Preview

Designer Babies Research Paper

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1715 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Designer Babies Research Paper
Stage 2: Biology
“What ethical considerations are prevalent under the context of ‘Designer Babies’ and should they be permitted?”

What ethical considerations are prevalent in the context of ‘designer babies’ and should they be permitted?

Introduction:
For decades, the international policy addressing the human study of embryos was restricted to a maximum of 14 days after their creation via in-vitro fertilisation. Despite the former inability to reach this limit, the innovations of new biotechnologies have acted in junction to advance the human understanding of eugenics. Evidently, this has propelled scientists and researchers across the globe to prolong the lifespan of designed embryos by a substantial period of time2. This milestone has sparked the controversial debate regarding the extension of the 14-day policy, giving rise to individuals who suggests its potential in the medical industry, whilst others challenge the ethicality of modifying the human species3. Hence, the question “What are the ethical considerations are prevalent under the context of ‘Designer Babies’ and should they be permitted?” will be investigated.
What are designer babies?
Identified by some as unnatural selection, designer babies define children that had been
…show more content…
This is due to PGD’s procedures, which involve the act of extracting gametes directly from the source for IVF. Thus, restrictive factors that contribute towards infertility of women due to decreased egg quality or infrequent ovulation are irrelevant. This equally applies to male patients, where duct problems or enlarged blood vessels in the testicles that hinder sperm production are solved through the procedures of IVF. The treatment of infertility overall provides couples the irreplaceable essence of life made by their own blood and skin; which may lead to the development of a healthy

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The real controversy in stem cell research lays in the termination (abortion) of the embryo, which is an entirely independent debate altogether. The embryonic stem cells extracted for research are being derived from embryos that are being aborted regardless (Johansen). Therefore, there is a macrocosmic debate more powerful than the one about stem cell research itself. By harvesting these stem cells from babies predestined to abortion, at least a contribution is being made to society – one that can benefit a multitude of people, perhaps suffering from a multitude of conditions. Even if one wants to debate the ethics of stem cell research, the researchers are being ethically unethical, with regard to the abortions guaranteed to take place.…

    • 1044 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    My thoughts on designer babies is that it is a wonderful thing to research, but now it's crossing the line. It's amazing how we can take DNA and change it to what we like it to become, but this is someone’s life you are changing. Not only this, but this is now a rather large debate going on about this. Whether or not this practice is palatable or not. It's important to research and make amazing discoveries, but putting someone's life on the line shouldn't be something to put under the…

    • 528 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Currently there are over 4000 single gene mutation diseases; “These ‘monogenic’ diseases include well-known conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sickle-cell anemia, and Tay-Sachs disease, as well as thousands of exceedingly rare illnesses that each afflict no more than a handful to a few hundred individuals in the world”. Producing designer babies could limit these diseases in infants and newborns, but it could also lead to a limit in genetic diversity and raises many other ethical dilemmas.…

    • 76 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Designer Babies Analysis

    • 1131 Words
    • 5 Pages

    When the topic of designer babies is presented, there is a multitude of ethical reasons that arise; one important concept is the questioning of how safe it is. The side effects of such a process are still unknown. Although the transfer of the DNA could be successful, there is a great possibility of a reshuffling of the entire genome. Assuming that the transfer and selectivity is completely safe, can it truly be considered…

    • 1131 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Lemon Baby Case

    • 350 Words
    • 1 Page

    This case was very interesting to read. Ethical principles to consider would be making sure that what was expected was delivered to the customers. There should have been quality checks in place before and after implantation, also to add staff should be well trained in quality checking the data that was/is input into the system. Also another aspects to look at is how it affects society and the biogenetic child. As in the case of Dr. Smalley is no longer wanted the child because “she” did not fit his specifications. He informed the CEO that he would bring the child back, as I have stated in my response to Sandra this will lead to more children in foster care and adoption agencies. The other aspect on how this would affect society currently and in the future. This technology, designer babies, is exclusive to the wealthy only and the common individual is not afforded this type of luxury to have a child of their desire. Also, the future of designer babies will affect society, these select few may be seen and also see themselves as superior or genetically superior to naturally born individuals. The question is will this cause a rift in the human species, in my opinion I think it will. It is difficult as an administrator to determine what technology is best and in what ways will/can it benefit the organization and the community. On a business stance technology can be very profitable, on the other hand can be a potentially erroneous investment if it is not researched properly or is not needed by the organization. The impact that this technology can have in families varies greatly, as in the case of “The Lemon Baby”, there are so many potential problems along with the benefits. An example could be favoritism of designer children over parents naturally born children, children developing in opposite of what was specified, i.e., not liking school, sports, or not being as beautiful/handsome as the parents envisioned. These examples can cause so many issues in society and in…

    • 350 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Mitochondria NPR

    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Altering an egg cell in order to create a healthy baby is a very controversial issue. Physically separating an unhealthy egg and transferring the DNA to a healthy donor seems like a positive thought. On one hand, it seems very helpful for an unhealthy mother, but there may be many underlying problems. The ethical issues, along with possible legal ramifications, evolutionary impacts and regulation pose possible concerns. For example, who should have the authority to make such a decision in the first place? If this is allowed, what will the future hold with this type of technology and ability? Since a donor egg is involved, how would legal custody be determined over the child that is born? Will a child produced from this have problems later in their life? There are many questions that are brought up when this issue is discussed, and they need to be addressed.…

    • 306 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Imagine, deciding to have a baby but instead of going to the hospital going somewhere similar to subway to “have it your way.” Designer babies give humans the ability to choose wanted characteristics for a child. Although the technology for this project is still in its first steps, today it is a possibility. Designer babies seem like a fabulous idea but it should not be worth overpopulating the world, using babies as science experiments, and only allowing the rich to create a perfect baby.…

    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    There are many disagreements about designer babies, disagreements like how people want their babies to be super smart or very athletic, people want their babies to have different characteristics. If people want their babies to be smart and athletic they need to grow that way.…

    • 346 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    With technology advancing everyday, there are starting to become more options in which to have a child. Designer babies are becoming an increasing choice for soon to be parents. With these designer babies, they have the ability to breed the best possible child which is called eugenic engineering. Some of the advantages of designer babies are identifying diseases to a child, choosing the sex of the child and even creating the physical appearance. The only thing standing in front of it is a question. Are creating designer babies ethical?…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The term "designer babies" is a term used by journalists and commentators to describe how the babies were created through several different reproductive technologies. Designer babies are made possible by three different fields: advanced reproductive technology, cell and chromosome manipulation, and genetics and genomics. There are several techniques used to help screen the embryos for high-risk disease, unknown diseases, or select the sex of a baby. Today it is even possible for a person to select traits that they want the baby to inherit such as eye color or an athletic ability.…

    • 1002 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Rickard, M. (2002). Key Ethical Issues in Embryonic Stem Cell Research. Retrieved March 31, 2011 from: http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/CIB/2002-03/03cib05.pdf…

    • 1664 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    PGD enables a variety of reproductive decisions. It permits doctors and prospective parents to select embryos for implantation that do not have a genetic abnormality associated with a specific disease, such as cystic fibrosis. It also enables doctors and parents to select embryos that possess a desired genetic trait, such as the sex of the unborn child.…

    • 688 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Today, many children are born will illnesses and diseases that could potentially cause them to no longer be with us. As a parent, you try to find a cure on your own, or something that would possibly help the sick live a little longer. It never occurs to parents that sometimes, you just aren 't a genetic match to be a donor for your child or loved one. Some people take matters into the own hands, and genetically conceive a child in a petri dish, resulting in a genetic match for their sick child or loved one. Some people know this process as "Designer Babies". Designer Babies offer many pro 's to their families: genetic matches, preventing diseases, guaranteed to have the characteristics of the parents, they can grow healthy organs that would later on benefit their loved ones.…

    • 682 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Genetic Modification Essay

    • 1355 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Over many years, the idea of genetically modifying human embryos has been an extremely controversial topic. A global network of stem cell researchers named Hixton Group released a statement claiming that genetic modification is essential to gain basic understanding of the biology of early embryos. Being able to modify and study embryos would bring tremendous value to science. Although the group didn’t particularly encourage changing embryos for personal reasons, they strongly believe that when all safety, efficacy and governance needs are met it is acceptable to practice genetic modification. This is a complicated topic to many because changing the way a human is being naturally born, and adjusting features and characteristics of the human body to suit a personal desire is seen as malicious. Certain people believe that it is inhumane to tamper with a fetus for the pleasure of yourself, but others see no fault in having the opportunity to be able to do this if wanted or needed Stem cell researchers and bioethicists have been trying for ages to be able to research the human germ line in human embryos, but since the thought of the modification is seen collectively as criminal, the United States National Institute of Health (which make the funds for biomedical research) declines all offers to contribute money for any use of gene editing technologies in human embryos.…

    • 1355 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Genetic Modification

    • 1389 Words
    • 6 Pages

    “Gerber may have thought of it first decades ago, but at least 50 medical centers today… could claim the motto ‘babies are our business’” (Moira). Throughout history, there have been countless improvements and advancements in technology throughout the medical field. Most of these technologies have proven to be successful and productive, although some technologies haven’t led to be as helpful. One invention on the horizon in genetics that will add yet another technological failure in the health industry is genetic engineering. Genetic engineering has been known to be used on plants and food, but what about babies? Yes, babies are beginning to be genetically modified to look however the parents want them to. By altering the genotype in a test-tube of the DNA before an embryo is implanted, it can influence the phenotype, or appearance, of that child when it is full grown. “Since the first "test-tube" baby was born in England in 1978, more than 700 such babies have been born around the world -- more than 100 here, with many more currently pregnant” (Moira). Genetically modified babies are a topic that many scientists have spent their entire career researching. It began in 1989 with researcher Steven A. Rosenberg of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda and since then has rapidly expanded (Edelstein 597). Genetic engineering has not yet surfaced because all of the clinical trials have failed and it should stay un-surfaced. The result of this new technological degeneration will have many negative outcomes in society as a whole. Also, it will come along with many risky and dangerous consequences if these procedures are implemented. No matter what the pros of this topic are, the risks and societal impacts will outweigh them immensely.…

    • 1389 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays

Related Topics