Designing Babies

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Recommended: what is the impact of genetically modified organisms on humans

Designing Babies

Should we be designing babies? Designer babies are people who are

genetically modified before birth, (as an embryo) to change their sex,

looks or possibly even personality!

Since the DNA code was cracked a couple of years ago, it has been made

possible to change a human embryo by injecting genes into it. These

injected genes can change the sex, looks and personality of that

particular child when he / she is born. For example, you can currently

choose the sex of your child in the USA although it costs a hefty $

2500.

Are these designer babies improving on nature? Improving on nature is

a step forward for the human race; in a word, evolution. Are we, by

designing and genetically modifying babies, evolving as a race?

Surely we cannot tell. I mean, did we know when we invented fire that

we were evolving, did we know that when we invented computers that we

were evolving? No. However, we did it all the same. The point I am

trying to make is that we cannot know what evolution is or improving

without first giving it a go. How can we ever hope to evolve without

taking these risks? The answer is we cannot.

Throughout this essay, I will outline the arguments for and against

designing babies. I will then conclude by giving my final thoughts and

opinions on how I feel we should continue our research and

experimentation of Designer Babies.

Thus far, nature has worked tirelessly to mould the distinctive

characteristics that make modern man, however this process has been

very slow, taking many thousands of years to perfect. Nowadays, with

the dramatic discovery, in recent years, of the human genome,

scientists h...

... middle of paper ...

...family may find a way round even

the most strict guidelines laid down to protect human research and

find an unscrupulous doctor to carry out their wishes. Carried to the

extreme people with access to money may feel justified in "purchasing"

a made to order beautiful baby.

Once guidelines have been drawn up it would also be important to have

unilateral agreement between the worldwide governments as it would be

pointless to make designer babies, for the purpose of parental

satisfaction illegal in Europe only to have people travel to the USA

and carry out the procedure there.

Therefore, my final verdict is that designer babies have the potential

to improve on nature although research and experimentation must be

carried out with increased international restraint until we have more

definite guidelines to protect us.

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