I understand that some people feel the need to acquire designer shoes, jeans, bags, ECT; but in society today we have taken this term to a whole new level, in the form of designer babies. A Designer baby!? Babies are living beings so how can they be designer? No worries, I’ll inform you ASAP, before you start in visioning a new born baby with a Versace or Dolce&Gabbana logo stamped on its forehead.
A Designer Baby, by formal definition is, “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.” Meaning, it is a child whose genes were modified in the process of their creation in order to prevent a certain disease or disable. Or a child was scientifically created in order to provide genes for another human or child with a disease or disability. (For example, providing a bone marrow or being a blood donor for a sibling with a blood disease). How this process works is an embryo is created by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Genetic engineers modify the embryo’s DNA and then put inside the mother’s womb.
Designer Babies are a phenomenal advance in the scientific world. I completely support the use of science in saving lives but this is a very touchy subject and there are very controversial ethnic and social views. For example, if the science is being used to create a child who will be free from a genetic disease than that seems morally correct because we are using science to ensure the child’s health, and no other living beings are involved. However when a child is specifically created to provide a sibling with medical support, we must realize that this child is not being created out of love , it is being created for a purpose , and that is something that child will have to live with their whole life. If a designer baby is being created in order to ensure it has a certain eye colour, height, athletic ability, intelligence capability, ECT, then I completely disagree with this. It would start many social and ethnic conflicts because this people who were genetically enhanced may think of themselves as superiors to others and the discrimination against people who have disabilities may increase. Additionally, this child that is being enhanced will one day discover this and may be upset with the choice the parents made for them. 
In conclusion, Designer Babies can be positively utilized in certain situations, however in most circumstances I believe we may be taking the science too far and starting too many controversies revolving social, ethnic, and moral implications. So maybe before someone decides to genetically enhance their baby, they should ask themselves this, am I ordering a new pair of jeans or shoes? Or am I creating a living being that I will love for the rest of my life?
Sources
· “Design-A-Baby?” Bionet, Explore Life Sciences and Debate the Issue. Nov. 15, 10.
· “On the Path to Creating Designer Babies”. Impact Lab, A Laboratory of the future human experience. Nov. 15, 10
· “Designer Babies.” Reader’s Digest. Nov. 15/10
· “Designer Babies: Ethical Considerations.” Action Bio Science. Nov. 15, 10
· “Doctor Makes Designer Baby, Would God be Happy.” Naked with Socks On. Nov. 15, 10
· “Fertility Clinic Offers Designer Babies.” Strollerderby, the Mother of all Parenting Blogs. Nov. 15, 10
Blogs I Commented On
- Vilmas Blog : http://vilmabioblog.blogspot.com/
-Caitlyn's Blog: < http://caitlincosgrovebioblog.blogspot.com/>
