In the year 2000 about 4 million babies were born in the United States. One of these babies, Adam Nash, was a little different than the others. Adam was the first designer baby. According to an article written by The Conversation, “Adam Nash is considered to be the first designer baby, born in 2000 using in vitro fertilization with preimplantation genetic diagnosis, a technique used to choose desired characteristics”. Since then, designer babies have become a highly researched and more popular idea.
A designer baby is a child with a genetic makeup that has been engineered so that the child has certain traits, or is born without specific characteristics. When most people think of designer babies, they tend to think of a wealthy family picking out physical characteristics they want their baby to have. Eye color, height, beauty, and intelligence are all traits that can be genetically altered. With a price ranging from $20,000 to $100,000 altering genes is not a cheap option. However, designer babies can be engineered for a variety of reasons. A common reason for genetic editing is health. Many diseases that are passed down in families are considered “undesirable.” With designer babies, parents can choose to have their baby not inherit a genetic disease. The concept of designer babies is a controversial topic, with both positive and negative claims.
The option of having a designer baby is appealing to couples with genetic disorders they do not want passed onto their children. Down Syndrome, Alzheimer’s, and Spinal Muscular Atrophy can all be prevented in designer babies. The risk of other factors such as obesity and cancer can also be lowered with genetic editing. People who support designer babies argue that this option allows children to live healthier lives with lowered risks of many serious health conditions.
On the other hand, the ethics of altering the genetic makeup of an unborn child still needs to be explored. Are the rights of these babies being violated? The technology is still evolving and new hazards are still being discovered. Additionally, the procedure is very expensive. This means that the option will be limited to wealthier people. This might create a wider gap between upper and lower classes and cause a variety of other problems.
While both sides make convincing arguments, the technology continues to develop. As the science begins to grow, researchers must consider the ethical and societal consequences of their actions and the potential fallout that could arise from designer babies.
Written by: Sarah K
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