The Selectiveness of Eugenics and the Possibility of Designer Babies

Eugenics: “Designer Babies”

Eugenics is, basically, a set of beliefs and/or practices that focus on improving the genetic make-up of the human population. This, of course, is directly tied to the idea of “designer babies.” Eugenics allows us to know certain things about our unborn children such as gender and any illnesses/diseases they may have. Not only this, however, but scientists are actively focused on creating a way to alter or modify certain genes in unborn children in order to satisfy the parents’ wants for their children. For instance, in the future we may be able to ensure our children will have a certain skin and/or hair color, blue/green/brown eyes and be physically attractive along with mentally intelligent.

However, this concept or idea isn’t favored by everybody, of course, and some scientists are even opposed to the idea themselves and believe we will never be able to achieve this. To some people, being able to give their children certain features and characteristics is highly important but to others it is sickening and unnatural. Although Science is constantly expanding, there is still a lot of needed information that will allow us to create the children we want. Due to this large gap of missing information, some scientists believe it will be decades before we’re able to successfully create a child in the image we want.

Designer Babies

In a world where people want, and expect, “perfection,” it isn’t too shocking that people want the same thing when it comes to their children. Most parents, of course, want their children to become successful and intelligent. In fact, a lot of these parents would do almost anything to achieve this, even if it meant they had to do something extremely bizarre. In today’s advanced world, scientists are working towards being able to “design” a baby by simply adding or subtracting certain genes. As crazy as this sounds, many people are excited about this idea.

Eugenics is the “science which deals with all influences that improve the inborn qualities of a race, also with those that develop them to the utmost advantage” (“The American Journal of Sociology” 1). Thanks to Eugenics, we are inching closer and closer to the idea of “designer babies.” According to Sonia Suter, the idea of Eugenics was created by a scientist named Francis Galton in 1883 (“A Brave New World of Designer Babies” 902). Thanks to Galton’s research, scientists today are advancing the branch of science known as Eugenics and are slowly learning more about the genetic make-up of individuals. So far, modern research allows us to know the gender of our unborn children, the, if any, illnesses and diseases they may have and so much more. However, many people are eagerly waiting for the day that we will be able to create a human being based on our wants.

Although scientists haven’t yet figured out how to “design” a baby, they have provided parents with several ways to improve their unborn child’s health, although a few of these options are still in the experimental stage. However, thanks to research, some diseases and illnesses are detectable early on in the pregnancy and parents can choose to abort the unborn child or go through with their pregnancy (“A Brave New World of Designer Babies” pg. 929). According to Michael Lemonick, parents may someday be able to “insert the genes they want” into their unborn babies (“Designer Babies” 2). To certain expecting parents in the near future, this will be like music to their ears.

Some people believe that the study of Eugenics may lead to new ways to “perfect” a human being through modifying certain genes before birth. Other people just want to make sure they have a healthy baby girl or baby boy. To some people, the idea of being able to choose certain characteristics of their future children is highly important. According to Lemonick, a parent may be able to choose a high IQ level and attractive appearance for their children (2). To other people, they would rather their child have a good personality. Nonetheless, in the future parents may be able to pick and choose from options for their future children and leave out the characteristics they think are unfavorable.

However, even though numerous people are all for the idea, there are still plenty of people who are dead-set against the concept. This isn’t too surprising, of course, since altering the genetic make-up of an unborn baby sounds like something out of a horror movie. According to Joe Simpson, a large number of individuals opposed the idea of altering the genetic make-up of a child (1). These people believe that the idea of modifying, or even customizing, a child is inhuman and unnatural. Also, some people are very firm on the idea that scientists won’t even be able to pull this off. Whatever the objection is, it is evident that numerous people find this concept very frightening and wish for it to never occur.

Apart from the controversial towards Eugenics and designer babies, there are a few concerns when it comes to the concept. For instance, choosing a certain set of genes to suit the parents’ likings could potentially affect other characteristics of the child which may seem unfavorable. Say, for example, a parent wishes for their daughter or son to have fair skin with dark hair. According to experimental research, the child may have those traits but unfortunately end up with a terrible personality. Also, there is still a huge gap of missing information and research that is preventing scientists from figuring out how to modify the genetic make-up of an individual. Though some scientists firmly believe that we will one day be able to create our children in the image and way we want, there are other scientists who believe we will never be able to do just that.

To some people, the study of Eugenics is critical to being able to bring “designer” babies into the near future, to others it is a scary branch of Science. Whether parents want a certain hair color or IQ level for their child, this field of Science is going to bring a whole new level of customization to expecting families. Although scientists have yet to discover exactly how to go about doing just that, it is only a matter of time before they make it a reality.