Life is full of mistakes. Sometimes we learn from them, sometimes we regret them; most importantly though, they will always be a part of our lives never able to be changed. This cannot be said for making babies which we once thought was bound to the same rules.
Designer babies. An uncommon term to many, but the reason they exist today for some. At the grade 11 level of biology, we understand that offsprings are made from the combination of chromosomes and genes of the parents. We understand that if a woman who is heterozygous for colour vision, and a man is colour blind, then the chances of a daughter who is colour blind is 1/4 or 25%. But this has changed with the newest technology of today.
"Designer Baby"
The term 'designer baby' made its entry into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2004, where it is defined as "a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with in vitro fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics." This allows doctors to insert the egg with a sperm in a test tube and screen the embryos. Genetic screening has made it possible to eliminate genes associated with several genetic defects and terminal illnesses. The first ever designer baby born was Adam Nash, altered so he could save his dying sister by becoming a donor. This may seem similar to many seeing as the well known book and movie My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult was exactly of this nature. Here is a short video with the benefits and concerns of designer babies:
We now know what a designer baby is, as well as the benefits and concerns. So since you are now well informed, here's my opinion on the matter.
No parent wants to live their life with a sick child; especially when they know that the baby could've been saved from the pain. Their life would be filled with regret and pain knowing they could’ve been their child’s hero. I think that if this is the case, to simply avoid bringing a child into a world of suffering, then continuing with this procedure can be established. But even so, wouldn't this be going against God? Who are we to alter the miracle of life, which is created in His image? No one! So when people make designer babies purely for cosmetic reasons it infuriates me to think that they are already unaccpeting of their unborn child.
Here is a poll on the very controversial matter of ‘designer babies’:
Should babies be screened and selected for removal of unwanted traits?
Yes - genetic engineering will improve mankind. 40%
Yes - but only for traits directly linked to health. 33%
No - traits should only be changed for each person specifically, after conception. 3%
No - genetic legacies should not be altered, ever - it's too much of a slippery slope. 22%
Votes: 104
(Poll courtesy of www.buzzle.com)
Sure anything can be justified with enough reasoning, but how far is too far?
Sources: 1.http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-designer-babies.html
2.hhttp://www.globalchange.com/designer.htmttp://answers.askkids.com/Life_on_Earth/how_are_designer_babies_made
Video Source:
1.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fSCOZuHcdg&feature=related
Image Source:
1. https://tinkybebe.com/images/adorable_little_girl.jpg
Commented on: 1.http://michelleflynnbioblog.blogspot.com/
2. http://taylorbioblog.blogspot.com/
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