Argumentative Essay On Designer Babies
In today’s world genetic engineering already exists. No not in babies, but in animals and plants. Even then some seem to think that we may be ready for such a thing. A baby genetically engineered in vitro to look a certain way and have specific characteristics, better known as “designer babies”. With todays technology there are an unlimited amount of possibilities. Genetic makeup can be selected to engineer traits such as; gender, appearance, intelligence, disease or lack thereof, and personality. Embryos are created through in vitro and then are grown through an 8-part process, at this point 1 or 2 cells are removed. The embryos are then examined, and only normal ones are placed in the womb. Thus, creating a baby made more from science then
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by nature. Which brings me to the main issue surrounding the idea of designer babies. Is this ethical, should humans be rearranging and altering Human DNA. Is this a step in the right direction, or would we be changing human life for the worse?
The most basic argument to allow the procedure for one to be able to design their own baby. Is that we could change human life. By not only eliminating disease but extending lives. By gene editing and the reparation of mutations; the human embryos can be saved from heart disorders, and genetic diseases or illness. Meaning not only would it be cured but completely prevented. Creating everlasting healthy lives for the future generations. When on the other hand doing such a procedure could also lead to serious consequences, not only biologically, but socially and financially.
Those that are for the use of biotechnology to choose specific traits in babies have an immense amount of reasons which they support this idea.
Starting off with the fact that by manipulating genetic makeup one could prevent genetic diseases. As well as the reduced rick of inherited medical conditions. By preventing such things genetically engineered babies could be guaranteed a longer life span. This can help us conclude that by removing these diseases they can then not be passed on further into the next generation of family. This procedure would most likely cost a very vast amount of money and would most commonly be used by the wealthy. Allowing me to present the following argument; designer babies might have a better chance at succeeding in life. The reason we’ve been led to believe this is because technology can create a child that is socially acceptable; meaning that the baby could hold “perfect”, or “beautiful” characteristics. As well as the fact that genes can also be manipulated to ensure a higher IQ and create intelligence. With these two attributes plus money in hand we could only imagine the possibilities and path a person which such traits, and placement in the world could …show more content…
accomplish.
While there are plenty of reasons to be for genetically engineering babies. There are plenty of reasons of why not to. Starting off with the most ethical simple reason of them all. That human development, and development of a child should not be interfered with. As in don’t mess with biology and what is natural. It also feels like more of a science project than a medical procedure, we would be altering human DNA and we could always risk losing a sense of humanity. It has also been said that by taking control of the DNA of a child whom has not yet even been conceived. Is legally wrong, because to do such a thing one is stealing the right of a baby making their own decisions. More specifically stealing someone’s freedom. One could only imagine what the costs of such a procedure would be. The rich would be able to afford it, leaving them at the top of the social scale; by simply being able to pay for good looks and intelligence to be included in their family tree. Giving their children an advantage over the poor whom were unable to pay for such genetics enhancements. Causing there to be lack of opportunity for the poor. Leading to a social divide amongst the upper and lower class. A more realistic idea of why not to do such a procedure, is that geneticists are not perfect. One could always risk defects and side effects. With that their also comes the possibility of damaging the gene pool. Which could lead to an increase of termination of embryos.
So, will designing babies become a regular thing in the future?
Will the rich pull out catalogs with characteristics and traits they can choose? If we allow such technology to come about what will become of human life? Personally, I believe that altering DNA has a tremendous amount of horrible consequences. The most important argument that has helped me choose which side I agree with. Is the fact that I believe once we cross that line of morals and ethics; we can’t turn back. At what point will science stop. If there have already been procedures allowing couples to pick the gender of their unborn children. Which I believe is a superficial unnecessary procedure. How far will we take the use of genetic alteration and manipulation. I feel like we will start by offering and promoting this procedure by saying this technology will help end suffrage, disease, and illness. Although I do believe that we will use it for these exact things. I also think that we are the type of beings that push too hard and would not know how to stop. We would take something beautiful and turn it into a marketing project. Where traits of being intelligent, tall, beautiful, and athletic would be sold. Causing there to be socio-economic inequalities. In conclusion I believe that us of this technology would be unethical and could cause a great deal of damage to life as we know
it.
References:
Catalano, M. (2012). The Prospect of Designer Babies: Is it Inevitable? Retrieved April 15, 2018, from http://pitjournal.unc.edu/article/prospect-designer-babies-it-inevitable
Hanson, J. (n.d.). Designer Babies. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from http://www.futureforall.org/bioengineering/designer-babies.html
Lye, S. (2011, March 31). The Embryo Project Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/ethics-designer-babies
Reddy, N. (2017, December 19). Designer Babies and Genetic Modification: Inequality on a Biological Scale. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/designer-babies-and-genetic-modification-inequality_us_5a3891c9e4b0c12e6337b052
by nature. Which brings me to the main issue surrounding the idea of designer babies. Is this ethical, should humans be rearranging and altering Human DNA. Is this a step in the right direction, or would we be changing human life for the worse?
The most basic argument to allow the procedure for one to be able to design their own baby. Is that we could change human life. By not only eliminating disease but extending lives. By gene editing and the reparation of mutations; the human embryos can be saved from heart disorders, and genetic diseases or illness. Meaning not only would it be cured but completely prevented. Creating everlasting healthy lives for the future generations. When on the other hand doing such a procedure could also lead to serious consequences, not only biologically, but socially and financially.
Those that are for the use of biotechnology to choose specific traits in babies have an immense amount of reasons which they support this idea.
Starting off with the fact that by manipulating genetic makeup one could prevent genetic diseases. As well as the reduced rick of inherited medical conditions. By preventing such things genetically engineered babies could be guaranteed a longer life span. This can help us conclude that by removing these diseases they can then not be passed on further into the next generation of family. This procedure would most likely cost a very vast amount of money and would most commonly be used by the wealthy. Allowing me to present the following argument; designer babies might have a better chance at succeeding in life. The reason we’ve been led to believe this is because technology can create a child that is socially acceptable; meaning that the baby could hold “perfect”, or “beautiful” characteristics. As well as the fact that genes can also be manipulated to ensure a higher IQ and create intelligence. With these two attributes plus money in hand we could only imagine the possibilities and path a person which such traits, and placement in the world could …show more content…
accomplish.
While there are plenty of reasons to be for genetically engineering babies. There are plenty of reasons of why not to. Starting off with the most ethical simple reason of them all. That human development, and development of a child should not be interfered with. As in don’t mess with biology and what is natural. It also feels like more of a science project than a medical procedure, we would be altering human DNA and we could always risk losing a sense of humanity. It has also been said that by taking control of the DNA of a child whom has not yet even been conceived. Is legally wrong, because to do such a thing one is stealing the right of a baby making their own decisions. More specifically stealing someone’s freedom. One could only imagine what the costs of such a procedure would be. The rich would be able to afford it, leaving them at the top of the social scale; by simply being able to pay for good looks and intelligence to be included in their family tree. Giving their children an advantage over the poor whom were unable to pay for such genetics enhancements. Causing there to be lack of opportunity for the poor. Leading to a social divide amongst the upper and lower class. A more realistic idea of why not to do such a procedure, is that geneticists are not perfect. One could always risk defects and side effects. With that their also comes the possibility of damaging the gene pool. Which could lead to an increase of termination of embryos.
So, will designing babies become a regular thing in the future?
Will the rich pull out catalogs with characteristics and traits they can choose? If we allow such technology to come about what will become of human life? Personally, I believe that altering DNA has a tremendous amount of horrible consequences. The most important argument that has helped me choose which side I agree with. Is the fact that I believe once we cross that line of morals and ethics; we can’t turn back. At what point will science stop. If there have already been procedures allowing couples to pick the gender of their unborn children. Which I believe is a superficial unnecessary procedure. How far will we take the use of genetic alteration and manipulation. I feel like we will start by offering and promoting this procedure by saying this technology will help end suffrage, disease, and illness. Although I do believe that we will use it for these exact things. I also think that we are the type of beings that push too hard and would not know how to stop. We would take something beautiful and turn it into a marketing project. Where traits of being intelligent, tall, beautiful, and athletic would be sold. Causing there to be socio-economic inequalities. In conclusion I believe that us of this technology would be unethical and could cause a great deal of damage to life as we know
it.
References:
Catalano, M. (2012). The Prospect of Designer Babies: Is it Inevitable? Retrieved April 15, 2018, from http://pitjournal.unc.edu/article/prospect-designer-babies-it-inevitable
Hanson, J. (n.d.). Designer Babies. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from http://www.futureforall.org/bioengineering/designer-babies.html
Lye, S. (2011, March 31). The Embryo Project Encyclopedia. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/ethics-designer-babies
Reddy, N. (2017, December 19). Designer Babies and Genetic Modification: Inequality on a Biological Scale. Retrieved April 15, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/designer-babies-and-genetic-modification-inequality_us_5a3891c9e4b0c12e6337b052