The Prospect Of Designer Babies: Is It Inevitable?

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Source analysis What would the world be like if we had perfect people? Is it right to manufacture perfect people starting in the mother’s womb? As with any debate, there are two opposing perspectives on the genetic engineering of children. The controversy about whether or not a fetus can or should be designed to be “perfect” brings up many ethical issues. In Michael Catalano’s scholarly article “The Prospect of Designer Babies: Is it Inevitable?”, his research and survey highlights and gives factual information about both sides of the argument. Catalano’s purpose is to inform readers on the future of designer babies. Through his research he discusses how people oppose the idea of the designer baby for ethical reasons yet support the …show more content…

Genetic engineering is the alteration of a living, breathing organism that changes its DNA by replacing it with new, healthy DNA segments. Catalano defines a designer baby as “a baby whose genetic make-up has been selected in order to eradicate a particular defect, or to ensure that a particular gene is present” (1). The term “designer babies” is actually coined from journalist and commentators when referring to various reproductive technologies. This term is never actually used by scientists (Baird). In his article, Catalano predicts that with technology advancing at such a rapid pace, that one day designer babies will soon be a reality. Even though genetically engineering humans is frowned upon by most of society, it has the potential to become commonplace in the near future. Similar procedures that alter the genes of a fetus exist today but are less intrusive include the preimplantation genetic diagnosis and the nuclear transfer. The Human Genome Project will help scientists learn how to genetically engineer humans …show more content…

"Designer Babies: Eugenics Repackaged Or Consumer Options? (Cover Story)."Technology Teacher 66.7 (2007): 12-16. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.
Catalano, Michael. "The Prospect of Designer Babies: Is It Inevitable?" The People, Ideas, and Things (PIT) Journal. Pit Journal UNC, 2013. Web. 18 Oct. 2014.
Delkeskamp-Hayes, Corinna. "Rethinking The Christian Bioethics Of Human Germ Line Genetic Engineering: A Postscript Against The Grain Of Contemporary Distortions." Christian Bioethics: Non-Ecumenical Studies In Medical Morality 18.2 (2012): 219-230. Academic Search Complete. Web. 27 Oct. 2014.
“Designer Babies - Playing With Genetics." Designer Babies - Playing With Genetics - Genetics Research. Genetics Research, n.d. Web. 18 Oct. 2014.
Powell, Russell. "The Evolutionary Biological Implications Of Human Genetic Engineering." Journal Of Medicine & Philosophy 37.3 (2012): 204-225. Academic Search Complete. Web. 27 Oct.

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