Designer Babies
The truth behind the science
By Alyssa Kaplan
One of the biggest upcoming issues in the world of genetics is the idea of “designer babies.” It’s safe to say almost everyone has heard this term being thrown around, but do we really understand the science and meaning behind it?
The actual term is preimplantation genetic diagnosis, or PGD. Through this process, geneticists use in-vitro fertilization to combine eggs and sperm to make a number of embryos. The doctor can then inspect the embryos for signs of genetic diseases and specifically not implant those into the woman, discarding the defective ones. It seems like a simple enough process, but this topic actually raises a multitude of ethical questions that could have a serious impact on everyone.
First of all, how do we decide when to use this technology? Who gets to decide what diseases are bad enough to warrant PGD; which lives are worth fixing ahead of time? It’s not an easy decision to make, but the line has to be drawn somewhere. It seems logical to say, however, that this technology should only be used for those illnesses and conditions that hinder a normal life, those that kill before the age of 10, or those that cause more pain than happiness.
But the decision to use PGD can’t be just one doctor’s opinion; there have to be national regulations in place. If not, this could lead to serious debates and legal issues. Furthermore, the issue of money plays a huge role. In-vitro fertilization is expensive, and not everyone has insurance or can afford it. Some people worry that if the trend continues where the middle and upper classes are able to use PGD to avoid deadly diseases, those illnesses could come to be associated with being in the lower class. Potential for more discrimination exists.
What most people are scared of are the familiar undertones of eugenics and the possibility of this science being taken to a frightening level. The fear that geneticists could have the power to create a world of blue-eyed blonde-haired babies is real. What if parents can breed super-babies that are professional-level athletes or musicians by the time they are ten? There are, however, still two sides to the debate. Some say that once we can select or deselect certain genes in order to prevent disease, we will be able to code for certain traits and physical appearances. Others argue that there is no one specific gene that causes a person to be kind, for example. But the truth is, science is advancing rapidly, and there is the possibility that we could discover those gene combinations.
This debate leads into another classic — the nature versus nurture argument (that is, assuming that we achieve the science necessary to code for certain characteristics). Even if we do discover that certain genes will cause a person to be brave, what role will the environment play in actually causing that to come about?
Let’s say one person grows up in a household as an abused child, constantly put down and bullied. Most people would say that in this type of situation, being brave would not be a likely trait for this child; more likely, he will be scared and meek after years of behaving that way. Of course, this is not an absolute; there will be exceptions. But overall, environment does play a certain role in behavior. Genetics can only cause predispositions for traits; it doesn’t mean the person will definitely possess them.
The relationship between parents and their child also could potentially be severely impacted through the use of PGD. The term “selection drift” has been used to describe how what parents consider attractive traits in their children has been slowly rising over the past few years. The more technology we are able to use to manipulate the genetics, the greedier people will become. This, of course, portrays a very negative view of humanity with which optimists might not agree. The truth is, though, that parents could start wanting better and better children. Moreover, once a parent is able to choose any aspect of their child, the entire idea of loving your children for who they are will disappear. Parents won’t just accept their children’s flaws; they will remove them entirely.
Likewise, some researchers have compared the process of PGD to dating rather than conceiving a child. Parents will be searching for good qualities in their children in the same manner they do in a mate. The entire relationship could be altered.
One of the most instigative and touchy issues that PGD brings up is abortion. Everyone has the right to his or her own opinion on this issue, but this technology complicates the question. Because geneticists pair multiple eggs and sperm, those that are not used for implantation are destroyed. Some people consider this abortion, so this aspect of PGD must be considered in the arguments for and against it.
Many people believe PGD is an essential technology not only because it can prevent lives with serious diseases. The body also naturally aborts many defective fetuses in what is called a spontaneous abortion, or miscarriage. Often, embryos with severe genetic abnormalities that would not be able to survive outside the womb are terminated before ever reaching the second trimester. Some argue that because the body does this naturally, it is no different to perform the procedure in a laboratory ahead of time. Some researchers have also made an interesting comparison between organ transplant and PGD. They claim replacing an organ is the same concept as replacing a gene, except with a gene it also affects future generations. Essentially, the defective part is removed, but it means that the person’s children and grandchildren will most likely never have the same condition.
The topic of preimplantation genetic diagnosis is complicated and raises many questions and arguments about what it should be used for and the potential complications it could cause. There are so many possibilities both for help and for harm that we as a country need more research to truly determine what the regulations should be. Before we can utilize this technology full-time, more studies should be performed.