Are things getting out of hand with our research into genetic processes? In this blog investigate social and ethical implications of this research and technologies that have been developed from it.
With technology comes the negative and positive feedback from society. If we look at the big picture, we'll be able to see that technology has done so much for our well-being and that it has saved countless lives over the years. But the question is when is does it go too far?
The question has been raised after the controversy of having designer babies brought much attention from our concerned society.
Before we start creating assumptions and judgments, we must first understand the term 'Designer Babies'. Designer babies is the modern term we use to describe the medical process of 'Genetic Engineering' , which is genetically enhancing or engineering a fetus during fertilization in the result that it will have gain or loose certain characteristics.
We all have our personal opinions on this issue, but has technology really gone too far in a way where it has interfered with nature? In my opinion, yes. Though I may only understand my perspective of the issue, and could never imagine how I might feel if the tables turn, I believe that this issue goes beyond my belief. However, I think it is only fair to explore both sides of this issue.
For some families, it is not about having the 'perfect' baby, but a healthy one. With the help of this procedure, the chances of the offspring being born with a genetic disorder is reduced. This technique may be a blessing for parents who have a tendency of producing offspring with genetic disorders, a procedure such as this can greatly increase the life span of the child and even save it.
In other cases, doctors as well as couples have taken complete advantage of the purpose of the process and used it in a matter where the importance of having a 'perfect' baby is much more important than having a healthy baby. There have been reports where clinics have been offering pre-implantation procedures to couples, in which they are able to screen the embryos for its gender, hair and eye color as well as its complexion. Further more, it allows the parents to have a choice of altering the characteristics of their future children by giving them the chance to choose whatever physical characteristics they want, from the complexion to hair color, for them, the sky is the limit.
So, is this really how superficial we human beings have gone? We can not even have babies of our own without being unhappy with it. Procedures such as this give people the opportunity to 'design' their babies as easy as choosing the color of your nail polish. This procedure pushes the boundaries of beauty, in a way it distorts our perception of beauty. It gives a message to the general public that the only way of having beautiful and perfect babies are through designing them and that we are not good enough to be born without a few alterations to the characteristics that make us unique in the first place.
At this point, my understanding of 'designer babies' is much more clear and that I can really make my opinion about this controversial issue. Though it may have positive results for some participants that need this procedure to better not only their lives but their children as well, this procedure has opened the door for many people who are more interested in having perfect babies. First of all, I just think that people who are able to produce should feel grateful for being blessed with the chance of having children. The bottom line is, 'designing' our own babies instead of leaving the job to nature takes away the surprises and uniqueness that life has to give.
References:
http://www.bionetonline.org/English/content/db_cont1.htm
http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html
http://singularityhub.com/2009/02/25/designer-babies-like-it-or-not-here-they-come/
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-designer-babies.html
Commented on:
Tammy Nguyen - http://tammy-bioblogtingz.blogspot.com/
Priscilla Chen- http://priscillasbioblog.blogspot.com/
Hey Angela! :D
ReplyDeleteI love your title. You have such good opinions towards this topic that it really persuaded me to believe that designing babies is completely unnecessary. We should embrace the surprises and uniqueness that life has to give, not modify it into what we believe is perfect. You did a great job in giving views from both sides of this issue.Although this technology can prevent genetic disorders in babies, parents and doctors have taken it to a whole other level. We need to understand when to draw the line. Now instead of being happy with a health baby, we have to now go an extra step and make sure we have the perfect one. That is just ridiculous! Noone`s perfect you know, and we need to try and understand that before this technology gets completely out of hand. I really enjoyed read you Bio Blog! Well Done! :D
Angela! I liked your bio-blog. You exercised many different perspectives and gave a lot of insight in each as well. You are right- people need to learn to stop when it comes to genetic researching. Doing this to get rid of genes that possess genetic diseases is negotiable, but changing the gender and such of a baby is just plain wrong. You did a great job! :) Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteAngela!!!!
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with you. Some of the people in this generations have become so superficial that they care a lot about having the "perfect" looking child. I was shocked when i learned that people would pay so much money just to have a say in their future childs gender, hair and eye color. It's amazing what new technologies do to our society. I loved your ideas and your opinions on designer babies. You were very insightful. Anywasys, I love your bioblog! :)
Angela !!
ReplyDeleteI really like your how you decided to write your blog since you gave both the negative and positive feedback of creating a designer baby. The fact that you decided to write about both sides of why some families would want to “design” a baby really gave a fair idea to individuals. With that being said, I personally agree with you when you say that technology has really gone too far and has interfered with nature.
Also, in a particular part in your blog, you say that some families may undergo this procedure of designing a baby in order to reduce a genetic disorder –I feel that is the ONLY time genetic engineering should do its job. When it comes to changing characteristics of a child, then I must say that it seems a little too selfish. Like you said, giving people the opportunity to design their babies DOES distort our perception of beauty. We begin to feel that a child may only be accepted if he or she looks a certain way, when really, every child is born with a unique, yet beautiful, look.
Again, I really like your blog and how it gives both sides of designer babies –why it can be good to some families, and why it can be bad. This is a very good blog, keep it up!
Angela, angela, angela ..
ReplyDeleteGOOD JOB.
'This procedure pushes the boundaries of beauty, in a way it distorts our perception of beauty'
I totally agree. As if our perception of beauty today isn't already distorted as it is. Do you recall viewing the Dove commercial, in which it exemplified how a photo shoot cover was dramatically photo shopped! That video was jaw-dropping. The end result didn't even look like the girl in the beginning. It leads me to wonder if there are any commercials or advertisements that AREN'T photoshopped. Sorry, getting a bit off track. But as I was saying, I liked how you shared your personal views on the topic. Personal opinions of others never fails to intrigue me.
Your visual ads were entertaining to read and related to your written opinions.
The real significance and importance of a baby is starting to fade, as people are growing to be more and more materialistic. We should know, we're the ones who are always talking about shoes and bags and whatnot! BUT, we have our morals! We'd never think about changing an individuals physical appearance for cosmetic use. Everyone's beautiful in their own way. Correct? How cheesy am I? But anyways, great job on the blog, keep up the good work!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAngela! This was a really great post. At first when we were assigned this topic to write the blog, I wasn't even aware about this "designer baby" controversy. I thought, "wth is a designer baby? o_O" I learned that it has been going on for almost two decades? (my estimation) and that genetic engineering has made it possible for scientists to play around with the genes of humans and animals. This would be the result that may be satisfying to those who have taken the option of having the genetic material altered.
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand why some parents would want to modify the genes of their baby unless it was to benefit their health. Then again, I feel that we shouldn't be able to touch these genes and just leave it to God. If my child was to come out with down syndrome, I would still love it and take care of it because I know he has better ideas for my child and I in store. I think that our research is advancing at a very concerning rate. This'll one day influence the ideas of many people around the world and it'll just be chaotic (i hope not) :/ I enjoyed reading your post girly. Good job!
I agree with you, 100% Angela!
ReplyDeleteYou showed both sides of this topic, and I totally agree with your conclusion. What's the big deal in your child's appearance, when it's what inside that counts? I agree with being unique, too. If we take away nature's way of continuing the human species, aren't we just altering the circle of life? Not to a point where we're all going to die, but as we alter it more and more... Who knows what will come next.
I think knowing what your unborn child's eye colour and hair is AMAZING, but going so far to change it.... That's just ridiculous! I love your point of view, and I can understand it so well because I think the same as well.
GOOD JOB! :)