Final Update

Research Question: How does Designer Babies work?

Designer Babies are babies that have been genetically selected in order to eliminate certain disabilities, or to make sure that a specific gene is present. It started during the late 20^th century into the 21^st century, however since DNA was discovered at that time genetic modification gives advantages to our world. This technology helps us choose our very own special and perfect child, which it cost from $2,000 to $30,000 but it depends on what you choose for your child. This technology also involves in-vitro fertilization, it is basically a process of egg that will be remove from the mothers ovaries which then will be fertilized with a sperm outside the mother’s body or also known as test tubes. To be able to create a designer baby there are steps that have to be followed. Firstly the scientist will have to create an embryo with in-vitro fertilization. Second they will have to remove a single cell from an embryo that was created 5 days before. Third they will have to test the cell and then let the parents decide if they want to implant the embryo to the mother’s womb or not. There is a way for the parents to select an embryo which it is called Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis also knows as PGD. This method is used so the parents can check the diseases or genetic conditions. It is also used so they can create a healthy baby to be able to treat a sick relative and to be able and to reduce the risk of genetic disorders. A lot of people use this technique to create a prefect baby however some people might not even know what designer baby is, therefore they should know about it which includes the benefits, limitations and the ethics issues of designer babies. Other than it also have a problem which is, they are trying to solve a case where a baby was born with an imperfect gene which it can cause them their lives.

Figure 1: This is a figure about the process of Designer Babies.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/SB123439771603075099

In my opinion Designer Babies really help a lot of people in the world. Therefore there are many benefits of this kind of treatment such as it can improve your human life range up to 30 years old, it can prevent genetic diseases like down syndrome and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The numbers of children in this world will increase, it will allow parents to give their child a healthy and happy life and it allows prospective parents to give their genes to their child. Other than that designer babies can also help other people that needed help from them such as parents that may have child that is suffering from a disease and may be needing an organ or blood transplant however their parents have no match for his/her organ or blood transplant and may lost their children. However, they can prevent this by creating another baby using designer babies that have a perfect match to their child’s blood or organ to be able to save their children.

The fact of the matter is, even though Designer Babies have many benefits, there are also some limitations on this kind of treatment that we should know before creating a baby such as this technology is not 100% safe yet to be used. It could create classes between non-designer babies and designer babies since a child that was created using this technique will be a perfect child. The researchers are not a perfect people, they also made mistakes which mean the gene that they will be researching might not be 100% correct. It is more than likely a mistake will be made, other than that this procedure is not cheap. All designed and planned by their own parents, however this also can represent on how designing your own babies can cause a big problem when something goes wrong.

My point of view, other than the benefits and limitation of designer babies there are also ethics of designer babies, one of them is that it could create a division between those who can afford such services and who cannot. Therefore economic division could be developing into genetic divisions. Another argument that supports the designer baby technology indicates that parents already have a high degree of control against the results of their children's lives in the form of environmental choice, and that it should release several ethical issues encountered by genetic selection. Other issues’ surrounding this topic is that a lot of people wonder if it is right for us to play god? Is planning a baby too much? How would the designer baby feel about themselves knowing that they are perfect and different from the others? What if the designer baby doesn’t like the traits that their parents choose for them? Is the process of designing a baby harmful? All of this are questions that people wonder when they think of wanting to design a baby. Since these days, quality is an issue for several people and that is why we are turning to designer babies.

Figure 2: This is a figure of how Designer Babies look like.

http://singularityhub.com/2009/02/25/designer-babies-like-it-or-not-here-they-come/

Bibliography:

• "How Are Designer Babies Made??" Designer Babies. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. < http://designerbabies-information.weebly.com/how-do-designer-babies-work.html >
• "In-Vitro Fertilisation." Designer Babies. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. < http://designerbabies-information.weebly.com/in-vitro-fertilisation.html >
• "The Pros and Cons of Designer Babies." The Ethics of Designer Babies. N.p., 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.  < http://designerbabiesethics.wordpress.com/2013/04/28/the-cons-of-designer-babies/ >
• "Designer Babies: The Good and the Bad." - Pros. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Oct. 2014. < http://designerbabies.weebly.com/pros.html >
• "Role of Technology in Genetics." Importance of Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. < http://importanceoftechnology.net/role-of-technology-in-genetics/ >
• "Debate Over 'Designer Babies' Heats Up." YouTube. YouTube, n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. < https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC0jGH7P_fE >
• "Ethics of the Future." : The Ethics of Designer Babies. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Oct. 2014. < http://www.ethicsofthefuture.com/2010/10/ethics-of-designer-babies.html >
• Ly, Sarah. "Ethics of Designer Babies." The Embryo Project Encyclopedia. N.p., 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Oct. 2014. < http://embryo.asu.edu/pages/ethics-designer-babies >
• Flesh Machine: Cyborgs, Designer Babies, and New Eugenic Consciousness. Brooklyn, NY: Autonomedia, 1998. Print.
• Bliss, John. Designer Babies. Chicago, IL: Heinemann Library, 2012. Print.
• Gosden, R. G. Designer Babies: The Brave New World of Reproductive Technology. London: V. Gollancz, 1999. Print.

Update #3

The facts below are about:

Ethics of Designer Babies on human

Original paragraph:

Some ethical concerns held by opponents of designer babies are related to the social implications of creating children with preferred traits. The social argument against designer babies is that if this technology becomes a realistic and accessible medical practice, then it would create a division between those that can afford the service and those that cannot. Therefore, the wealthy would be able to afford the selection of desirable traits in their offspring, while those of lower socioeconomic standing would not be able to access the same options. As a result, economic divisions may grow into genetic divisions, with social distinctions delineating enhanced individuals from unenhanced individuals.

 Key ideas:

• The social argument against designer babies is that if this technology becomes a realistic and accessible medical practice, then it would create a division between those that can afford the service and those that cannot.
• As a result, economic divisions may grow into genetic divisions, with social distinctions delineating enhanced individuals from unenhanced individuals.

Source in MLA:

Ly, Sarah. "Ethics of Designer Babies." The Embryo Project Encyclopedia. N.p., 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

Paraphrasing:

There are ethics of designer babies, one of them is that it could create a division between those who can afford such services and who cannot. Therefore economic division could be developing into genetic divisions. Another argument that supports the designer baby technology indicates that parents already have a high degree of control against the results of their children's lives in the form of environmental choice, and that it should release several ethical issues encountered by genetic selection.

Picture Links:

Figure 1: This is a figure about ethical issues in financial.

http://www.ethicsofthefuture.com/2010/10/ethics-of-designer-babies.html

Update #2

The facts below are about:

Limitation of Designer Babies on human

Original paragraph:

The process of creating a “designer baby” is often questioned because of it’s shaky moral platform. Though there are certainly some positive things that can be obtained from the use of genetic engineering used on unborn babies, but it is often wondered if parents will have the “right” reasons to genetically modify their baby, or if reasoning will become more superficial. Here are some of the cons associated with the genetic engineering of babies:

• If the process is not done carefully, the embryo could be accidentally terminated.
• The ability to “change” as humans will falter.

 Key ideas:

• It is often wondered if parents will have the “right” reasons to genetically modify their baby, or if reasoning will become more superficial.
• Cons associated with the genetic engineering of babies: If the process is not done carefully, the embryo could be accidentally terminated.

Source in MLA:

"The Pros and Cons of Designer Babies." The Ethics of Designer Babies. N.p., 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.

Paraphrasing:

Even though Designer Babies have many benefits, there are also some limitations on this kind of treatment such as this technology is not 100% safe yet. It could create classes between non-designer babies and designer babies. Geneticists are not perfect people and may not be 100% true to evaluate each gene. It is more than likely a mistake will be made, other than that this procedure is not cheap. All designed and planned by their own parents, however this also can represent on how designing your own babies can cause a big problem when something goes wrong.

Video Links:

Picture Links:

Video 1:  A debate about Designer Babies from a news called Fox News.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NC0jGH7P_fE

Figure 1: This is a figure about a baby that is designed by scientist.

 http://importanceoftechnology.net/role-of-technology-in-genetics/

Update #1

The facts below are about:

Benefits of Designer Babies on Human

Original paragraph:

Although there are many questions of if genetically modifying babies is ethical and for the moral reason, there are many positives to this type of treatment:

•    Installs a better understanding of genetics for genealogists and biologists.

•    Increases human life span up to 30 years.

•    Prevents genetic diseases such as down syndrome, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s Disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and many others.

 Key ideas:

·      There are many positives to this type of treatment

·      Prevents genetic diseases such as down syndrome, Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s Disease, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and many others.

Source in MLA:

"The Pros and Cons of Designer Babies." The Ethics of Designer Babies. N.p., 28 Apr. 2013. Web. 7 Oct. 2014.

Paraphrasing:

Designer Babies are babies that have been genetically selected in order to eliminate certain disabilities, or to make sure that a specific gene is present. There are many benefits of this kind of treatment such as it can improve your human life range up to 30 years old, it can prevent genetic diseases like down syndrome and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. The numbers of children in this world will increase, it will allow parents to give their child a healthy and happy life and it allows prospective parents to give their genes to their child.

Designer Babies on human

General Topic: Designer Babies

More Specific Topic: Designer Babies on human

Specific Research Question: How does Designer Babies work?

a.       In brief describe about Designer Babies

•     Designer Babies is a baby whose genetic makeup has been selected in order to eradicate a particular defect, or to ensure that a particular gene is present.

•     It is an advanced reproductive technology that allows parents and doctors to screen embryos for genetic disorders and select healthy embryos.

b.      What are some benefits of Designer Babies?

•         Designer babies may also be created to help another in need. Parents may have a child suffering from a disease and in need of an organ or blood transplant. Imagine you have a child suffering from Leukemia, a cancer of the blood/bone marrow. He needs a bone marrow donation, or he will die young. You and your husband/wife are not matches for his bone marrow. You are, however, able to have another child. Through designer babies, they could create a perfect match for your child's blood, bone marrow, or other organ.

c.       Future improvements that can be done to make Designer babies perfect; limitations.

•    If the process is not done carefully, the embryo could be accidentally terminated.

•    The technology used is not 100% safe yet. It is only in the experimental stages at this point.

•    Because the technology is so new, it is unknown whether genetically modifying the babies will effect the gene pool. This could cause difficulties later on throughout the baby’s family tree.

•    A baby cannot consent to having it’s body altered; therefore some do not believe it’s right as parents do not “own” their children.

•    Genes often have more than one use. For example, a gene that controls intelligence could also control anger management. You could end up with a genius, but very angry, child.

•    Geneticists are not perfect people and cannot 100% properly evaluate every gene. It is more than likely mistakes will be made.

•    Individuality will be slighted. Because most people will seek out good-looking, intelligent babies with other optimum characteristics, everyone will be relatively similar.

•    The procedure is not cheap, and not everyone would be able to afford it. Could create prejudice between “Designer” and “non designer” children. Could cause the “non-designer” children to miss opportunities because jobs among other things are more likely to take the “optimum” candidate for something.

d.      What issues (social, economic, ethical, political or cultural) are currently related to the use of Designer Babies worldwide? 

·      The issues related to the use of Designer Babies are ethical issues, it is illegal in religious aspects, as although one human life might be created through IVF, a lot of unborn babies are wasted and discarded. Despite their unused fetus can be frozen for laboratory purposes, was not created through love marriage as God intends it to be.