The Patient
The concept of designing a baby began with the idea of eliminting inheritable genetic disorders. Now the Fertility Institutes want to regulate the use of PGD to select non essential genes such as hair color, height and athletisim.
ProsIt eliminates the babies chance of having a particular genetic disorder.
A "savior sibling" can be born to save the life of an older sibling suffering from a disorder. The new baby is not harmed because the needed cells for the older sibling is taken from the umbilical cord. The disease causing gene can no longer be passed down through generation once it is eliminated in the designer baby. |
ConsMany people believe it is unethical.
The new baby may be treated more as a commidity. The new baby may be born just to save the older sibling then sent of for adoption after the treatment is completed. Many believe it can lead down a slippery slope of human cloning. The embryos that aren't suitable will be disposed of. The procedure is very expensive and can be very grueling on the parents involved. |