What do you guys think about people being able to choose the genetics of their baby?

Question

Its like shopping for a baby totally weird. Like you pick the genes you want your baby to have? There has to be a limit.

Answer 1

freaky...

Answer 2

If it was for the better than why not? Eventually we can cure genetic disorders and keep certain people from making genetic mistakes with each others bum DNA.

The idea that God would want genetic abnormalities is absurd. What people would refer to as abominations have been misconstrued. Sometimes nature can only correct so much without intervention of some sort.

I would think that it would be preferable to use a donors DNA than manipulate genes without being certain of the outcomes.
This research has come a long way in such a short time. To correct the genetic disorder of the parent instead of the child should be considered first also.

I was told of a procedure that was used successfully with children with potential down syndrome and was reversed or corrected while still in the womb.

But, was not allowed to be approved by the FDA and was subsequently discontinued.

Answer 3

I think it causes more problems than it solves. Choosing a child based on sex (males usually chosen in some cultures)ends up causing a shortage of females. Look at China, many girls killed, now the male to female ratio is very unbalanced. China is now allowing parents to have a second child if their first is a daughter.
Other problems are that we will lose individuality and we will all start to look the same. Just look at the plastic surgery obsession, people are starting to look like expressionless clones.
Changing other genetic factors could cause abnormalities when it comes time for couples to procreate. How would the various genetic changes interact/react at conception.

Answer 4

I don't like the idea. We have no right to play god. If we could pick what our children look like, the future repercussions could devastating. Like those other people said about india, the same thing happened in china-people only wanted boys. And then, when all those boys were old enough to marry, there weren't enough chinese women left- this started the wife trade where people would go around capturing chinese women and then auctioning them off

Answer 5

I think it's wrong. And you're asking a lot of questions. :)

I have always wanted to adopt a baby girl from India because I saw a show years and years ago that talked about baby girls being left to die in some areas (poor areas) because the family wanted a boy. :( Send me your girls India!!!

Answer 6

I think most of the people who have answered this question ahead of me have been thinking of it only from the standpoint of the parent. As such, they seem to consider it selfish or in some way morally wrong to want a healthier and more physically attractive child.
(Incidentally, the question makes NO mention of choosing the child's GENDER, though most of the answers are addressing THAT issue instead.)

What about looking at it from the standpoint of the child?
Do I wish I could have been better off genetically than I am?
YOU BET I DO!
Such options would certainly eliminate birth defects (My fiance suffers from a particularly troublesome one.) and hereditary diseases (I, myself, have one of those!).
This coming weekend, my aforementioned fiance and I will drive to a neighboring city to attend the funeral of his oldest son (not biological son, but step-son adopted at a very young age) who just took his own life because he could no longer cope with the traumatic effects - both physical and psychological - of a debilitating and horribly painful condition he inherited from his biological father.
I cannot help but think that if my own parents could have chosen my genetic aspects I would be a lot better off today, my fiance would certainly be better off if his genetical problems had been prevented and his son would still be alive, well and happy if his tragedy had been prevented.

In our superficial society, people are all too often judged and afforded or denied favorable opportunities based on their appearance. Of course this is not right, but it is here, it is a fact and we have to deal with it. Gee, imagine the unmitigated nerve of a parent wanting his/her child to have a level playing field to compete on! Scandalous!

Un-natural? Of course it is, but why does that HAVE to be bad? Unconsciousness induced by chemical anesthesia is un-natural, but does anyone think that remaining awake during major surgery would be the correct course of action?
Motorized vehicles are un-natural, but how many of those who object to genetic selection ride in, drive or even OWN vehicles? Talk about un-natural - have you ever flown in an airplane, talked on a telephone or typed an answer on a computer?
Un-natural is not, of itself, evil. It is completely neutral! Like most human values, its qualitative polarity is dependant on its outcome.
And so it is with genetic selection.
I, for one, do not see a future free of birth defects, congenital diseases and people suffering from low self-esteem and depression because they are not and never can be happy about what they see when they look in a mirror - a future in which those who attain celebrity status have to do so based on real TALENT and ABILITY instead of just looks - as being such a bad thing.

Answer 7

im a little torn about this subject. i think its a great step medically because it can eliminate a lot of conceptional problems and deformities, but honestly why would you want to know everything about you baby before its born. it takes out the fun and the surprise and the excitement.

Answer 8

This has been going on in India for years.
They had a huge problem where people wanted BOYS...girls were found murdered in the cornfields.

Answer 9

it's totally insane and unnatural.