Written by Editorial Team
What do you do when you crave a pizza? You go to a pizzeria and get a pizza customized just for you. You choose a size, you choose a base, you choose the toppings, you choose the extras and you choose the sides. It is possible to get a designer pizza, made exactly to your taste. Have you heard about designer babies?
What if this kind of customization can be extrapolated to babies? What if you can have a baby that is customized to your likes? That is what a designer baby is. Whether you are considering a designer baby, or if you are intrigued by the concept, here is everything you need to know about designer babies.
In This Article
Babies who are “designed” through a genetic modification process are called designer babies. You know that genes make us who we are. Suppose the genes of an embryo are altered using technology, adding in desired characteristics and taking away the undesired ones. In that case, the resulting embryo will have a genetic makeup that has been engineered through gene therapy. This is a fast-changing field with new advancements in genetic mutation happening regularly.
Most parents who go for designer babies are not really looking for fancy-looking kids of a certain complexion, look, or height. They are, in fact, hoping their children will not have different kinds of illnesses that perhaps run in the family like any kind of cancer, mental illness, Down syndrome, blindness, and many such diseases. Here are some interesting facts:
If you are planning on having a designer baby, here are some of the features that you could modify:
Although some of the most apparent benefits of designer babies are superficial (6 feet tall, blue-eyes, blonde hair, etc.), the technology does have some remarkable merits:
As always, where there are pros, there are cons. There are many questions raised with respect to designer babies:
Is it safe?
This is still a new and evolving field. The whole process can be called, at best, experimental. While the benefits look very attractive, the procedure is risky and not 100% safe. Even a small mistake during the genetic alteration can lead to problems for the baby, and even miscarriage. It can also give rise to new illnesses we are not even aware of.
Is it sustainable?
The impact of designer babies passing on altered genes is not yet researched or understood.
Is it ethical?
There are multiple ethical and moral questions associated with creating genetic babies. Many activists believe that modifying the genes of a child is playing God or nature. If it becomes popular, then society will soon be divided into genetically modified “near perfect” people and normal people, creating a huge gap and class difference. Many consider this unfair.
Does your baby want it?
You are calling shots here. You are altering your baby’s life without his or her approval.
Not everyone can afford designer babies. Only rich couples can think of putting their money and time into altering and getting a baby of their choice. Before you think of having a designer baby, make sure you have a good and hearty discussion with your doctor to understand all the pros and cons.
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
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