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Designer babies, a concept that was once relegated to science fiction movies, is now becoming a reality. With recent advancements in an area of genetics called CRISPR-Cas9, parents are now being given the power to pick and choose which traits they want their future children to possess. Although this capability may sound enticing, it raises a host of ethical and moral questions that parents, scientists, and society must consider before embarking on this path.
Designer babies refer to genetically modified babies whose genetic material has been altered to produce a particular trait such as eye color, intelligence quotient (IQ), athletic ability, or disease resistance. Scientists use CRISPR-Cas9 to replace, delete, or add genes to the human embryo. Consequently, the baby is born with customized characteristics that were intentionally chosen by his or her parents.
One of the significant implications of designer babies is that it challenges the ethics of choosing traits in our children, i.e., eugenics. Eugenics is the idea of creating a superior race through selective breeding, which was popular in the early 20th century. The dark history of eugenics cannot be overlooked when considering the practice of genetically modifying babies, which is why the scientific community must proceed with caution. The ability to select certain desirable traits and eliminate undesirable ones could lead to a divide in socio-economic classes, as the rich can afford to pay for such treatments, while the less privileged cannot.
Another implication is that it may create an expectation for parents to give their children the best genetic start in life, which could lead to increased scrutiny and pressure on the child’s development. There is also a danger of parents imposing their desires and beliefs onto their children, inheriting a genetic blueprint they do not desire, and having unrealistic expectations of their child’s performance.
Moreover, the quest for perfection or ideal traits could lead to a loss of diversity in the human gene pool. It could mean creating generations of people who are genetically homogenous, which could have consequences if a particular virus or disease comes along to which they are all vulnerable to.
Furthermore, as society changes, the “ideal” traits we once picked for our children may become obsolete. For instance, if at one point, having a high IQ is what parents desire for their children, who is to say that IQ is still relevant as technology and society continually evolve?
In conclusion, the concept of designer babies has several implications, both positive and negative, that must be cautiously considered. Although it could be an opportunity to eradicate genetic diseases, prolong life, and prevent disabilities, it needs to be regulated to ensure ethical and societal considerations are not overlooked. We must remember that every trait, desirable or not, is part of what makes us unique and different from each other. Ultimately, we must question whether we are willing to trade in our innate diversity for what could be fleeting desires.
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