Health Risks of Designer Babies
Health Risks
When creating a designer baby, many health risks should be considered before the process begins (How have the risks). Because the process of genetically designing a baby is a fairly new process, doctors have a hard time predicting the outcomes of the procedure (How have the risks). Although there have already been many designer babies, doctors have noticed common health problems. Many doctors have noticed premature aging, reproductive disorders, immune imbalance, gastrointestinal problems, organ damage, and cancer (Genetically Modified Babies). The process of creating a designer baby involves altering chromosomes. When altering chromosomes and genes this is where many of the different health problems can occur. Doctors have noticed that when they alter chromosomes and genes the baby has an increased risk of mutations and possible genetic complications (How have the risks). Not only can health problems occur shortly after the baby is born, but they can occur in 10-20 years (Designer Babies). Doctors are unable to predict what health problems can occur in a designer baby in 10-20 years because of all the problems that they cannot or have not noticed. There is a possible risk that there could be side effects in the near future for designer babies. When it comes to creating a designer baby, many health risks and possible side effects should be considered.
Affected Genes
Health risks are not the only concerns when it comes to designer babies. When modifying chromosomes, some of the altered chromosomes can be negatively affected. By altering chromosomes for specific traits, certain traits can take altering of many chromosomes. For example, when altering for a specific height, it takes around 50 chromosomes (Johnson). Because of this, making a mistake in the genes can potentially change the outcome of the desired trait (How have the risks). What can potentially happen is when the genes are being modified, other traits, such as different personality traits, can be affected. An example would be that if parents want a nice, tall, intelligent daughter, due to the altering of many different genes, the baby may come out to be mean or disrespectful instead of nice. Research has also showed that designer babies tend to suffer socially due to the altered genes (Genetically Modified Babies). “Genetically modified children will become an outcast and one that feels rejected because of the thought of the parents changing them, instead of the parents accepting them for who they are” (Genetically Modified Babies). Not only do they suffer socially, but they can potentially harm society. In the near future, designer babies will lower the immunity level to certain diseases and virus’ that were almost wiped out (Designing Your Baby). This will affect society because the virus’ that were done affecting us will eventually come back because there will be so many people who do not have immunity to the disease due to altered genes. When altering genes there is a high chance for many different problems. The biggest concern for parents who decide to create a designer baby is that they may not necessarily receive the baby they wanted; the desired traits may be completely different.
When creating a designer baby, many health risks should be considered before the process begins (How have the risks). Because the process of genetically designing a baby is a fairly new process, doctors have a hard time predicting the outcomes of the procedure (How have the risks). Although there have already been many designer babies, doctors have noticed common health problems. Many doctors have noticed premature aging, reproductive disorders, immune imbalance, gastrointestinal problems, organ damage, and cancer (Genetically Modified Babies). The process of creating a designer baby involves altering chromosomes. When altering chromosomes and genes this is where many of the different health problems can occur. Doctors have noticed that when they alter chromosomes and genes the baby has an increased risk of mutations and possible genetic complications (How have the risks). Not only can health problems occur shortly after the baby is born, but they can occur in 10-20 years (Designer Babies). Doctors are unable to predict what health problems can occur in a designer baby in 10-20 years because of all the problems that they cannot or have not noticed. There is a possible risk that there could be side effects in the near future for designer babies. When it comes to creating a designer baby, many health risks and possible side effects should be considered.
Affected Genes
Health risks are not the only concerns when it comes to designer babies. When modifying chromosomes, some of the altered chromosomes can be negatively affected. By altering chromosomes for specific traits, certain traits can take altering of many chromosomes. For example, when altering for a specific height, it takes around 50 chromosomes (Johnson). Because of this, making a mistake in the genes can potentially change the outcome of the desired trait (How have the risks). What can potentially happen is when the genes are being modified, other traits, such as different personality traits, can be affected. An example would be that if parents want a nice, tall, intelligent daughter, due to the altering of many different genes, the baby may come out to be mean or disrespectful instead of nice. Research has also showed that designer babies tend to suffer socially due to the altered genes (Genetically Modified Babies). “Genetically modified children will become an outcast and one that feels rejected because of the thought of the parents changing them, instead of the parents accepting them for who they are” (Genetically Modified Babies). Not only do they suffer socially, but they can potentially harm society. In the near future, designer babies will lower the immunity level to certain diseases and virus’ that were almost wiped out (Designing Your Baby). This will affect society because the virus’ that were done affecting us will eventually come back because there will be so many people who do not have immunity to the disease due to altered genes. When altering genes there is a high chance for many different problems. The biggest concern for parents who decide to create a designer baby is that they may not necessarily receive the baby they wanted; the desired traits may be completely different.
Designer Baby
Author: Ket
Design a baby and just maybe
You’ll get a perfect, picture, life
Children laughing, never barfing,
Playing, singing never crying.
They all look oh so perfect,
Not a fault in sight,
(at least on the surface) and they never fight.
When you take them out
Their manners are just so,
Nothing to embarrass you,
Everyone can know.
As teenagers you’ll know their teachers,
How they dance, can give them balance,
Won’t be bullies, won’t be preachers.
Diversity? Well we all choose,
What suits us bet, what to loose,
Diversity through parents, yes?
But maybe children need to be
Who they choose and want to guess,
Make mistakes and learn how
They can make their parents proud,
Not be little pieces,
Of pre-chosen dishes.
I chose this poem about designer babies because I feel like it best describes a designer baby. It starts of by saying that if you create a designer baby you will have a perfect baby. But the poem turns and changes perspective. By the end of the poem the author says that in the end, we should not be "little pieces of pre-chosen dishes." This best describes the problem of designer babies because it shows that we are not meant to be perfect, we need diversity.
Author: Ket
Design a baby and just maybe
You’ll get a perfect, picture, life
Children laughing, never barfing,
Playing, singing never crying.
They all look oh so perfect,
Not a fault in sight,
(at least on the surface) and they never fight.
When you take them out
Their manners are just so,
Nothing to embarrass you,
Everyone can know.
As teenagers you’ll know their teachers,
How they dance, can give them balance,
Won’t be bullies, won’t be preachers.
Diversity? Well we all choose,
What suits us bet, what to loose,
Diversity through parents, yes?
But maybe children need to be
Who they choose and want to guess,
Make mistakes and learn how
They can make their parents proud,
Not be little pieces,
Of pre-chosen dishes.
I chose this poem about designer babies because I feel like it best describes a designer baby. It starts of by saying that if you create a designer baby you will have a perfect baby. But the poem turns and changes perspective. By the end of the poem the author says that in the end, we should not be "little pieces of pre-chosen dishes." This best describes the problem of designer babies because it shows that we are not meant to be perfect, we need diversity.
Works Cited
Johnson, P. (n.d.). Pros and Cons of Designer Babies. Buzzle. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-designer-babies.html
Designer Babies. (n.d.). Designer babies. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://designerbabies-jtcc.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-designer-baby-you-may-ask-it-is.html
Genetically Modified Babies Argument. (n.d.). AliaMarie. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://aliadevick.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/genetically-modified-babies-argument/
Designing Your Baby. (n.d.). MSN Healthy Living. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://healthyliving.msn.com/pregnancy-parenting/advice/designing-your-baby-1
How have the risks and benefits of designer babies created a ethical controversy? [5 lines, 5 dots, 1 curve]. (n.d.). BEAUTIFUL BIOLOGICAL QUESTIONS. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://sites.jmu.edu/gbio103/how-have-the-risks-and-benefits-of-designer-babies-created-a-ethical-controversy-5-lines-5-dots-1-curve/
Test-Tube Babies May Face Greater Health Risks Than Naturally Conceived Children. (n.d.). Scientific American Global RSS. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/assisted-reproduction-genetics/
Johnson, P. (n.d.). Pros and Cons of Designer Babies. Buzzle. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-designer-babies.html
Designer Babies. (n.d.). Designer babies. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://designerbabies-jtcc.blogspot.com/2009/06/what-is-designer-baby-you-may-ask-it-is.html
Genetically Modified Babies Argument. (n.d.). AliaMarie. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://aliadevick.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/genetically-modified-babies-argument/
Designing Your Baby. (n.d.). MSN Healthy Living. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://healthyliving.msn.com/pregnancy-parenting/advice/designing-your-baby-1
How have the risks and benefits of designer babies created a ethical controversy? [5 lines, 5 dots, 1 curve]. (n.d.). BEAUTIFUL BIOLOGICAL QUESTIONS. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://sites.jmu.edu/gbio103/how-have-the-risks-and-benefits-of-designer-babies-created-a-ethical-controversy-5-lines-5-dots-1-curve/
Test-Tube Babies May Face Greater Health Risks Than Naturally Conceived Children. (n.d.). Scientific American Global RSS. Retrieved June 1, 2014, from http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/assisted-reproduction-genetics/