Design - a - baby ?

"Hello there! So what brand would you like your baby to have? Chanel, Gucci, Prada?"

First off, I never knew anything about this topic until i read the many articles on it. Does everyone know what this is? Well for those of you who are alike to me, and did not know anything about this topic, "Designer babies" is the term being used by the media to describe the future of modifying or selecting our children genes for desirable characteristics (medical and cosmetic). They are referred to a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with in vitro fertilisation to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics. Having this; it allows us in choosing which genes we would want our children to obtain during the birth process. As we slowly grow up and get older, we start to realize more flaws; we try to cover up with make up like concealer, blush, foundation, eye liner etc. Not knowing that scientists have come up with a new found investment "Designer Babies". I found this really shocking for the fact that this is something really magical. Don't get me wrong, but designing your own baby to look like what you prefer it to look like? WOW, talk about amazing.

I would want my child to:
- have the most gorgeous eyes ever,
- have luscious, shiny hair
- be tall
- nice teeth, nice smile
- have amazing talents artistically and creatively
- be good looking, smart with all the great personalities

To be honest, I'm probably only saying this now because I'm so amazed, but in my opinions, when i do have my own children. I would not even think about this, never ever think about this. I don't think that I'd really want the PERFECT child. I would really want children who have flaws and ones that can help each and everyone of us grow a stronger relationship.

Moving along with this topic, it's basically been the hit talk of 2009. All around the world, there are people talking about it and actually considering to get it done for their own children. I mean, there are of course the pros and cons to it which people go through before deciding with the exact features they want their children to carry. It's obvious that when parents-to-be consider the fact that they would never know how their children would turn out; some may lean towards the side of actually considering designer babies. Reasons of why people may chose this is because, you can never know how your children will turn out. I'm personally not talking about physically but I'm talking about the fact that some children develop disorders during the process of reproduction. Disorders like Down Syndrome and Klinfelter syndrome are possible during the processes which many parents are worried about when having children. It was said that this technology has already been used to avoid 200 different kinds of diseases that are known and specified during these processes.



In conclusion to all the articles I've read, I strongly disagree with this technological process of changing and deciding on your own of how your children will be. I mean for cosmetic reasons, it's pathetic. Being a parent, you're supposed to accept the fact that you'll love your children no matter what they do, how they look like and everything about them. By looking over the pros and cons, you can say that some people may go through this expensive process of "designing" their own babies to avoid certain disorders and illnesses. I'll strongly approve of that, but anything else is obviously a big no no. Like picking its gender, personality, physical appearances and even IQ ? I find that just pathetic, and inconsiderate for the reasons of why we should love our future children for who they really are, not some robot or dolls or some sort that we've chose.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,989987-1,00.html
http://www.bionetonline.org/English/content/db_cont1.htm
http://www.gender-selection.com/?gclid=CIDwq4LIjZ8CFdA65QodnV5BRQ
http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2001/09/designer_babies.html
http://www.hplusmagazine.com/articles/bio/great-designer-baby-controversy-%E2%80%9909
http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123439771603075099.html
http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/30/designer.babies/