Designer Babies and Genetic Engineering What is a

Designer Babies and Genetic Engineering

What is a Designer Baby? A baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics Ethical Issue: Should couples be given the right to alter their children’s genes to their own preference and liking?

Real-Life Situation ² In October of 2000, Adam Nash was the world’s first designer baby born by pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) ² PGD refers to screening procedures performed on embryos to check for genetic disorders prior to implantation and pregnancy ² Combined with in-vitro fertilization (IVF), a process by which egg cells are fertilized by sperm outside the womb ² Embryos grown to the eight-cell stage and are checked for genetic disorders ² It’s a major treatment in infertility, but is now being used for other reasons

Real-Life Situation ² His parents were both carriers of Fanconi Anemia and passed this genetic disorder onto their daughter, Molly ² To save Molly, a bone marrow transplant was needed ² Doctors fertilized several of Adam’s mother’s eggs, but only implanted the one that was both genetically healthy and a match as a donor ² This means the other embryos that could have grown into human beings were killed ² Now, Molly is healthy and has been given a second chance at life

Where Are We HEADED? A resent U. S. survey suggest most people support the notion of building a better baby when it comes to eliminating serious diseases. ALL PARENTS want a healthy baby Will that be enough?

Designer Babies Today ² To date, genetic technology has only been used to treat serious disease in children ² Discoveries about the influence of genes on human traits opens the possibility of transferring these techniques to human beings ² Developing technology makes it possible to alter anything from gender to disease, and eventually appearance, personality, and IQ ² Some believe that parents will inevitably want to choose their children’s genes, thus creating designer babies

Advantages ² Allows couples who can’t conceive normally to have children ² Allows couples to balance gender in their families ² Genetic screening reduces the baby’s chances of being born with a serious genetic disease ² Increases the likelihood of a healthy baby ² Reduces chances of miscarriage ² Reduces chances of termination due to disorder ² Can be used to save lives

Disadvantages ² Moral and ethical concerns: Ø Too much like playing God Ø Killing embryos that could have grown into humans ² Social concerns: Ø High cost leads to gap in society Ø Could lead to eugenics: individuals are “bred” or designed to suit social preferences Ø Genetically enhanced people may start to feel superior to those who haven’t been enhanced Ø Such groups of people may become prejudiced against one another due to a feeling of lost common humanity with nonenhanced people

Disadvantages ² Safety concerns: Ø Can lead to ovarian hyper-stimulation syndrome (OHSS) Ø Unskilled lab technology could damage embryo during biopsy Ø The removal of cells from eight-cell embryos has implications for the well-being of people created by PGD

For or Against Designer Babies? ²In a recent U. S. survey of 999 people who sought genetic counseling, a majority said they supported prenatal genetic tests for the elimination of serious diseases

For or Against Designer Babies? ² Survey results: Ø 56% supported using genetic tests to counter blindness Ø 75% supported using genetic tests for mental retardation Ø 10% of respondents said they would want genetic testing for athletic ability Ø 10% voted for improved height Ø 13% backed the approach to select for superior intelligence

Designer Babies at a PRICE • A recent ad in a top college newspaper offered $50, 000 for an egg from a bright, healthy young woman. • Recently a couple with 2 children decided they wanted a Designer Baby at the cost of $9, 000. • The parent becomes the architect and the child becomes the ultimate shopping experience. • Will only the rich be able to afford these babies?

Financing Available

Designer Babies at a Price WOULD YOU BUY ME?

Seven Steps in Ethical Decision Making 1) What is the ethical dilemma? 2) What are the facts? 3) Who are the stakeholders? 4) What are the options? 5) What should I do? 6) Is it justified? 7) How could this ethical problem have been prevented?

Step #1: What is the ethical question?

“It would be irresponsible to proceed with any clinical use of germline editing unless and until (i) the relevant safety and efficacy issues have been resolved … and (ii) there is broad societal consensus about the appropriateness of the proposed application. ”

Step #2: What are the facts?

Pros of Genetically Modified Babies Eliminate illness and disease in unborn child: § Scientists remove bad genes by “germline” § Example of diseases that would be eradicated: 1. 2. 3. Cystic fibrosis Huntington’s disease Tay-Sachs disease

Pros of Genetically Modified Babies Longer life span: §Future generations will have a better quality of life Advancements in genetic engineering: § Reverse basic causes of body’s natural decline § Adaptation § Guarantee survival of the human race § Medical advancements

Cons of Designer Babies Genetic Diversity § Identical genomes, the population as a whole will be susceptible to virus or disease. Over Population § Not enough resources on earth New Diseases Rising § It may fix one disease or mutation and cause other diseases or mutations that could make the person sicker or even kill them

Cons of Designer Babies Safety Issues § Unknown Consequences of Viral Genes in the Human Body God § The belief that god should have ultimate power and we should not be altering nature Price § Only the rich can offered it Lack of Regulations § No current laws or guidelines

Step #3: What is the perspective of the stakeholders?

Primary Stakeholders § The Family – Parents have the intention of preventing the passing of genetic diseases to future generations – Existing children may benefit § Physicians and other healthcare professionals – Duty of nonmaleficence § Government – Regulation of laws

Secondary Stakeholders § Society – Social changes – Unpredictable long-term effects – Conservative and/or religious groups § HIM Professionals (Health Information Management) – Interest in the safety and security of the sensitive information

Step #4: What are the options in the case?

Alternatives for Designer Babies § § § Choosing a mate/partner. Sperm donor. Mother nature takes its course.

More Information on Genetic Engineering § Other nations outlook on GE. § Center for Genetics and Society: geneticsandsociety. org

Step #5: What should I do?

Worldwide Views § Human embryo modification is banned/ discouraged in over 40 nations, excluding the United States. § China is criticized as the “Wild West’ of genetic research. § United Kingdom’s bill allows regulated scientific research in human genetic modification. § “Three parent” babies still discussed as an ethics issue.

What should I do? § Weigh the unknown long term consequences compared to the common alternatives. § Consider the economic separation (affordability). § How will the child’s life be impacted? § We are effectively creating our own evolution course.

What should I do? § Are we prepared for this “break-though” as a community, nation, and worldwide? § Just because we’re capable of doing something, should we do so?

Step #6: What justifies your choice?

Is it justified? • Subjective per family • Human Genome Mutation will be passed down for generations

Step #7: How could this ethical situation have been prevented?

It can’t.