UK to allow designer babys

clearz

I was wondering what people tought about this. Do you think it should be allowed here in Ireland.

I personly am in favour of it. Although kids are the last thing on my mind at the moment if I ever were to have one I would like it to be healty and free of any genetic defects.

Lemming

Gattaca

GuanYin

That topic is a little sensationalist seeing as thats not quite what is happening.

Could you provide a link to allow people to discuss?

Lemming

Originally posted by syke
That topic is a little sensationalist seeing as thats not quite what is happening.

Could you provide a link to allow people to discuss?

Sensationalist topic heading aside Syke, clearz says that he/she is in favour of it.

Why are you in favour of designer babies clearz? Have you thought through the repercussions of such a decision?

clearz

Originally posted by syke
That topic is a little sensationalist seeing as thats not quite what is happening.

Could you provide a link to allow people to discuss?

The topic I am starting is. Do you think we should be able to choose a baby based on genetic characteristics and to an extreme change the genetics to suit ourselves (blond hair, blue eyes ect). I dont believe in the latter but I think that if parents know that their kids are likely to be born with terrible diseases like cystic fibrosis then it should be ok.

GuanYin

Clearz, could you show me exactly where there is an article saying that the UK is going to allow "Designer Babies".

I understand what you are suggesting but the topic is slightly misleading.

fragile

clearz, what is your opinion on the possibility of a genetic divide between first & third world nations? at the moment we have a digital divide, which can be overcome if the western nations act responsibly, but with genetic engineering the western nations really would become a superior/master race........thats not a world I want my kids to grow up in...

On another note, I wouldn't trust this type of medical interference with an unborn child, they may be able to genetically modify a child to be immune to certain diseases, but how do they know they are not opening the door to even more/worse diseases (I know, almost everyone said the same about vaccines..)?

Besides, my dads taste sucks, I am glad he didn't get to choose my hair/eye colour

clearz

Originally posted by syke
Clearz, could you show me exactly where there is an article saying that the UK is going to allow "Designer Babies".

I understand what you are suggesting but the topic is slightly misleading.

Sky News has been shouting it all week. That is what got me thinking about it.
fragile I know the third world divides are getting bigger but what are supposed to do sit arround and wait for them to catch up. Im sorry but if there is a way to wipe out such horrible genitic illnesses then we should go for it.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,31500-13158609,00.html

Lemming

As upsetting as it may be to have to confront genetic illness, where does the line stop? A child could "possibly" have a genetic defect. But it wont be known for sure until after they're born.

What we're left possibly (being the word of the moment) facing is something like this:

Parents A & B decide that they're going to have their child genetically modified. (S)he is not only immune to x, y & z, but they decide to get creative with the interpretation of the laws regarding genetic alteration and also easily find a company to go for the carte blanche option and have the child's fitness level modified along with manual dexterity & intelligence. (S)he is now also a favourite for any educational position/job/insurance policy (s)he ever applies for.

So, parents C & D feel that in order to give their child a chance of competing against such an unfair advantage, they have to go do the same.

But, parents E & F can't afford all this fancy genetic alteration stuff, and they have a "normal" child.

Do you want to finish where I'm headed with this? ........

Beruthiel

Originally posted by Lemming
Gattaca

yup
eventually that is exactly where it would all end up
I'd prefer not to be in a world like that

John

I think it's a very slippery slope and before any government decides in either direction, there should be an international conference as regards ethical issues and possible disasters down the line. I agree that genetic diseases are awful (I've seen a few serious ones in parts of my family) but I think that tampering with a human being's genetic make up is going a bit far. The whole thing does smack of Gattaca and Nazi ideals.

Twistedlilkitty

but its only been a few years since we got the gene code and we as yet dont have a clue what the knockon effects are of tampering with part of it. Its our genetic diversity that helps us to survive as a species...if we all ended up with similar supposedly perfect gene codes all we would need is a nice virus to cause a great epidemic because if it can get through one immune system it can get through them all.....god i need coffee....

John

Originally posted by Twistedlilkitty
if we all ended up with similar supposedly perfect gene codes all we would need is a nice virus to cause a great epidemic because if it can get through one immune system it can get through them all

That's precisely why the potato famine happened. All potatoes were descendents from only a small amount of imported potatoes so they all were basically the exact same. So the potato blight fungus could spread easily from one to another. Except if we were all genetically the same, I suppose it'd be called a human blight.