Summary of Arguments for the Topic and summary topic against

Summary of Arguments for the Topic and summary topic against \"designer babies\"

Solution

A designer baby is a genetically engineered baby developed through in-vitro fertilization that has been designed to possess specific traits such as lower risks of sex-linked diseases.

Designer babies are developed from pre-selected embryos with manipulated genetic material. The genes in the sperm and eggs are manipulated and inserted with specific genes so that the resultant embryo possesses only desired traits. Although this method reduces the risk of birth defects, disabilities and diseases, it also allows parents with the choice of selecting the appearance, gender and to some extent the personality of the child which is a strong point of opposition by bioethical activists.

One point of contention against development of designer babies is that it is a technological product that can only be accessed by the rich. This in the long run can result in a social divide between those who can afford designer babies and those who cannot. Moreover, this can also result in a social divide between genetically enhanced and the unenhanced individuals. Another argument against designer babies is that parents already have a high degree of control over how their children’s lives shape. Parents have control over the environmental factors and the experiences their off-springs are exposed to which is what influences an individual’s personality and choices over time. By manipulating the genes, parents are predisposing the child to develop and make choices in a way the parents consider desirable thus controlling the child’s ‘free will’.

In conclusion, although designer babies are a great solution to reduce the risk of diseases and birth defects, it poses several socially ethical issues that pose a very real threat to the future.