modern Eugenics With global technologies rapidly advancing, specifically those based in the field of genetics, one might wonder where humanity is headed in terms of their offspring. The answer? Modern eugenics. Francis Galton's eugenics, centered around forced sterilization and selective breeding to eliminate undesirable traits and foster the spread of more advantageous ones (Galton), is dead. However, the idea of focusing on one’s inherited genes to eliminate passed down diseases is alive and well, albeit in a more “modern” fashion. Is modern eugenics the right way of the future for humanity? To what extent should modern eugenics be viable? Before ambitious genetic projects had begun, such as the Human Genome Project which mapped out the entirety of the human genome (Genome.gov), the only way to tamper with an individual’s genes was through their parents. Gregor Mendel earned the moniker “The Father of Genetics” because of his experiments involving the breeding of plants in the mid 19th century (Biography.com). However, modern eugenics focuses on the genes of child more than the parents through abortions and the genetic altering of the embryo to achieve the desired results. This can be achieved through a process called genetic screening, which observes an embryo’s chromosomes for any lapses or breaks (Galloway a). Embryo’s that show signs of a genetic disorders...
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...have been experimenting with cells in petri dishes, trying to clone cells and mutate them. Scientists have even figured out how to change human DNA before it's even born. Doing so allows them to change physical features, abilities, and prevent certain diseases such as alzheimer's. I imagine that genetic engineering is very helpful and could potentially further our society. However, it is illegal to change or mutate DNA in a child in the US. Specifically modifying or editing gene cells or embryos so that a child has certain features are called “designer babies.” Designer babies could be of great help to society. For example, if the next generation is biologically smarter,...
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...Within a few short years, some scientists claim, reproductive science could give birth to the age of “designer babies” (Designer Babies: Opposing Viewpoints in Context). Just as surprising are these new developments are occurring “In 2009, the Fertility Institutes in Los Angeles offered to let parents select their children’s hair and eye color” (Designer Babies: Opposing Viewpoints in Context) although these benefits sound appealing, no one really knows what could happen in the effect of these...
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...Karen Bleile Genetic Report for Designer Babies Biology 111-112 / J. Thomson October 30, 2012 In the 21 century the term designer babies made the transition from sci-fi movies into the real world where it is defined as “a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with invitro fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics.” (Oxford University, 2005) Breeders of animals and plants have been using this technique to “produce organisms that will possess desirable characteristics, such as high crop yields, resistance to disease, high growth rate and many other phenotypical characteristics that will benefit the organism and species in the long term.” (Butler, 2012) We need to pause and ask ourselves if we start to cross breed the human race what are the moral or ethical limits, if any, and should we apply guidelines in allowing people to choose their children’s genes or characteristics when designing a baby. In many science fiction movies the subject of having genetically modified humans or creatures are often brought up. The creative author has the ability to give their characters any traits they want. They have the power to make the characters stronger, faster, more intelligent, to specify how they look, or simply be superhuman. Now imagine the scenario if the stories cease to lie in just the films we...
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...outcomes parents might support this decision. However, the public also has a concern for what if the child ends up with a deadlier disease than what is present. Some parents might not support this decision and might want to give it a chance to the child to outlive it. They have the right to be a stakeholder because it is the general public’s children that are the ones who are going to receive this service making them an imperative facet. Overall, they people might be scared off of even letting their child go through such process of editing their children’s genomes with the fear that the doctor might mess up risking the children’s’ lives. Not only that, but some financially established parents might use it to their advantage to create designer babies, which might lead to another controversy in the society. Therefore, general public might find this change in the genome to be unethical because there is a huge risk factor and unrighteous for the unborn to go through such...
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...Technology – Boon or Bane? Posted on August 25, 2011by Sumukh Naik Technology is one of the greatest invention of mankind.It is so powerful that it shapes our thinking and our way of life within no time.It is ever evolving.Technology is a tool invented and sharpened by humans to make their life easier.Those who know the correct application of technology, be it any sphere of activity, have managed to make lives easier for themselves and to some extent also for others. I feel the best technological breakthrough was the invention of computers which basically led to further advancement in technology viz the creation of many softwares and hardware. Technology has gifted mankind with various boons but look closely and you will realise that technology have blessed mankind with two very important aspects – facility of communication and creation of time. Creation of phone, fax, paging services, mobile services, video conferencing etc are few of the facilities that the human mind has been able to conceive with the aid of technology.All have played a very important part in making the world a ‘Global Village’. Technology has ensured that one can easily communicate with anyone on land, in air(aeroplanes) or even when the person is under the calm waves of dark deep-sea (submarines). But the Time Creation aspect of technology has now posed a challenge and threat which very few had ever thought of. Computers – They have evolved rapidly at the rate of knots. A few decades ago, a single...
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