SOC 207 Assignment Units #1 and #2 Forum: Designer Babies
Units #1 and #2 Forum: Designer babies
Suppose prospective human parents were able to take advantage of the latest genetic engineering technology to design better babies. In other words, imagine they were able to edit the DNA of their offspring at the early embryonic stage of development.Alternatively, they might edit the DNA in their sperm and egg cells. What sorts of traits might parents wish to avoid? What are the sorts of traits they might wish to instill in their offspring? Is it possible that selectively breeding humans in this way could generate some of the adverse outcomes we have seen in farm animals and pets? Should governments place any restrictions on the ability of prospective parents to make these sorts of decisions?
Note: These questions are revisited in the final unit for this course (Unit 11). While this course does not presume to provide specific answers to these questions, it does provide you with the information and ideas required to come to more informed opinions.
Soc 207 - Forum 1 & 2
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SOC 207 - Forum 1 & 2
If prospective human parents were able to take advantage of genetic engineering technology to design better babies, most parents would avoid children with undesirable characteristics. Parents would wish for babies with pleasing appearance to provide them with more positive attention. Due to the dangerous medical condition associated with defective mitochondrial DNA, mothers fear to pass to their children the defective gene. Parents would prefer the removal of undesirable mitrochondrial DNA and replace it with healthy mitrochondiral material to have a healthy baby. Parents would prefer children with less inherited medical condition, especially those with genetic diseases.
It is possible that selective breeding humans could generate some adverse outcomes seen in farm animals and pets because selective breeding contributes to loss of genetic diversity, this, in turn, might affect the diverse set of genetic trait available in the human population. It is possible the loss of genetic diversity can result in an epidemic like in dairy animals. Some of the side effects include exaggerated versions of humans that can cause severe conditions like breathing problems, the dislocation of the eyeballs and pressure of the brain cavities as witnessed in animals. Selective breeding means selecting a single trait forgetting other associated traits that are equall...