01/20/14: Designer Babies:’ Patented Process Could Lead to Selection of Genes for Specific Traits

Each of us has a family history — inherited traits and attributes that we can’t help but pass on to subsequent generations. However, an article explains a new patented technology which allows prospective parents to not only eradicate the susceptibility of their child to certain types of disease but also go even further and edit out undesirable physical traits such as your mother’s red hair or your father’s small stature. This is done by entering the egg and sperm DNA profiles of the parents into a database which is able to select for a pairing that increases the likelihood of the desired traits in the child. Further, the article touches on the idea that scientists are expanding the usage of genetic engineering to manually change ‘pre-determined’ genetic selections. This concept of ‘designer babies’ brings up a few ethical and societal considerations.

 First, is there a moral or ethical difference between using genetic technologies to prevent disease and to enhance human capacities? This may be an important medical advancement which could prolong human life and monitor dangerous diseases but one could argue that it could also potentially inhibit a child’s freedom to choose what characteristics or traits they would like to have.  

 Second, how would this technology impact society? The article mentions the “slippery slope” problem, or the scope of genetic engineering being indefinitely growing. For example, the technology may be used to enhance a child’s intelligence or athletic ability. The, the babies that are ‘gene poor’ may be discriminated against in society. Furthermore, the technology might be more suited for wealthy families, and therefore create an even larger rift between the rich and poor in society.

 Third, there is the issue of whether the technology is safe and reliable enough. Since many genes have more than one effect, the intended effect may also be accompanied by other negative effects of which only become apparent later on. In addition, many of the traits that we want are influenced by multiple genes and other environmental factors.

 This technology poses a lot of risks that need to be weighed with the benefits. The question becomes one of how to manage that risk. Does it become the decision of the doctors, the patients, the government (i.e society as a whole), the company developing this technology, the market (ie if it sells)? Also, who has expertise to figure out what the risks are, and how to manage them: geneticists, sociologists, engineers, biologists, artists? How does culture need to evolve in order to responsively incorporate this technology, and how will culture evolve because of this technology?