By definition, a “Designer Baby” is a genetically modified, unborn child. Basically, they are children who have been “designed” with the desired sex or characteristics. Scientists continue to learn more about the human genome, and as they do reproductive technology continually advances to levels that we never imagined. Researchers linked to Bionet point out: Advanced reproductive techniques involve using InVitro Fertilization (IVF), which is where eggs are fertilized by sperm in ‘test tubes’ outside the mother’s body in a laboratory. The type of sperm (X or Y) that fertilizes an egg can be chosen, which is used to determine the sex and genes of the baby.
Amniotic fluid taken is tested in genetic laboratory for fetal cells to detect the chromosome number or pattern or a specific mutation. The procedure should be done under sterile conditions to avoid infection to the fetus. The needle is inserted per abdomen under ultrasound guidance. Use of ultrasound guidance reduces the risk of damaging the fetal membranes and the fetus. Antibiotics are given before and after the procedure to avoid fetal infection.
Statistics and Pro’s and Con’s of Having a Designer Baby Related For around $12,400, a couple can use in vitro fertilization and choose whether to implant a male or female embryo in the mother's womb. Nearly 8 million babies are born every year with a birth defect. In this number, around 3.2 million of the infants grow up and live disabled. Furthermore, in the United States alone, birth defect statistics claim that these in-born abnormalities are the leading cause of infant mortality in America. Given this fact, many expectant parents are asking, “Where do these defects come from?” What are the common birth defects?
Are Designer Babies Right or Wrong? A very new and growing controversy is whether people should be able to design their own babies. Designing babies can be useful for eliminating certain genetic diseases, to selecting the gender, to altering physical characteristics. The babies who result from these procedures are called “designer babies.’’ So the big question is, would the idea of a designer baby unethical, and un-human, or is it just advancement in technology that will help us succeed and grow into a better world in the future? First, the Human Genome Project popularized the thought of altering children’s genes.
Anderson Cancer Center's animal research facility, states that "we wouldn't have a vaccine for hepatitis B without chimpanzees," and says that the use of chimps is "our best hope" for finding a vaccine for Hepatitis C, a disease that kills 15,000 people every year in the United States. (Associated Press, July 22, 2013). Animals are appropriate research subjects because they are similar to human beings in many ways. Chimpanzees share 99% of their DNA with humans, and mice are 98% genetically similar to humans. (CBRA, 2013).
During the 19th century, the world had witnessed several huge medical revolutions; patients who previously died from specific diseases are surviving now because of vaccination and new treatments. However, the human mind has gone beyond the essential needs of treatment and tried new experiments till a new technology was created. Designer baby, a new finding that refers to changing the traits of babies by means of genetic engineering and biotechnology. This phenomenon allowed physicians to change the traits of infants as their parents want. At the present time, families can choose their baby’s hair color, skin color and eye color.
This is also a happy moment, now you have the opportunity to see the revealing of what you have taught your child come to fruition. Depending on the strength of your marriage before your last child left determines the impact the empty nest syndrome will have on your marriage. Having to face your spouse alone without interruption, could be extremely challenging for some couples who have not formed a bond amongst themselves through the years. This can cause conflict, separation or divorce. And for the mothers who lived vicariously through their children, there may be an identity crisis.
The very low survival rate for conjoined twins is between 5% and 25% so to meet conjoined twins that survived is a rare occasion. If they do make it there is the lingering question parents don’t ever want to make- separate the twins or leave them together to live a life of struggle and pain. They would never able to do something as simple as being alone on the other hand if they share vital organs separation could cause death. For some parents the risk is worth the consequences and it pays off to everyone’s advantage. They feel that the twin’s quality of life will greatly improve after separation.
Cloning babies can cause mental deformities. Another controversial topic about cloning is that “It is tested on animals, women from third world countries, and many pregnant women” (Glassman 16). Luckily for Anna, she was healthy and designed properly by scientists. Cloning has many negatives and positive outcomes. Anna was born specifically so that she could give organs to her older sister Kate, who was diagnosed with cancer when she was only two years old.
There are many different types of new reproductive technologies. The first of which is in vitro fertilisation, ‘which involves the fertilisation of an egg with sperm in a laboratory’ (Bos and Balen, 2010, 429). This process entails the fertilisation of an egg with sperm that then gets transferred into the mother’s uterus. There are a number of different combinations of this process, either using the father’s sperm with another woman’s egg, or vice versa. By having this new technology it allows couples that have one infertile partner to have children that are biologically related to the fertile partner.