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As inhabitants of the twenty-first century, there has been significant advancements in the field of genetics. One such technological advancement that is still developing may make it possible to “select” our children’s genes and characteristics (Agar, 2006). In effect, “designer babies” will likely be a possibility in the near future. A “designer baby” defined by the Oxford English Dictionary is “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” (Testa, 2018). Although genetically modifying a child’s genes or characteristics may have a superficial reasoning, there are potentially positive benefits of such modification. Regardless of the benefits, the prospect of choosing a child’s genes raises moral and ethical controversy among the public that need to be examined.
The creation of designer babies is often questioned due to its moral and ethical implications. Many argue in favor of such technology to reduce/prevent the inheritance of genetic disorders and diseases such as Down syndrome, Huntington’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, and others through prenatal diagnosis. In-vitro fertilization is a technique that has become more common to help couples conceive children. The process involves pre-selecting embryos before implantation into the mother’s womb. For example, preimplantation genetic diagnosis allows viable embryos to be screened for various genetic diseases before implantation. This allows the medical practitioner to select the embryos that are not predisposed to the genetic disease, therefore, reduces the risk for the child to have or develop the disease (Ly, 2011). Another modern technique includes the CRISPR/Cas9 which allows geneticists to edit genes, in other words, to replace a segment of the genome that holds for a defect. CRISPR acts as molecular scissors that precisely manipulate DNA and modify the function of the gene (Saey, 2017). This will allow to correct the genetic defect, therefore, eradicate the disease. Genetically eliminating diseases will improve the human gene pool and quality of life for current and future generations. One of the controversies that arise from genetically modifying babies is using this technology superficially to select benign characteristics that are not generally related to the health of the child such as gender, hair color, eye color, strength, athletic ability, intelligence, etc. (Ly, 2011). Although these enhancements will improve the lives of individuals socially and productively, there is always the possibility of defects and side effects. Genetically enhancing benign characteristics will also create social pressures such as competition and genetic divisions (Catalano, 2012).
Traits such as gender, hair color, eye color, height, intelligence, and athletic ability are considered benign, not harmful. Enhancement of benign characteristics is immoral and unethical according to the Council of Ethical and Judicial Affairs for the reason that they are medically unnecessary and do not prevent or cure specific diseases (Ly, 2011). Many of the desirable traits such as height, eye color, or even intelligence are influenced by multiple genes. It would be difficult to find specific genes whose modification would result in the desired trait. Many genes also have more than one effect. For example, there was a study conducted by researchers in mice in which they introduced an extra gene, NR2B, that was known to play a role in brain development. The resulting mice had improvement in learning and memory but also acquired hyper-sensitivity to pain (Agar, 2006). This same technique can be used in humans but there is a possibility that inserting a specific gene may target the genome in such a way that could disrupt the function of another gene that would be fundamental for the survival of the embryo (Testa, 2018). Aside from taking safety concerns into consideration, enhancement of benign characteristics will also promote social implications. For instance, the individuals that could afford the genetic enhancement would be “at the top” of the social class and be genetically superior and at a greater advantage because they will have children that are more athletic or intelligent. Those who could not afford the enhancement will remain “at the bottom” of the social class and be genetically inferior at a disadvantage (Catalano, 2012). Subsequently, this will create competition, social injustice, and a genetic division based on social class.
Technological advancements has played a significant role in the field of genetics. The possibility to “select” our children’s genes and characteristics and create a “designer baby” is currently in effect and near the future (Agar, 2006). Despite the moral and ethical controversy that arises about genetically enhancing a child, parents should have the right to select to reduce/prevent the inheritance of genetic diseases and inherited medical conditions. Eradicating these diseases and medical conditions will improve the human gene pool and quality of life for future generations. A strict regulation should be set in place to only use this technological advancement in measures for the health of the child and not for selecting traits for enhancement. Selecting benign characteristics for genetic enhancement is unethical and immoral and will create a society that is futuristic, for this reason a strict regulation will be a necessity as it will alleviate the social pressures that arise.
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