Made to Order Babies in Near Future
By Dale Wilsey
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Scientists are coming closer and closer to allowing Hitler's perfect race to be possible. Advances in our understanding of the human genome have skyrocketed. How far away are we from being able to pick and choose what our children look like and what ailments they may have?
Modern science is discovering things today which were merely science fiction before. Advances in our knowledge of the human genome have catapulted us into a new age of genetic science. Having the ability to cure a child of any disease that it may have in the future, before it is even born, is not just an idea anymore, it is becoming a reality.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a process in which embryos are genetically tested before being implanted into the womb of a mother. PGD can be used in a few ways and has already offered couples the ability to choose the sex of their child. PGD is also used to test embryos for genetic disorders, giving parents the option of rejecting or accepting the particular embryo based on the outcome of the tests.
Some fear what the future of PGD can bring, however. Talk of "designer" babies has shadowed PGD with negative backlash disregarding possible positive effects it may have on the future. If embryos can be tested for genetic disorders and gender, how far away are we from choosing the color of our children's eyes or hair? Will we one day be able to determine if our child will be the next great Olympic gold medalist or Nobel Prize winner?
Some people fear that PGD will lead to rich people choosing to customize their children as easily as they customize their Mercedes Benz. According to an article from the Agence France Presse in May 2006, the ability to choose the sex of your child costs around $19,000 dollars. Imagine being able to check boxes next to certain options you would want in your child: would you like the sports package or the PhD package?
Some people I questioned agreed that this is a step in the wrong direction. "It's not natural and it's dangerous. Once humans start playing God like that, you have all the ingredients for Nazi Germany," said Dan Brockway, a senior Electronic Media major. "There will be laws governing it. The government regulates everything. They'll probably find a way to tax it, too." MaryKate Ott, a sophomore Professional Writing major said, "I don't think that it's right to design a child."
Others aren't so worried. "I don't find anything wrong with it and it's not shocking to me…something like this was definitely bound to happen. Personally, I don't think I would pick all the characteristics of my kid. It's exciting not knowing exactly what your kid will look like," said Daria Pennington, an Undeclared freshman.
Although it is only a matter of time before things like this are possible, I do not think we will ever see it take off as some people are predicting in the manner of fully customizable offspring. There may be some out there that would love to drop thousands or more on trying to create the "perfect" child, but there are more who would find the act deplorable and just plain wrong. The government, I hope, would almost certainly ban any type of gene alteration, which would not benefit the individual medically as well.
There are positive sides to all of this, though. Through this technology, we may someday live in a world devoid of heart disease, cancer and many other types of illnesses, which have a tendency to run in families. Autism and diabetes may oneday be a thing of the past.
"Personally, I'd be happy with whatever physical features my child obtained from myself and my husband. Why take away the element of surprise?" said Nicole Ciesla, a senior English / Literature major.
As these technologies advance further and further, I believe that this will remain the opinion. The creation of a child between couples is one of nature's most amazing feats, and to put it on the same level as buying a new car would simply be out of the question. Designer babies can be left for Paris Hilton. I believe the rest of us would like to keep ours homemade.
Dale Wilsey is a Senior
English/Professional Writing major
Modern science is discovering things today which were merely science fiction before. Advances in our knowledge of the human genome have catapulted us into a new age of genetic science. Having the ability to cure a child of any disease that it may have in the future, before it is even born, is not just an idea anymore, it is becoming a reality.
Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a process in which embryos are genetically tested before being implanted into the womb of a mother. PGD can be used in a few ways and has already offered couples the ability to choose the sex of their child. PGD is also used to test embryos for genetic disorders, giving parents the option of rejecting or accepting the particular embryo based on the outcome of the tests.
Some fear what the future of PGD can bring, however. Talk of "designer" babies has shadowed PGD with negative backlash disregarding possible positive effects it may have on the future. If embryos can be tested for genetic disorders and gender, how far away are we from choosing the color of our children's eyes or hair? Will we one day be able to determine if our child will be the next great Olympic gold medalist or Nobel Prize winner?
Some people fear that PGD will lead to rich people choosing to customize their children as easily as they customize their Mercedes Benz. According to an article from the Agence France Presse in May 2006, the ability to choose the sex of your child costs around $19,000 dollars. Imagine being able to check boxes next to certain options you would want in your child: would you like the sports package or the PhD package?
Some people I questioned agreed that this is a step in the wrong direction. "It's not natural and it's dangerous. Once humans start playing God like that, you have all the ingredients for Nazi Germany," said Dan Brockway, a senior Electronic Media major. "There will be laws governing it. The government regulates everything. They'll probably find a way to tax it, too." MaryKate Ott, a sophomore Professional Writing major said, "I don't think that it's right to design a child."
Others aren't so worried. "I don't find anything wrong with it and it's not shocking to me…something like this was definitely bound to happen. Personally, I don't think I would pick all the characteristics of my kid. It's exciting not knowing exactly what your kid will look like," said Daria Pennington, an Undeclared freshman.
Although it is only a matter of time before things like this are possible, I do not think we will ever see it take off as some people are predicting in the manner of fully customizable offspring. There may be some out there that would love to drop thousands or more on trying to create the "perfect" child, but there are more who would find the act deplorable and just plain wrong. The government, I hope, would almost certainly ban any type of gene alteration, which would not benefit the individual medically as well.
There are positive sides to all of this, though. Through this technology, we may someday live in a world devoid of heart disease, cancer and many other types of illnesses, which have a tendency to run in families. Autism and diabetes may oneday be a thing of the past.
"Personally, I'd be happy with whatever physical features my child obtained from myself and my husband. Why take away the element of surprise?" said Nicole Ciesla, a senior English / Literature major.
As these technologies advance further and further, I believe that this will remain the opinion. The creation of a child between couples is one of nature's most amazing feats, and to put it on the same level as buying a new car would simply be out of the question. Designer babies can be left for Paris Hilton. I believe the rest of us would like to keep ours homemade.
Dale Wilsey is a Senior
English/Professional Writing major
posted by D.R.W. Jr. at 12:13 PM
1 Comments:
An article about how FUCKING is better than SCIENCE. I'm just surprised anyone needed to make this arguement in the first place.
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