Creating Your Child, how far is too far? Options

[Heewee]

This is a topic that we have been recently discussing in my genetics class...


Recent technology has made it possible for those who can afford to do so to genetically select the gender of their baby:

Many parents desperately wish for that little girl (or boy) they always dreamed of. Now that it is scientifically possible to “sort” the X and Y chromosomes in sperm, The Genetics and IVF Institute is giving parents the power to choose the sex of their next baby. An FDA clinical trial of a sperm-sorting technology called MicroSort can determine the sex, with an 88 percent success rate for females, and 73 percent success for males.

The technology was originally created by the Department of Agriculture to use with livestock. According to a Newsweek article, over 1300 couples have used Microsort’s services since it began its clinical trial in 1995. The process can cost at least $2,500 each attempt, but it varies widely depending on what process is used (IVF, IUI) to achieve the pregnancy.

The ability to choose a baby’s gender opens a big can of moral and ethical worms, says the Newsweek article. “If couples can request a baby boy or girl, what’s next on the slippery slope of modern reproductive medicine? Eye color? Height? Intelligence? Could picking one gender over the other become the 21st century’s form of sex discrimination?”

Genetics is such a fast-changing science that the above article, written just under a year ago, is already outdated. Picking eye color, height, inteligence, and many other traits are available to parents to can afford to do so. This includes, the ability to do away with life-threatening diseases or even simple nuisances, such as wearing glasses. However, should people that have will have perfectly fine babies otherwise be allowed to genetically alter the alleles of their future babies just to change the eye color or hair color? My question to you guys is do you think that this is morally right and what are you reasons for or against your argument?

[*RiC3xBoy*]

Hmm...I actually find it hard to actually choose.....But just for the sake of debate, I will say that is moral because it does not harm anyone. Also reminds of the movie GATTACA which I loved.

[Ington]

Hmm...I actually find it hard to actually choose.....But just for the sake of debate, I will say that is moral because it does not harm anyone. Also reminds of the movie GATTACA which I loved.

Yes, that was an amazing movie. I think this topic is like abortion. People can do what they want, and it depends on their beliefs. You can't say its harming the baby, because its not (unless there are complications). The baby isn't even a fetus when the 'construction' is done on it, so it is nowhere near alive at the time. Its just a possession of the future parents.

[Heewee]

Yes, that was an amazing movie. I think this topic is like abortion. People can do what they want, and it depends on their beliefs. You can't say its harming the baby, because its not (unless there are complications). The baby isn't even a fetus when the 'construction' is done on it, so it is nowhere near alive at the time. Its just a possession of the future parents.

You're right, in some ways it is like abortion. However, if this method of genetic selection because very popular in the future, there will be no such thing as heredity anymore. We will all look the same and that will be very boring. Some people are okay with that, however. I wouldn't want my children to look like everybody else. I want them to be unique plus I want them to carry the family traits on from generation to generation.

[*RiC3xBoy*]

You're right, in some ways it is like abortion. However, if this method of genetic selection because very popular in the future, there will be no such thing as heredity anymore. We will all look the same and that will be very boring. Some people are okay with that, however. I wouldn't want my children to look like everybody else. I want them to be unique plus I want them to carry the family traits on from generation to generation.

Actually are you sure that the parents can pick whatever they want in there child or whatever want that THEY have. For instance, if the mother has blue eyes and the father has hazel, then could the boy/girl have brown eyes?