RISKS OF DESIGNER BABIES
Even though designer babies can prove to be beneficial for many, this process tends to have numerous risks associated with it. For some people, this process is like committing a sin and for some it is important to do. It can have effects on the baby itself and create possible gaps within the society. Imagine that your child will be born with autism. However, to genetically modify the baby to make sure that they will be born without autism is very costly and you cannot afford it. Still, there are some families that use the designer babies technique to simply make their child intelligent or more attractive. How would you feel? Today, we will discuss the dilemma that is being brought into the world as a result of designer babies.
Some are concerned that the current techniques of genetic modification, which introduces genes at random places, could possibly disturb the functions of other genes causing dangerous or fatal results. Also, many genes have more than one effect, so while the insertion of one gene might perform its intended job, it could also affect other areas. The long term effects of PGD are still not known and could have serious consequences in the future.
Many fear that someday PGD will be used to select desirable traits of our children such as hair color, height, or intelligence. Other questions arise as to whether or not this technology is ethical. Some believe it is playing god because parents are selecting which embryos are implanted and which embryo get discarded. The cost of PGD is about $20,000. Many people cannot afford this which could widen the gap between upper and lower class.
Many fear that someday PGD will be used to select desirable traits of our children such as hair color, height, or intelligence. Other questions arise as to whether or not this technology is ethical. Some believe it is playing god because parents are selecting which embryos are implanted and which embryo get discarded. The cost of PGD is about $20,000. Many people cannot afford this which could widen the gap between upper and lower class.
ADDITIONAL RISKS
- any mistakes occurring in the process could result to termination of embryo
- technology is not yet 100% safe - at experimental stage only
- can be used for superficial purposes; hair, skin, eyes,etc.
- creates gap in society: designer babies would be smarter and better-looking compared to others creating a difference in class (only the rich can afford this process)
- unknown whether this can impact gene pool; difficulties in family tree
- less individuality
- genes have more than one use
Social Impact:
- Socioeconomic disparity
- Discrimination
- Social activists
- Disability activists
- Eugenics – “the science of improving a population by controlled breeding to increase the occurrence of desirable heritable characteristics”
Religious Impact: - Dignitas Personae
- “Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)…constitutes an act of abortion... By treating the human embryo as mere ‘laboratory material’, the concept itself of human dignity is also subjected to alteration and discrimination…Such discrimination is immoral and must therefore be considered legally unacceptable…”