Designer Babies - the question of morality?

Question

Designer babies are defined as works of biotechnical engineering and customizing genes of an embryo in order to create a "perfect" baby. Right now it's an illegal practice, but they say that designer babies are bound to become a legal reality in about two decades...

What are your views? Are you for or against the creation of "perfect" babies by tweaking a few genes? Explain why if you can :)

thanks!

Thanks for the book reference, holeecow! I will certainly check it out

thanks for your views! Much appreciated! I can't decide who's the best only because I'm not for or against designer babies for the purposes of this particular question! I'll let the voters decide :)
Thanks, once again!

Answer 1

I just read a book on this called My Sister's Keeper
As far as creating perfect babies....isn't that what Hitler was doing? The Master Race?

Answer 2

Hehehe. And people wonder if the human race is doomed.
The fact is that if it's possible (and 'designer babies' are certainly a very real possibility), then sooner or later someone is going to start doing it. Is that doing anything that wouldn't happen 'naturally', only over the course of, perhaps, several million years? If it's going to happen anyway (sooner or later) then what's the problem with making it happen sooner? Or is there something inherently 'wrong' about choosing our childrens characteristics instead of leaving it to chance? OTOH, we certainly do 'program' children while they're being raised. Is it really any different to 'program' them starting at conception?

Or would all of that lead to different 'classes' of people? We have enough trouble just getting along with the racial/ethnic divisions we have today.

Would there be some form of regulating involved such that you couldn't make your kids any stronger, faster, smarter, etc. than some pre-set limit? And, if there was, how many people would actually follow it?

And there are, literally, hundreds of such questions that could be asked about the entire process and its effect. And each of those questions (like the ones above) lead to many years of arguing, discussion, and hair-pulling to try and answer. Fact is, there probably --isn't-- an answer.

Sorry if this sounds like more questions than answers, but that's the way it is. There simply --are-- no answers at this time, only questions. We still haven't proven that it's safe to turn ourselves loose with nuclear matches. And nuclear power is a simple thing compared to genetic engineering.

The can of worms that the entire concept opens up is --way-- too complicated for a bunch of carniverous little fµckmonkeys such as ourselves to handle at our present level of social, ethical, and moral development.

Doug

Answer 3

Without thinking about my religious and scientific views, I feel this way. People were born to be the way that they are for a reason. As depressing as it is that some babies miscarry, some babies are born with diseases that will cause them to die earlier in life than they should, some babies have mental illnesses, some babies are born of a different gender than the parents wanted (oh noes!) and so on...everyone was born to be the way that they for -some- reason. Our world isn't a perfect place, and it would be a lot different if it was. I wouldn't want a world where everyone is perfect, because then no one would be unique.

Also, having the desicion of what your child's genes will be will make you god-like. It will also make you have expectations for your child. Maybe you think they will turn out a certain way, but in the end...free will reigns supreme. What then? You are disappointed with the hopes and dreams you had from the silly notion of creating the perfect baby?

I really don't think it's right because no human should have god-like qualities. By all means, if they could eliminate cancers/diseases/etc, do that. But, don't change the entire child. That's very wrong.

Answer 4

With the advancement of science and technology, a genetic illness can be prevented. So that the child would have a healthier life. This I agree with.

But if the technology is being abuse so that parents can change the colour of the child eyes and hair colour, then I disagree. Firstly, the parents themselves who requested for this change is probably not fit to be parents in the first place because, the child they created is a reflection of themselves. If they are not happy with their own physical difference how are they going to bring up a their child be better person?

Life is not about the physical but also the spiritual. Science and technology can do so much for any physical or tangible change. But in the process of living, only the guidance from the parents and people around them shapes the person they become.

Answer 5

It really does not matter what any one of us thinks. There will be genetic manipulation of humans. What's to stop the ruler of North Korea from designing his potential replacement?

And it wont be tweaking a few genes.

The problem will become one of governments not individuals.

Answer 6

The immediate problem with the idea is, who is to decide what characteristics the perfect baby must have. An imperfect human being?

Answer 7

As long as we suck babies out of their mothers's wombs for convenience sake and trash them in the sink, this designer item seems like the logical next stage.

Next thing we know, we will have "Post Birth Abortion"

That's dumping the child if the design was not right.

Answer 8

This theme was explored in Star Trek Deep Space Nine.

Making a "Khan" was not a good idea. Making a "Dr. Julian Bashir" wasn't so bad.