A designer baby is a baby genetically engineered for specially selected traits, which can vary from lowered disease-risk to gender selection. Parents sometimes feel the need to choose the traits and characteristics of their future offspring. And with the new genetic engineering trend it is possible. There are many pros to this and few cons. Currently it is possible to choose gender, appearance, intelligence, and to eliminate diseases.

Pros

• Reduces risk of genetic diseases
• Reduces risk of inherited medical conditions
• Keep pace with others doing it
• Better chance the child will succeed in life
• Better understanding of genetics
• Increased life span
• Can give a child genes that the parents do not carry
• Prevent next generation of family from getting characteristics/diseases

Cons

• Termination of embryos
• Could create a gap in society
• Possibility of damage to the gene pool
• Baby has no choice in the matter
• Genes often have more than one use
• Geneticists are not perfect
• Loss of Individuality
• Other children in family could be affected by parent's decision
• Expensive

Why Parents seek genetic counseling?

Parents seek genetic counseling when they want to either gain a trait for their child or possibly eliminate a disease that may show up from their own history. Parents always want the best for their children and sometime they feel like they need to change something for the kids to have the best possible life.

Forms of Reproductive Technology

• human cloning
• selecting for superhuman traits
• pre-implantation
• extracting defective mitochondria

What is preimplantation genetic diagnosis?

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) is a procedure used prior to implantation to help identify genetic defects within embryos created through in artificial fertilization to prevent certain diseases or disorders from being passed on to the child.

Why would a parents seek specific traits for their child?

Producing healthier better fit children more so than random natural processes might create. You may choose the gender of the baby therefore if the parents have always wanted a specific gender it is possible. And it also allows for the parent to rid their child of a certain disease or trait they have that may cause the child to have a lesser quality of life.

So is choosing your babies traits a good thing or not?

When parents are able to choose traits for their children it opens vast horizons for the future for their child. They can make sure their child doesn't get any possible diseases or malfunctions, they might have had in their own lives. Choosing the gender of the baby can allow for things to be much easier for them and parents. In countries such as India, China, and Pakistan girls are looked down upon. "Baby girls are considered a curse and a financial burden, especially to poor, rural families who must cough up expensive dowries upon their marriages, while boys are usually counted upon to take care of their parents during their old age" With choosing the gender of a child in these countries it would save a heavy burden on the parents and the life of a child. And choosing other physical characteristics allows for more possible success in the future.

Questions we tend to ask Parents of future designer babies

• What is your opinion on choosing traits of a child?
• What are your goals with choosing traits?
• Why do you want a Designer Baby?
• Do you know the possible risks?
• Payment Plans?
• Will you be able to accept the failure of the procedure?
• Would changing your babies possible outcome increase their quality of life?
• How will this benefit your future child?

Works Cited

"The Embryo Project Encyclopedia." Ethics of Designer Babies | The Embryo Project Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Ghosh, Palash. "A Deadly Preference For Male Offspring: The Killing Of Baby Girls In India And Pakistan." International Business Times. N.p., 16 Sept. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Hanson, Jack. "Designer Babies Pros and Cons | Gene Therapy | Genetic Engineering." Designer Babies Pros and Cons | Gene Therapy | Genetic Engineering. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Parry, Wynne. "Designing Life: Should Babies Be Genetically Engineered?" LiveScience. Purch, 18 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Welch, Ashley. "Designer Baby Controversy: Scientists Edit Genome of Human Embryo." CBS News. CBS Interactive, 24 Apr. 2015. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"How Are Designer Babies Made?" Reference. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"Designer Babies." The Future of Human Evolution. N.p., 25 Jan. 2014. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Hanson, Jack. "Designer Babies Pros and Cons | Gene Therapy | Genetic Engineering."Designer Babies Pros and Cons | Gene Therapy | Genetic Engineering. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: Benefits & Concerns." American Pregnancy Association. N.p., 02 Sept. 2016. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

Ghose, Tia. "Children to Order: The Ethics of 'Designer Babies'." LiveScience. Purch, 13 Mar. 2014. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.

"Savior Sibling." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 31 Mar. 2017. Web. 12 Apr. 2017.