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/>
Mel! I completely agree with you, the subject is very touchy, and sometimes it can be taken too far. I also agree that it is unfair for babies to be created for a purpose, because as in the movie My Sisters Keeper, it is shown that sometimes it's hard to look out for the needs of all the children. Your blog rocks!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, your blog got everything right on! It pin-pointed all of the important points, moral concerns and scientific alike. I really liked how you stated the definition of designer baby because it cleared up any confusions I had. I loved how you interacted with your readers and I found it actually fun to read you blog! I think that your picture of the baby with all the logos on it is hilarious but it is also a bit scary! Is this what we are actually doing? Have we become so materialistic that even our children have to be "in"? Your blog touches upon all the controversial issues and it brings a lot of emotion and opinions from me which I love. I like how you mentioned that these children created through PDG are still humans that are going to live a normal life, but techinically it isn't really a normal life because they have been genetically modified! Thanks for writing such an entertaining blog, I really enjoyed it.
ReplyDeleteAwesome Job!
I strongly agree with you on the idea that altering the genetic structure of a human being to suit the likings of others is ethically and morally wrong. The concept of modifying the genes of human beings in order to avoid diseases and health problems is the ethically right thing to do. However, the reality is that the science of genetics has not been perfected yet, and therefore, there is a great risk of a human baby developing a birth disorder or even dying, in the case that the modifying of the genes is not succesful, which is very possible. In conclusion, I agree with you on the idea that tampering with genetics of humans is wrong, and that they should be left alone for mother nature to deal with.
ReplyDeleteHey music buddy!
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you've said here. There's no personal harm to anyone if this procedure is used for health reasons like preventing diseases. However, it's a fine line when the child is made for the purpose of saving someone else's life. To me, it's almost like you're just harvesting their body parts.
I also like how you talked about discrimination increasing. These IVF and PDG methods cost thousands of dollars, so using it to choose hair/eye colour, etc would create a distinct separation between people. Not to mention the segregation of people for and against it in the first place.
In the end, I think people really do need to think about loving the child for the rest of their lives. Besides, shouldn't they love him or her even if they didn't have the preferred characteristics?
Great blog!
Hey!! I really liked the you wrote this blog. You touched both sides of the argument, and you weren't biased towards one end, instead you ended off letting the reader choose their opinion. Indeed this is a very touchy topic, and it will for sure create more and more controversy as the research and tests become more advanced and publicized. Hopefully people won't go too far with this and breed a race of super humans!
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I like the way you kind of related designer babies to shoes and clothing. It brings out a good point toward were the morals of parents have gone. They shouldn't have to change their child's appearance to make them "better" or "perfect" its so unnatural and completely ridiculous if you ask me. You explained both said of the issue very well and I completely agree with your opinion on the situation. great job :)
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I really enjoyed reading your blog. I liked that you talked about parents designing babies for the sole purpose of saving another child. I also think that this is wrong. Although I would do anything to save my sisters life,I would never want to live my life knowing that I was only born for that purpose.
ReplyDeleteYour blog touches on both sides of the argument, and I agree that this might be taking it to far. Great blog Melissa!
Terrific blog Melissa! After reading your blog, it makes me open minded to all the reasons why and why not people design their children. I liked the way you related designer clothing and accessories to designer babies, because designing materials are understandable compared to designing a human being. After comparing the two, I think people might reassess their opinions on designer babies. I am opposed to designer babies and in your blog you communicated the pros and cons, great job!
ReplyDelete