Designing Life

The world’s first genetically modified babies were born in 2001 in a medical research carried out in a facility in New Jersey, USA. Thirty women who were unable to conceive naturally participated in this much controversial experiment, from which seventeen failed to become pregnant, one become pregnant but suffered a miscarriage, and twelve women gave birth, with three of the women having twins. This was done so through a technique called ooplasmic transfer, which involves injecting certain contents of a donor egg from a fertile woman into the egg of the infertile woman. Some ethical issues have been raised, such as who is the mother of the child since the baby can share genes with the woman who donated the egg (seen in two out of fifteen cases). However, this technique has now been accepted in many countries as a resort to allow infertile women to have babies.

Although the genetic modifications in this study, and other similar researches, were miniscule, their implications were profound. It is a stepping stone for further research in many different facets of genetic engineering. It led to gene therapy being used therapeutically on a more moderate level. There has been tremendous progress in the field of muscle repair and improvement using gene therapy. Recently, some scientists in Pennsylvania developed a gene that prevents the natural deterioration of muscle cells. This was further developed into a gene that allowed a very significant amount of muscle gain and endurance without any exercise. It is predicted that this therapy might be approved for human testing/use within the next two years. This brings up ethical issues such as what if the technology was to be used for non-medical ends, for example to improve athletic performance in competitions.

Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) allows prospective parents to screen and select specific traits they would like their children to possess. Scientists and facilities all over the world are hoping to legalize aspects of PGD since several applications of this technology have been especially effective in screening for severe medical conditions. Potential genetic predisposition for Huntington’s Disease and Down Syndrome can be detected even before the pregnancy begins by analyzing the embryo’s genetic information. This allows parents to ensure that’s their children will be ‘normal’ which will essentially eliminates the emotional and financial difficulties that many families are forced to cope with. However, designer babies, which basically means customizing our babies according to our will, is one of the predicted central uses of PGD. Parents may possibly want to enhance their children by modifying the genetic make-up of their fetuses before implantation. This could move much further than just trying to avoid their child having physical or mental disabilities. They could provide their children with special abilities, for example the talent to master how to play a musical instrument. Some scientists argue that this should be acceptable because it is “no different than giving your child advantages like piano lessons.” Technical issues arise here such as this could eliminate the theories of natural selection and survival of the fittest which is how the population is kept under control and the world has been surviving. Ethical issues are brought up too, such as do parents really have the rights to choose every little detail of their child’s life, and also would there be too much pressure on the child to perform better than most other people. A highly controversial case took place in Russia a couple of years ago where a deaf lesbian couple decided to have a deaf baby because it would be easier for them to communicate with their child. It was argued that the parents of the baby did not have the right to decide whether or not he or she should be deaf.

Genetic Engineering is starting to change the idea that life is god-given. People will be able to change minute details such as the color of their eyes or their ability to swim or play basketball. Through this technology people will soon be able to design life.