Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Essay on genetic designer babies
Essay on genetic designer babies
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Editing human DNA ( Deoxyribonucleic acid is a molecule that carries the genetic instructions used in the growth, development, functioning and reproduction of all known living organisms and many viruses. (Wikipedia 1) has always been a widely controversial topic. Some believe it's wrong, while others believe it could be very beneficial to the future of curing diseases and having healthy children. I believe personally that this is not something to tamper with. Here are some reasons why.
The first problem that stood out to me on this subject was that people think that if we start trying to change some of the genetic material in a woman's egg to make healthier babies, then people will start to make “designer babies.”( Stein 3) These children could be made however the parents desire. Physical features of the child like hair color, eye color, skin color, and height could all be made to look a specific way. Imagine another country gets ahold of this technology, perhaps one we go to war with, who's to say they won't make super soldiers that are really fast or strong?
…show more content…
To have gifts that you didn't naturally have or didn't have to work for? Consider how much effort goes into talents such as dancing, the years of practice and training. These children would be made to be perfect at whatever the parents decide. Put yourself in their place if you knew you weren't naturally born, but created so to speak how would you feel? In society today others would treat you like a science experiment. You wouldn't have two biological parents, but three. ( Stein 18) The woman whose DNA came from the egg, the mother who carries the child, and the father. Nothing about this would be normal, you would feel like an outsider, a freak. Perhaps some would feel superior to human beings. There are so many questions that can't be
The second article I have chosen to evaluate for this topic is The Designer Baby Myth written by Steven Pinker. This article starts off by explaining how many people fear the idea of genetic enhancement. Several citizens are concerned about creating the ultimate inequality or changing human nature itself. Many will say technology in medicine is increasing to the point where genetic improvement is inevitable. Steven presents his position on the matter in his thesis statement; “But when it come to direct genetic enhancement-engineering babies with genes for desirable traits-there are many reasons to be skeptical.” He makes it clear that genetic enrichment is not particularly inevitable or likely in our lifetime. He bases his skepticism around three sources; the limits of futurology, science of behavioral genetics, and human nature.
Often times referred to as designer babies, I find this topic very interesting and believe that it should be discussed more. As for my stance on the topic, I think that it is a great idea but, however, only to an extent. I think that if we are capable of changing a baby's genes so that they will not develop a deadly or potentially harmful disease, then I am all for it. On the other hand, however, I am not supportive of parents who want to genetically modify their baby for beauty purposes. We should leave our appearances up to mother nature. I do not think it is right to change genes for appearance whether it be making teeth whiter, eyes and hair a specific color, or changing their genes responsible for height. Personally, the fatal disease, Alzheimer's runs in my family and I would love to be able to prevent my children from potentially carrying the gene. While it would be nice to be able to “design” my baby, the surprise is so much better. Not knowing whether your child will have blue or brown eyes and blonde or brown hair is a wonderful surprise in my opinion. The somewhat randomness makes us all unique. We should allow them to grow up while not having certain expectations following them around for their entire
In recent years, great advancement has been made in medicine and technology. Advanced technologies in reproduction have allowed doctors and parents the ability to screen for genetic disorders (Suter, 2007). Through preimplantation genetic diagnosis, prospective parents undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF) can now have their embryo tested for genetic defects and reduce the chance of the child being born with a genetic disorder (Suter, 2007). This type of technology can open the door and possibility to enhance desirable traits and characteristics in their child. Parents can possibly choose the sex, hair color and eyes or stature. This possibility of selecting desirable traits opens a new world of possible designer babies (Mahoney,
The designer kids would think they are better than an average kid. The process of genetically engineering a child is expensive. This means the poor people can not even think about creating a baby , they do not have the money for it. Genes often have more than one use , so creating a baby is not the best choice. Therefore altering a gene could have adverse or even fatal effects. With designer babies it allows parents to give their child a better shot at healthy lifestyle preventing genetic diseases such as down syndrome , alzheimer’s , huntington’s disease , spinal muscular , atrophy and many others. The thought of designer babies could possibly take over. But how do you feel living with a sort of robot? Would people look at your child differently? Would designer babies be able to reproduce correctly? The pros on Designer Babies are very intense and serious. They have the ability to give a human everything they would want in a
What do one think of when they hear the words “Designer Babies”? A couple designing their own baby of course, and it’s become just that. Technology has made it possible for there to be a way for doctors to modify a babies characteristics and its health. Genetically altering human embryos is morally wrong, and can cause a disservice to the parents and the child its effecting.
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 diseases, the genetic enhancement of human embryos is unethical when used to create "designer babies" with enhanced appearance, athletic ability, and intelligence.
When it comes to the topic of genetic modification some of us will readily agree that humanity would be better off without it. Where as some are convinced that genetic modification may be the best way to go for the next generation, others maintain that it will cause conflict and separation between societies. Some of us can agree that even though scientists say genetic modification is to break the cycle of cancer and other inherited diseases, I say that along with the process comes the option of changing other features in your unborn child. Genetic modification should not occur because even though some consider it a good thing there are still a lot of negative things that come from this like cell imbalance.
Many people have preconceived ideas and stereotypes of the perfect look, depending on their ethnic background, race, country, etc. For example, a blonde, blue-eyed female might be appealing to one family but not necessarily to another. To be able to tailor the look of one’s child would enable parents to allow their child to fit into the local culture easily. The issue could be that some of nature’s more unpopular looks would be still be exhibited in the children who didn’t get a genetic make-over. Human beauty and attractiveness are desired by society and the people who are not pretty, or are even funny-looking, may not be treated as well as the designer babies in the work and promotion arena, or in social circles. While there are naturally occurring beautiful people, genetically engineered good looks add an unnatural and unfair advantage in human
The diversity and the unity of life are equally meaningful and striking aspects of our Earth (Dobzhansky, 1973). Although an astounding 1.2 million species have already been identified, it is estimated that another 8.7 million are yet to be discovered and classified (Mora et al., 2011). By understanding what unifies us –our genes, our understanding of the organisms we share our planet with will continue to grow.
Genetic engineering depends on the location and analysis of genes on chromosomes and ultimately DNA sequencing. The early cartography of the genes used the principles of Mendelian genetics . It is assumed that alleles that are transmitted together side by side are located on the same chromosome : it is said that are connected or linkage . These genes form a bridging group - linkage group : are the same for gametes and are usually transmitted together , so they do not have independent distribution. Crossing-over occurring during meiosis may cause these alleles can be exchanged between the chromosomes of a homologous pair .
Because of the recent technological advances in genetic engineering, parents could have the choice not only to pick and choose their children’s physical appearances, but many personality traits and talents as well. As amazing and unreal as this seems, for some people a chance to create their baby’s characteristics is a dream come true. Parents can build almost every aspect of their child, taking away the faith most people have in God. The belief that He created man, makes designing and choosing characteristics in a child seem to belittle God. Altering a child‘s genetic makeup also takes away from the idea of a baby being a miracle from God because people would have the choice to change and design possibly any aspect of their child. Parents choo...
Shortly after the groundbreaking discovery of the structure of DNA in 1953, the scientific world was essentially given the ability to alter the genetic sequence of any living organism using a process known as 'genetic engineering'. By definition, genetic engineering is 'the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material', it is quite simply an unnatural process which defies the ordinary course of nature. As of yet, no devastating or permanent damage has been done. However, the unpredictable nature and unknown consequences genetic engineering holds is more than enough reason to be cautious, as one mistake could have irreversible and catastrophic effects.
Many debilitating and severe unwanted diseases, genetic disorders and disabilities can be avoided through the creation of designer babies. A child's quality of life would be drastically increased if they evade Down Syndrome, deformities or heart disease for example. In a sense, it isn’t all that different to hearing aid, medication for an illness or chemotherapy for cancer, but on a larger scale and earlier in someone’s life, before it even really begins in fact. Some people would argue that changing genes is changing who people are, which they view as ‘wrong’, but genes aren’t exactly the only things that make up a person anyway. The way that they grow up and their surroundings also make people...
In a recent study by Editas Medicine, they are working with CRISPR to prevent a blinding disorder called “leber congenital amarurosis” which is a rare inherited disease (Knapton, 2015). This disorder is due to a defect in a gene that encodes for a protein that is essential for vision, using CRISPR they are able to cut out the mutated areas. This is one example on how modifying DNA can be beneficial and why it should be accepted. Many inherited disorders like cystic fibrosis or Tay-Sachs. With parents having genetic screen tests they can provide a better future for their children and prevent them from a life with a
Do we have the right to change a person’s genetics, especially before they are born? Do we know enough to confidently insert or delete genes without detrimental consequences down the road? If we have the ability to help people who have disabilities or diseases, is it ethical to withhold and not treat the patient? I believe human gene therapy is a good and useful tool for medicine and needs to be developed because it possesses the ability to help and cure people from ailments that degrade their quality of life. One of the biggest concerns involved in gene therapy in humans is the lack of knowledge and the possibility for consequences later on or in generations to follow.... ...