Designer Babies By Christina Filossaint, Myrline Marcellin, Sherri Duverger, Tristian Erdman

Definition Designer babies An infant created by genetic engineering combined with in vitro fertilization in order to ensure the absence or presence of a particular gene or characteristic.

History Gender selection based on pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has been available to paying couples since at least 2001. One of the world leaders in providing this service is the Fertility Institutes, with branches in Los Angeles, New York, and Guadalajara in Mexico. According to their website, they’ve had over 3,800 cases of gender selection with a 100% success rate. Besides offering gender selection, they screen embryos for genetic defects such as breast cancer, cystic fibrosis, and over 70 other diseases. The Institutes are directed by Dr. Jeff Steinberg, a pioneer of IVF (in vitro fertilization) in the 1970s, and a successful scientist-businessman today.

Benefits Genetic screening can reduce the baby's chances of being born with several serious diseases like down Syndrome, Famial hypercholesterolemia, rare blood disorders etc. Embryos free of any mutations are implanted into the womb in the hope that one will grow into a fetus whilst faulty embryos are discarded. One of the predicted central uses of genetic engineering is to customize our babies according to our will. One method, known as Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD), gives prospective parents the ability to screen and select for specific genetic traits in their children. Create a new generation of healthier children. People who use pre-implantation genetic diagnosis to avoid passing on a disease to their child have a collection of embryos created for them by IVF.

Negatives A revolutionary technique called 'pre-implantation process' is used to screen embryos for any genetic disease and only the disease free embryos are implanted into the mother's womb. However, the technique is not limited to screening for genetic and hereditary disorders, but is also used for cosmetic reasons. "The objection to the idea of designer babies is that it divorces procreation from the act of sexual congress, and there's a real sense in which it is playing God." Critics point out that the level of biodiversity in the human race will plummet, which can result in long term disaster. It will result in increase of unreasonable fear or hatred towards foreigners or anyone who appears different. People with genetic defects will be socially rejected. They will be called 'gene poor' and will be separated from the society too. Its complex, and any mistake can alter the lives of many generations

Current use Designer babies is being currently used as a way to get another child with a rare disease to be treated. For instance, Adam Nash was the world's first known designer baby born by the revolutionary pre-implantation process in the year 2000. Scientists genetically selected his embryo so that he would possess the right cells to save his dying sister's life. His sister suffered from, and mostly the chances of Adam getting that disorder was also very high. An embryo was chosen, which did not have the disorder Adam’s sister had. Adam became a donor to his sister, which doubled her chances of survival. Same was the case with Charlie Whitaker, who suffered from Diamond Black fan Anemia. His parents wanted to have a designer baby to save Charlie's life. Since they were denied the right in UK, they went to US to have their baby. In 2003, Charlie's baby brother was born and the stem cells from his umbilical cord would be used to treat Charlie.

Future Parents will significantly increase DNA testing on embryos to screen for faulty genes over the next decade, potentially in search of designer babies, a researcher predicts in the journal nature. While the high-tech crib experiments by Accenture Technology Labs and Intel Research aren't likely to be released as commercial products any time soon, they represent what could be the future of baby gear. The trend toward more advanced baby-gear design is the result of a confluence of trends, including cheaper tech as well as social networking. To compete on an increasingly crowded playing field, makers of infant furniture and gadgets will have to look beyond sophisticated forms and add sophisticated functions. New technologies may offer parents the possibility to enhance their children

Ethical Issues Today both genetic and reproductive sciences have come a long way since Hitler ruled Germany. We can now identify many genetic disorders (like Downs Syndrome and TaySachs disease) as well as physical traits such as gender before a child is even born. Using tests like amniocentesis and CVS (Chorionic Villi Sampling), doctors can detect birth defects in the unborn child and then parents can decide to abort the fetus.

Cost The average cost of PGD (Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis), including in-vitro fertilization, is $12,500 to $16,000. Some insurance companies have provided coverage for PGD to screen out serious genetic disorders, but most have to pay PGD costs out of their pockets. A recent study at New York University suggest the most people that participated in the study would not want genetic testing for enhancements such as athletic ability.

Own Opinion Our group’s opinion regarding is that Designer babies have an amazing purpose. For example, if Parents has a child who is very ill that they can go to the doctors and have the doctor make a designer baby for the price of 18,000.and that baby would be a living donor that donates any body part that the sick child will need. A couple can also get a designer baby if they choose because they could never reproduce an offspring. And the most important thing Designer babies can be creating just to treat people with rare blood diseases or any other kind.

Bibliography Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/designer+baby . ( definition) 2. http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheat-sheet/item/here-come-designer-babies/predictions/ ( future) 3.http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/jul2006/id20060720_263371.htm ( current use) 4. http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-designer-babies.html (pros and cons) 5. http://hplusmagazine.com/articles/bio/great-designer-baby-controversy-%E2%80%9909 (history ) 6.http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/232709/designer_babies_the_ethical_issues.html (Ethical issue) 7.http://www.hoglundtransportation.com/Students.html

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