“Designer babies”

The term designer babies is defined as, “a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combines with vitro fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics”(Agar , 2006 , p.1). So basically it means that you ( as a parent ) could design your baby’s features such as eye color , hair color and etc. The technology that is being used identified as pre-implantation genetic diagnosis or PGD. It was primarily created to screen diseases and then for gender selection. However at this instant it will allow parents to choose their baby's physical traits. Nevertheless there are many concerns regarding “designer babies”.
If a “designer baby” is accepted in this society, it can lead to numerous problems. The outcomes of this technology will be an awkward fear or abhorrence to people outside of this country or someone who appears dissimilar. People in the company of genetic imperfection will be rejected publicly. As stated by Johnson (No date), people with genetic inadequately features will be called “gene poor”, and will be isolated from the society. In today’s world, some people who are born with genetic defects may face discrimination based on gender as well as physical qualities and traits. The concept of “designer babies” may lead to the same outcome. Children who have wealthy parents may try to enhance their children with better features of their choice. One believes, this technology is unfair because it is expensive and therefore only available to the affluent! In a world that is still male dominated; sex and gender determination of baby could lead to gender discrimination (Johnson).
The world eugenics is defined as “ the study of or belief in the possibility of improving the quality of the human species or the human population, by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable, undesirable traits”(Johnson , p.23). An example would be Adolf Hitler; he wanted to create a race of “Aryan Blondes”, blue-eyed and tall people, which one believes analogous to “designer babies”. This technology may also affect biodiversity, “The number and variety of organisms found within a specified geographic region” (California Biodiversity Council). Eventually, traits will be decided by parents, which could lead to unintended consequences because children may have the abilities/ traits/ attributes that they are not interested in, which could restrict the child’s freedom to choose what they want to be or what they are interested in.
Kimberlin (2009) says, “designer babies” are being treated as products. She says that designer products can be returned to manufacture for alteration but babies cannot be treated the same way. One believes that babies cannot be treated like materialistic stuff. And, it’s totally wrong to behave this way towards this issue.
On the other hand, scientific consideration is completely different from ethical views because scientists think their development benefit, the welfare of humanity. They believe that their job is to create things that are supposed to make living better and easier. Therefore, they are very proud of their latest discovery “designer babies”. Scientists also believe that it will help the healthcare field both medically as well as financially.
Apparently, people in the medical field are very excited by the technological development of “designer babies”. Doctors at the Fertility Institute in Los Angeles advertise a 100% success rate for implantation gender selection procedures (Hannah 1). Meaning, they have made certain crude selection procedures available to expectant parents. Parents may choose if they want their baby to be a girl or a boy while the offspring is still in the mother’s womb. Doctors are also able to screen potential embryos for a variety of genetic disorders. Increasingly, pre implantation genetic diagnosis is