I'll have one with blue eyes and blond hair please!

coffee_cake

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

How would you prevent them from becoming super corrupt? Or deciding to create a two-tier society, resulting in people who were not given an ability from effectively being enslaved or trapped or a possibility-less life?

And at that point, we're veering towards communism, where people are given a role rather than a life.

A role? I don't see any roles - they don't have to go into any particular career, just have more opportunities.
You can make them more intelligent or athletic etc and they can use it if they want to. We have enough families pressuring kids into one job or another that I can't see this being some new massive crisis.
It would also be a choice on the part of the parents if they wanted to, not the govt.


I have no idea who exactly is becoming super corrupt in your scenario? Or how being more athletic would put you in a two tier society? Are we in a two tier society now because there are people out there who are world-renowned sports stars or world-renowned musicians or academics? Are there not famous rich celebrities out there who don't seem to have much talent in any area whatsoever except wandering in front of a tv screen?

Sulla Felix

charlemont wrote: »

Its playing God.. I'v no problem with any procedures that involve the health of a child or foetus but the rest of it is taking the piss..

The church claims divine intervention is a regular occurence for sick people, so should be stop using all modern medicine?

On the OP, I don't see the problem. Provided we're not engineering faults or negatives. Ie: I wouldn't like to see a subrace of dumb but strong people bred.

OneArt

Does this mean I can finally engineer an octopus baby?

Ziphius

What article are you quoting steddyeddie?

It seems to be confusing a lot of different things and lumping them all together as 'genetic engineering'.

People should remember that 'designer babies' in the sense of selecting for eye or hair colour isn't really genetic engineering in the sense of changing the embryos genes or inserting new genes.

You can only select for what is already there. Embryos created via IVF can be tested to see what traits they have and then preferentially implanted into the uterus.

This, I think, is the premise behind Gatacca which was also recommended to me by a genetics lecturer.

shopaholic01

Turtyturd wrote: »

But after ensuring the child is healthy surely the next most important step is to make sure it isn't ginger.

:eek: Noooooooooooo, gingers are hot!!!!!

The blue eyes and blond hair in the thread title reminded me of Hitler.

steddyeddy

Ziphius wrote: »

What article are you quoting steddyeddie?

It seems to be confusing a lot of different things and lumping them all together as 'genetic engineering'.

People should remember that 'designer babies' in the sense of selecting for eye or hair colour isn't really genetic engineering in the sense of changing the embryos genes or inserting new genes.

You can only select for what is already there. Embryos created via IVF can be tested to see what traits they have and then preferentially implanted into the uterus.

This, I think, is the premise behind Gatacca which was also recommended to me by a genetics lecturer.

Its wasnt Dr.Butler was it? Shes not my lecturer but I was talking to her about it?

kowloon

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

How would you prevent them from becoming super corrupt? Or deciding to create a two-tier society, resulting in people who were not given an ability from effectively being enslaved or trapped or a possibility-less life?

And at that point, we're veering towards communism, where people are given a role rather than a life.

That said, in an ideal socialist society everyone would have equal access to enhancement, thereby preventing a two tier society from developing in the first place. Of course, ideal never happens. This stuff is playing with fire.

Gunner Disgusting Iron wrote: »

Yes but then again, look at what happened when Khan made his way aboard the Enterprise.

I stab at thee!

Ziphius

steddyeddy wrote: »

Its wasnt Dr.Butler was it? Shes not my lecturer but I was talking to her about it?

No, can't remember who is was actually. Was few years ago. The science in Gatacca seems to be pretty sound. I know the Science Gallery had a discussion on it a while back.

http://sciencegallery.com/events/2012/05/futureproof-movies

steddyeddy

Ziphius wrote: »

No, can't remember who is was actually. Was few years ago. The science in Gatacca seems to be pretty sound. I know the Science Gallery had a discussion on it a while back.

http://sciencegallery.com/events/2012/05/futureproof-movies

I can see things progressing that far tbh. The only problem I had with the science in Gattacca is that they didnt take into account enviromental effects.

Ziphius

steddyeddy wrote: »

I can see things progressing that far tbh. The only problem I had with the science in Gattacca is that they didnt take into account enviromental effects.

True. Though from the half I saw it is a lot better than other sci-fi films.

steddyeddy

Ziphius wrote: »

True. Though from the half I saw it is a lot better than other sci-fi films.

Dear jesus yes! The science in that film was picked up from the ladybird book of science me thinks!

coffee_cake

The Core was the best ever for science.
The best.
:p

Ellis Dee

The problem with designer babies - as with all design I guess - is that fashions are always changing. What is "must have, flavour of the month" now will be "soooo antediluvian" in a few decades" time.;)

aaronjumper

bluewolf wrote: »

The Core was the best ever for science.
The best.
:p

Sarcasm Detector: Beep BEEP BEEEEEEP!!! BOOM!

Yes the science in that movie was. . . well I suppose you would have to watch it.

steddyeddy

Off topic but am I the only one who thinks red heads can be really sexy (In a dirty looking sort of way)?

aaronjumper

steddyeddy wrote: »

Off topic but am I the only one who thinks red heads can be really sexy (In a dirty looking sort of way)?

Not at all. The day walkers can be quite attractive.

Princess Peach

I'd like a blond baby, but my boyfriend doesn't have any blonds in his family

Its a genetic urge us blonds have, pass on the recessive gene type thing. Plus we have nicer looking hair.

steddyeddy

Ellis Dee wrote: »

The problem with designer babies - as with all design I guess - is that fashions are always changing. What is "must have, flavour of the month" now will be "soooo antediluvian" in a few decades" time.;)

Thanks for the new word LCD. "antediluvian" that is! I had to look it up but I will now be using it in every day usage to impress the ladies!

Gran Hermano

Will TK Maxx offer last season's designer babies for 60 percent off list?

KKkitty

The thread title immediately conjured up thoughts of Hitler's Aryan Race for me. It's horrible to think someone could be so shallow as to want a baby to be have certain physical attributes.

alphabeat

do you need a designer vagina ?

kowloon

bluewolf wrote: »

The Core was the best ever for science.
The best.
:p

Watched it with a few mates and a few beers on board. If you're going to watch a film and pick it apart and take the pi55 I can't recommend it more highly. Also loaded with phallic imagery.

KKkitty wrote: »

The thread title immediately conjured up thoughts of Hitler's Aryan Race for me. It's horrible to think someone could be so shallow as to want a baby to be have certain physical attributes.

It would be interesting to see what flaws would be introduced if we were bred for looks like pedigree dogs. But I doubt anyone would choose looks at the cost of flaws for their children.

Would it become easy to identify people of a certain generation because their looks represent the fashion of the day? If it was available now would those born around 2010 have matchstick legs and generally thin features over muscle tone perhaps?

steddyeddy

Princess Peach wrote: »

I'd like a blond baby, but my boyfriend doesn't have any blonds in his family

Its a genetic urge us blonds have, pass on the recessive gene type thing. Plus we have nicer looking hair.

Im assuming you have blond hair by your slandering disregard of us brunettes and by that assupmtion I think that the allelle for blond hair is recessive. Either that or you could be blond due to a lack of genes coding for brown hair.

steddyeddy

KKkitty wrote: »

The thread title immediately conjured up thoughts of Hitler's Aryan Race for me. It's horrible to think someone could be so shallow as to want a baby to be have certain physical attributes.

I could'nt tempt you with a genetically engineered tail and purring capacity KKkitty?

UCDVet

People have been doing this for as long as people have existed.

Niles

I agree with such a service being advertised - but only as a screening test for potential parents.

Lingua Franca

I was totally against the idea of deisgner babies (other than for genetic disorders) until this:

steddyeddy wrote: »

designer babies are babies that are genetically modifed to give a desired appearence e.g blue hair and blond eyes.

Now I want to know where to go to start the process of getting my funky alien baby.

I'm thinking Village of the Damned but punkier. http://johnkennethmuir.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/villageofthedamned12.jpg

up for anything

Why is thick curly hair still seen as a 'what people want'? Most people I know that possess it wish it were anything but.

Capt'n Midnight

Ikky Poo2 wrote: »

Watch Gattaca.
Be afraid.
Be VERY afraid.

EU rules say insurance companies can't discriminate, but in the US families have been told that if they have any more kids with certain genetic conditions they won't be covered.

In the IT industry there are people with implanted chips, totally voluntary of course, but only chipped people can enter certain parts of the data centre and it would help career progression.

In the US companies are already hiring non-smokers because they'll have less sick days / be cheaper on the company medical insurance.

There are at least three technologies vying to be the first to offer full genome sequencing for less than $1,000

When you add it all up we are close to the point where it's not just a drug test they will be doing before hiring.

Capt'n Midnight

Turtyturd wrote: »

But after ensuring the child is healthy surely the next most important step is to make sure it isn't ginger.

Give her green eyes and she'll be a redhead instead :pac: