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Genetic Engineering & Designer Babies

Genetic Engineering & Designer Babies. By: Robin Saville and Ashley Lewis. Overview. Definition Different techniques Video Pros Cons Social, Ethical, & Political issues. What is a designer baby?.

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Genetic Engineering & Designer Babies

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  1. Genetic Engineering & Designer Babies By: Robin Saville and Ashley Lewis

  2. Overview • Definition • Different techniques • Video • Pros • Cons • Social, Ethical, & Political issues

  3. What is a designer baby? • “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”. • Term created by journalists and society, not scientists

  4. Different Techniques • In vitro fertilization • Fertilizations of the egg by the sperm in test tubes, outside the mother’s body • Sperm sorting • Taking the sperm of the father and separating into male and female chromosome carriers and then artificially inseminating the mother with the “right” sperm

  5. Different Techniques • Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) • Screen embryos for a genetic disease • Only selected embryos are implanted back into the mother’s womb • Prenatal Diagnosis • An ultrasound examination to determine the sex of the fetus • Traditional Methods • Eating dairy food for a girl • Salty food for a boy • Conceiving at a certain time or position

  6. Germ Line Therapy vs. Gene Therapy • Germ line therapy • “Cure” genetic disease in embryos by replacing faulty sections of DNA with healthy DNA • Gene therapy • Modify the faulty genes in the cells of a grown child or an adult • Used for diseases like cystic fibrosis

  7. Video • http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500165_162-4840346.html

  8. Pros • Reduce baby’s chances of being born with serious diseases • Reduced chance of next generation inheriting genes with diseases • “Savior” sibling • Adam Nash • Charlie Whitaker

  9. Cons • Playing God • Unnatural process • Disrupts level of biodiversity in human race • Cosmetic reasons • Reduces child’s freedom and say

  10. Cons • Eugenics • “The study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits”. • Widens gap between the rich and poor • Unreasonable fear or hatred towards foreigners • Gender discrimination • Discrimination against disabled

  11. Social Issues • Term was created by journalists and society rather than scientists • A better term would be “selected babies” • Will be the babies be socially accepted? • Google and Amazon removed advertisements for sex selection products and services

  12. Ethical Issues • Where do we draw the line? • Human traits are controlled by multiple genetic factors • If you change one gene, how will it affect the others? • Athleticism and intelligence affected by environmental factors • Discrimination • Tall versus short • Gender • Whose right is it to declare what the better trait is?

  13. Ethical Issues • Is it ethical to allow parents to choose disabilities for their children? • Sharon Duchesneau & Candy McCullough • Deaf designer baby

  14. Political Issues • Prenatal diagnosis, sperm sorting, and traditional methods are not affected by the law • Laws governing the use of PGD, for specifically nonmedical sex selection, varies around the world • Not illegal in US and Australia

  15. Political Issues • PGD and sex selection is permitted where gender of the child is connected to a certain genetic disorder • Ex. Disorder is only passed onto male children • United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, Portugal, Spain, New Zealand, and Germany • “Savior siblings” • Should parents be allowed to do this?

  16. QUESTIONS???

  17. References • Pros and Cons of Designer Babies. (2012). Buzzle. Retrieved April 12th, 2012. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-designer-babies.html • Designer Babies Debate. (2011). Buzzle. Retrieved April 12th, 2012. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/designer-babies-debate.html • Naik, Gautam. (2009). A Baby, Please. Blonde, Freckles—Hold the Colic. WSJ. Retrieved April 12th, 2012. http://online.WSJ.com/articles.html • What is a designer baby? (2002). Bionet. Retrieved April 12th, 2012. http://www.bionetonline.org/english/content/db_contl.htm • Keim, Brandon. (2009). Designer Babies: A Right to Choose? WiredScience. Retrieved April 12th, 2012. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/designerdebate

  18. References • Steere, Mike. (2008). Designer Babies: Creating the Perfect Child. CNN. Retrieved April 12th, 2012. • “Designer Babies” Ethical? (2009). CBS. Retrieved April 12th, 2012. http://www.cbs.com • Genetic Engineering. (2010). FutureHumanEvolution. Retrieved April 12th, 2012. http://www.humansfuture.org/genetic_engineering_designer_babies.php.htm

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