...Designer Babies: Ethical or Unethical Designer babies are one of the most controversial issues in modern medicine. It can be seen as it being ethical by eliminating diseases and lead to an improved quality of life and longevity but also sees it as being unethical because it could possibly lead to the parent controlling the physical and or psychological features of a child. There are a couple of reasons why creating a designer baby can be beneficial health wise that some people may see it as being ethical but others sees it as unethical because couples are looking into designing their baby for physical traits more than health reason. Technology now a day’s make it possible to detect genetic disorders such as Down syndrome and Turner’s syndrome or many more. If the embryo is positive for a disorder the parents have the option to abort it. Another benefit by using this research it can get rid of all genetically transferred diseases leading to a future healthier population. Choosing donor physical and psychological traits essentially means that hopeful parents can buy a baby of their choice, picking everything from hair and eye color to skin color, height, and race. The so-called designer babies that come from such deliberate selection could in the future be created in a laboratory, as scientists understand enough about the human genetic code to possibly alter embryonic DNA for parents who want their babies to look and possibly act a certain way. The ethics of designer babies...
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...that is not the case anymore. Science is starting to challenge what it really means to be human. Designer Babies are apart of the controversy, causing the question, “Is this acceptable in our society?” Designer Babies are babies that are genetically modified. The baby is genetically engineered through in vitro fertilization, and is made by the parent or doctor, to create certain traits. There are many advantages to using this scientific experiment. Designer Babies can be very beneficial to people. They can provide another option to people who can’t have kids, reduce the risk of genetic diseases, increase lifespan, and reduce the risk of inherited medical conditions. Parents who have problems with having a child, now have another option to have one and still be able to call it their own. If the parents spend countless money to have a baby, then they...
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...environment and retained knowledge longer than other mice (Saenz, 2009). More importantly, some experts claim that similar technologies are within reach of creating designer babies in decades (Tokar, 2001). The term of “Designer Baby” is defined as the genetic modification of embryos in order to artificially...
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...suffering through families. This is why genetic testing and engineering is building up to modifying the genetic coding to the point where these diseases do not exist in the body. Not only that, genetic engineering could possibly get to a point in time in which they modify DNA for pleasing factors such as aesthetics, intelligence, talent, and personality. Genetic engineering can lead to a more improved human race, or in simpler terms, a better version of The Sims. All of this falls under the term “Designer Babies.” Designer babies are created through a pre-implantation genetic diagnosis. “An embryo is created by in-vitro fertilization that is tested for genetic diseases and genomic imbalances that can cause problems to the child. (De Magalhaes)” Through...
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...PRO Designer Babies Designer babies are the concept that involves the isolation of human embryos from a willing human donor. The individuals involved in the process are allowed to choose the traits and the genes that they desire to be present in the embryo and the eventual baby. The idea is technically called the liberal eugenics. Genetic engineering was incorporated in certain species of plants to modify crop yields and improve resistance to certain crop diseases. The scientists inserted a given gene into plasmid bacteria to ensure that the plant cell assumed the new DNA. The technology has allowed many plant species to thrive in harsh conditions, including cold, hot, and effectively resist pests. There are different edible foods, which have been designed through the technology. The last century has recorded discoveries that have involved immense benefits on human lives. The findings involve the use of genes, which refer to the reason behind the different characteristics and features among different humans. However, the new technology involves knowledge, which facilitates an alteration of the human characteristics. Humans have benefited from the technology of designer babies by elimination of the harmful genes as experienced in 2001 in Los Angeles. Contrarily, religion nd the society continue to question the social and moral well-being of creating a child with the traits that the parents desire. The opponents of the technology argue that genetic technology is uncertain and...
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...On July 25, 1978, Louise Brown was the first baby ever to not be produced inside the womb naturally (Baird 12). She was referred to as the “test tube baby” (Baird 12). Today this process is called in vitro fertilization or IVF. This process is “often the choice for tens of thousands of infertile couples” (Baird 12). IVF is quite expensive and not always covered by insurance. It can take quite a few failed pregnancies before a successful pregnancy occurs through IVF. Designer babies are taking IVF a step future, and they are designed to be what the parents want it to be. They can pick the gender and appearance of the baby before it’s even conceived. They can also make sure the baby is in perfect health before the process begins. If parents are...
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...theories into three areas; meta-ethics, normative ethics and applied ethics. This was first done by David Hume the philosopher who argued how we should look at ethical situations. “Meta-ethics looks at the meaning of language used in ethics, and raises questions about truth. Normative ethics tries to find practical moral standards that we can all live our lives by. These are also called ethical theories. Applied ethics is the application of theories about whether something is right or wrong in specific issues.” Distance Learning Centre, Ethics Pack, 2012. In the 1960’s a professor, Joseph Fletcher founded the theory Situation Ethics. In Situation Ethics right and wrong depend on the situation. There are no universal moral rules or rights, each case is unique and deserves a unique solution. “Situation Ethics is all about agape or love. You should always do the most loving thing” Distance Learning Centre, Ethics Pack, 2012. There are four working principles that Fletcher makes before setting out the situational ethics theory. Pragmatism is the course of action must be practical and work. Relativism is when all decisions must be relative to agape and there are no fixed rules. Positivism is that a person freely choses to believe in agape and puts love first. A valued judgement must be made. Personalism is not centred on...
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...SBI4U May 21st, 2013 My Sisters Keeper Every day people face challenges that are affected by what we feel is morally right or not. One topic in particular however, is an ongoing battle of ethical morality and this topic has to do with the problem surrounding the reasons for designer babies. A designer baby is defined as “a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with in vitro fertilization to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics". (Web Source) Some people say that this process is unnatural and should never have even been created. Others say that this process is the way of the future, and that everyone should undergo this operation. Whichever side people lie on, there are valid points for both sides of the argument. Personally, I believe that children should not be produced for medical reasons under any circumstances because it would create an in equality amongst society, it could cause harmful long term effects and it takes away the child’s rights. Firstly, if this process gained popularity it would create an inequality amongst society and create children with added benefits. The process that creates designer babies is called Vitro Fertilization and it involves “monitoring and stimulating the development of healthy egg(s) in the ovaries. Then collecting the eggs and securing the sperm. Then combining the eggs and sperm together in the laboratory and provide the appropriate environment for fertilization...
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...This disease is diagnosed in 152 babies in the UK per year and 778 babies in the US per year (Spark). Mitochondria are supposed to convert food and oxygen into life sustaining energy. When those mitochondria aren’t working properly, functions of the body which need a lot of energy are affected greatly. Symptoms of this disease may include loss of motor control, muscular dystrophy, seizures, liver disease, cardiac disease and many more (Foundation). These symptoms can take many years to show up in a child’s life. Some don’t know they have the disease until they are 10 years old whereas others may...
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...ETHICS FOR HOLISTIC PRACTICE Debate topic – Couples wishing to undergo IVF treatment should be awarded the legal right to choose the sex of their child. Good afternoon everyone our debate topic today is whether or not couples wishing to undergo IVF treatment should be awarded the legal right to choose the sex of their child. I’m Melinda and along with Angelique and Melissa we will be presenting the affirmative argument and the negative argument will be presented by Kristen, Judy and Deb. Sex selection, also known as gender selection, has attracted great interest and controversy over the years. Gender selection has been associated with a number of ethical, moral, social and legal issues. Sex selection may be performed for medical reasons to avoid sex-linked diseases or for parental preference. The topics I will be covering include eugenics, beneficence, utilitarianism and pre-genetic screening in regards to sex linked diseases. Eugenics can be defined as the study or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species. In the context of IVF treatment positive eugenics encourages reproduction by implantation of healthy embryos with inheritable desirable traits and negative eugenics seeks to identify and dispose of embryos found to carry undesirable inheritable traits. Utilitarianism in the context of IVF sex selection and genetic screening is defined by the principle of utility which seeks to judge moral rules, actions and behaviours on the basis...
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...Madison Priest Argumentative Essays The Uncharted Territory of Designer Babies Suppose you just found out the good news that you’re pregnant. In less than nine months you’re going to be a mom or dad. Now suppose you have the opportunity to select what you’re newborn will look like. Do you want a boy or a girl? Would you prefer blonde or brunette hair? With technology rapidly advancing pretty soon you won’t have to hope. Instead you can sit down with your doctor and design your future child. Technology has had a remarkable effect on how we live our lives. Our generation has been labeled as lazy, technology obsessed, and many other stereotypes referring to our dependence on technology. Technology also has the ability to change the appearance and genetics of the next generation. An arising method of genetic engineering has the ability to genetically modify the DNA of a fetus to resemble specific traits. Initially, it may sound like a genius discovery. However, this procedure could change everything we know about our world. It goes against nature and can lead to severe problems. Genetic Engineering has the potential to benefit many people. New discoveries have been made to prevent autism and other disabilities that are detected before birth. Genetic modification is also what allows parents to determine many physical aspects of their future baby. Eye color, hair color, gender, height, skin tone, are just some characteristics that can be altered or enhanced through this procedure...
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...feels un-natural. My initial reaction is that these parents are serving their own desires and looking for personal gain. Truthfully, I don’t think anyone wishes their child is born with a disease. I am however fascinated with all the advancements in reproductive technologies. One hand, it provides hope and a great opportunity to those unable to conceive naturally and also reduce the chances of babies being born with serious disease. But on the other hand, there is the sense of parents playing God. I would say any form or bioengineering or cloning violates the principle of autonomy. By parents choosing their child’s genetic makeup in advance, parents deny them the right to an open future. Then there is the associated risk of multiple gestation pregnancy where they are...
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...Genetic Engineering: Designer Babies What if the world were free of genetic diseases, or if it was a place where parents could control their offspring’s height, hair color and intelligence? The science may be closer to being available then some people think. Genes sometimes interact in ways that human may never completely understand, so we never know what might happen. Society could become a place with designer babies, unforeseen genetic problems and a genetically enhanced society where only the rich benefit. So even though human genetic engineering has potential benefits the interference in a person’s genetic makeup is too risky, moral debates arise, and it could throw off the sociological balance of our world. The world’s first designer baby was born in 2000, a test tube baby named Adam Nash. He was altered by the use of a technique called the Pre-Implantation Process. He was born to save his older sister’s life, because she suffered from a low blood count disorder and was in dire need of a bone marrow transplant. The Nash family sparked the ethical debate over the alteration and the use of a baby’s genes, a debate that has since grown in argumentative evidence for and against the development of a possible worldwide lawful altering of baby’s genes. Consequently, there are many issues with the ideas put forth. The eradication of genetic diseases is a very exciting; it poses a great socioeconomic balance of out world. For example, for the disabled who have been the way they...
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...Couples Wishing to Undergo IVF Treatment Should Be Awarded the Legal Right to Choose the Sex of Their Child: Abstract: Sex selection, also known as gender selection, has attracted great interest and controversy over the years. Gender selection has been associated with a number of ethical, moral, social and legal issues. Sex selection may be performed for medical reasons to avoid sex-linked diseases or for parental preference. The topics I will be covering include eugenics, beneficence, utilitarianism and pre-genetic screening in regards to sex linked diseases. Eugenics can be defined as the study or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species. In the context of IVF, treatment positive eugenics encourages reproduction by implantation of healthy embryos with inheritable desirable traits and negative eugenics seeks to identify and dispose of embryos found to carry undesirable inheritable traits. Introduction: Utilitarianism in the context of IVF sex selection and genetic screening is defined by the principle of utility, which seeks to judge moral rules, actions and behaviors based on their consequences. Where an action produces the best possible outcome, that being the greatest good for the greatest number it is seen as ethical and moral. Therefore, the testing, screening and disposal of genetically impaired embryos and implantation of only healthy and preferred embryos is justifiable because the outcome...
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...Andrew Lambiase Research Review Assignment Heartburn and Hair March 14, 2014 DiPetro, J., Costigan, K., & Sipsma, H. (2006). Pregnancy folklore revisited: The case of heartburn and hair. Journal Complication, 33(4), 311-314. This study done by these three female doctors, Kathleen Costigan, Heather Sipsma and Janet DiPetro wanted to look into more depth about a folklore that has been told about heartburn relating to the amount of hair a baby has when he or she is born. The study asked 98 women, 64 of which participated who was having a singleton fetus and was a non-smoker. This was a self-reported test that was observational, which watched for results of heartburn in mothers having children. The result of the test showed that 23 of 28 women who said they had heartburn reportedly had babies with a lot of hair. The other 10 of 12 women who reported they didn’t have heartburn showed their babies had little to no hair at all at birth. This reports accurately measures that 70% of women reported they had heartburn, had children with a lot of hair. Using a self-report method in this research test was a strong point by the designers. The self-reports allows for consistent and accurate validity in the subject being tested. The one weakness to this self reported test is that the test although it sampled 98 women only two thirds decided to be part of the research. With more women it may have shown higher statistical data and it may have allowed for a wider range of...
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