Analysis Of The Designer Baby Myth By Steven Pinker

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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. Steven begins with the topic of futurology and how everything a futurologists presents is usually unachievable. Remember when the talk of the town was about the …show more content…

When you study the genes of twins, specifically identical and fraternal twins, you will come across similarities in appearance and genetic makeup. This is simply because they share genetic data which causes some of their genes to be the identical. Doctors are able to detect this because it is based on an entire genetic makeup, not individual genes. Geneticists have failed to discover a single gene that possesses one disease or disorder. How do they think they would be able to find the specific trait for musical talent if they are unable to even find a distinguishable trait, such as autism? Steven declares a message to sum up this argument, “Neural development is staggeringly complex process guided by many genes interacting in feedback loops. The effect of one gene and the effect of a second gene don’t produce the sum of their effects when they’re simultaneously present” (Pinker

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