THE ETHICAL DILEMNA OF DESIGNER BABIES

The Center for Genetics and Society states on its website that “Powerful new gene editing techniques have put the prospect of genetically modified human beings on the foreseeable horizon”. It goes on to pose the following questions: “Should we use these tools to improve the human species? Are they needed to prevent the transmission of genetic diseases? Would manipulating the genes of future children and generations open the door to new kinds of discrimination, inequality, and eugenics?”. It goes on to add that “Some forty countries, including most of Europe, have adopted laws prohibiting human heritable genetic modification, but the United States has not.” Do your research and decide where you stand. When you are ready, write an essay on the topic.

Refer to my second blog, The Essay Archive, for sample essays: https://theessayarchive.blogspot.com/

Familiarize yourself with the issue

·         Ethics of designer babies https://prezi.com/ess_yal24nbq/ethics-of-designer-babies/  

Reading material to make notes on

·         Designer babies: ethical considerations http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotechnology/agar.html

·         Designer babies: an ethical horror waiting to happen? https://www.theguardian.com/science/2017/jan/08/designer-babies-ethical-horror-waiting-to-happen

·         Ethics of designer babies https://embryo.asu.edu/pages/ethics-designer-babies

·         Designer babies: a question of ethics https://www.researchgate.net/publication/308487270_Designer_babies_A_question_of_ethics

Videos to watch and take notes from

·         The ethical dilemma of designer babies https://www.ted.com/talks/paul_knoepfler_the_ethical_dilemma_of_designer_babies

·         Should we genetically modify our children? https://www.geneticsandsociety.org/internal-content/should-we-genetically-modify-our-children

Film to watch:

Gattica

Book to read:

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro