Build A Baby - Genetically Engineered Designer Babies Parents Can Live With

Genetic Research has made numerous advancements over the past few years that have uncovered different sets of traits which parents can now change in their babies. While there are a few ethical questions about the genetic engineering field, the many positives far outweigh these issues. Here are the top 4 reasons why we should continue to advance this science.

1. Prevention of genetic disorders

Via jewishgeneticdiseases.org

Most disorders are inherited. If both parents are "carriers" for a genetic disease, there is a 25% likelihood of their children being affected or a 50% chance of their children being "carriers" as well. In many cases, "carriers" do not show symptoms of the disorders making this very dangerous because parents have to take it upon themselves to be tested or risk passing a disease to their children.

Much like being able to choose specific traits for babies, scientists are able to single out certain genes that can lead to these genetic disorders and modify them before the babies are even born.

2. Save lives!

Via radiomastfm.com

Genetic modifications can be made to where a family would all be a perfect match for organ, blood, and bone marrow transplants. With the current transplant system, a new name is added to the national wait list every 12 minutes, and on average 21 people die every day due to lack of transplants available. With the ability to provide modifications to a babies genes, this would potentially save hundreds or even thousands of lives each year.

3. Full customization of your baby

Via geneticsandsociety.org

Parents will be able to choose the sex of the baby, their hair color, eye color, skin color, along with hundreds of different traits that can affect their athletic ability, looks, and even intelligence. Scientists have been able to single out these genes and modify them to whatever the parents choose. While most of these changes are superficial, this often leads to better well being for the children. Any sort of deformities can be eliminated and allow a child to live a normal life.

4. The advancement of science

Via mashable.com

Every scientific discovery has had ethical questions raised. If we were to halt all research due to the ethical questions that are brought up, we would still be living, and dying, in the stone age. While it is all of our jobs to continue to question the motives of research, we do need to push the envelope when it comes to advancing our knowledge. Who knows where this field will be in five to ten years from now? Who knows what other scientific discoveries may come from the research of designer babies? There is the potential to eliminate all diseases and extend our lives by a considerable amount of time.

In continuing and funding the field of genetics we will gain an everlasting knowledge and understanding of our own bodies and give us and our children the best lives that they can possibly have.