Designer babies.
The thought that comes to my mind is the image of these robotic children, all with flawless, glowing skin, red lips, almond-shaped eyes and adorable smiles. Destined to build an army a race of ‘super-people’, it’s truly something out of a creepy sci-fi novel!
However, scientists have confirmed that the technology is nowhere near that level, and it is indisputable: as our technology evolves – so will we. Examples could include the choice to procreate or not to (abortion, condoms) and for previously determined infertile women to have children. There is no doubt that every time genetic engineering progresses, social and ethical implications will also develop.
Modifying a child’s genes whether for cosmetic or for medical reasons will change the way we think about children, the women who bear them, the human body and the meaning of human reproduction.
With genetic manipulation, it has the potential to relieve a child’s suffering, and it could also improve treatment for certain illnesses. In fact, after a few generations in the future, it’s entirely plausible that the gene may be out of the gene pool completely.
There’s a possibility of having a human race that has no more illnesses, no more disabilities and no more imperfections.
That makes me worry. We’ll be limiting our diversity if designer babies continue and eventually populate the world. We’ll be “breeding out” our differences. Also, even if these procedures of manipulation of genes and chromosomes are performed originally for medical reasons, it’s a slippery slope.
It is my belief that parental expectations will shoot through the roof. Children will be objects of parental whims, and parents will be able to mould the appearance of their babies and instead of being their own person, children will be now viewed as objects of ownership. It does seem drastic and maybe I’m being overtly dramatic, but there are some parents in this world who already do this. Designer babies are only fuelling perfectionist attitudes towards children!
Also, being able to pre-select the sex of a person also poses a huge problem. In our communities, why would you pre-select a gender? It’s sexist and it encourages gender stereotypes. To add to that, in countries like India and China, there’s a preference for sons, and it is researched that people in the United States and Western Europe prefer their first-born to be male as well. (J. Egozcue, “Sex selection: Why Not?)
If indeed, there’s a partiality towards men, then that harms women physically and psychologically. It accentuates class differences and greater distinctions between sexes.
Personally, I don’t feel comfortable with the idea of genetic engineering of this extent. Do I wish that my genes were reconstructed to lengthen my horrible memory? Without a doubt! I’ve always hoped to possess photographic memory (especially before tests and exams), but if I had known that my parents had ‘planned’ for me to turn out this way… that changes my mindset so much, that I can hardly fathom it.
How much of myself is my choice? How much of myself are my parents’?
I mean, I know that my family’s love for me is unconditional. But for designer children, will they feel the same love from their family? Or will it be a message of “I will only love you if you’re like this, or if you possess these certain qualities”?
It’s ironic. Parents will now possess more control, but children will suffer a loss of it.
What do you think?
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