The expression “designer babies” has been around for years, but so far, parents who want to design a child in their own way do not have many options.
Without exception, all future parents are offered by doctors to undergo screening tests in order to avoid the birth of a child with genetic abnormalities. In addition, those undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilization) can choose the gender of the baby. Although this is only possible if there is plenty to choose from.
But what if we dream of having a child with outstanding athletic abilities, musical or artistic talent, and a high level of intelligence? Or do we want to avoid a genetic predisposition to depression or aggression? If we just want to choose the optimal height / weight / hair color that we associate with a successful life in general?
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Despite the fact that most parents dream of their child being simply happy, even before conception, society holds them responsible for the health and happiness of their children until they reach maturity. Parents are advised to optimize the development of the child, to control his environment, food and play, to structure his activities from a very early age.
Controlling the genes of an unborn child opens up new possibilities for parental intervention. Recent techniques are directed at specific sections of DNA, removing or replacing certain fragments. Gene editing, especially with CRISPR-Cas9 technology, allows scientists to act quickly and is also inexpensive for researchers. Its application to gametes will lead to changes that are passed down from generation to generation. It could bring the real emergence of «designer babies» closer and theoretically allow editing the genome to include desirable parameters.
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Some bioethicists argue that parents not only have a right, but a duty to strive to create a child with a better chance of a good life, based on the available genetic information. And we are not talking about possible diseases, but, for example, about intelligence, although is high intelligence necessarily better?
There are no children for whom all roads are equally open in the future, but will not increased parental control negatively affect the relationship between adults and children? Most parents want the best for their children, but do they know what the best is in a rapidly changing world? Some parents hope that their children will fulfill a dream that they themselves could not fulfill. But regardless of good intentions, will the child benefit from such an increase in parental authority? And are we really so busy not to find an opportunity to see what the hopes, talents and ambitions of a child are?
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Of course, success is not guaranteed. A child may be musically gifted, but if he absolutely does not want to study, the chosen talent will never develop. Parents who pay for specific genetic traits are likely to expect high results, and if children do not meet their expectations, this can cause discomfort in adults and lead to conflict between worships.
Also, won’t cloning talents lead to an overabundance of one talent and will society view talent as just another advantage that some parents can buy their children?
Commercial companies are already offering potential customers genome scans and DNA testing to identify specific genetic traits. While we are talking about identifying the potential risk of certain cancers and Alzheimer’s disease. But if genes can be edited, companies will certainly respond to any demand.
See more at The Guardian.