motzart
Banned
- Messages
- 254
- Reaction score
- 41
- Points
- 0
- Location
- Regina
- Ethnic group
- English
- Y-DNA haplogroup
- I2a1a2a1a L233
- mtDNA haplogroup
- H1c3
I think it is inevitable that the genetic engineering of human offspring will soon enter the mainstream of modern cultures. Limited genetic engineering is already available in the current trend of "Designer Babies". For a cost from a low of $2000 dollars parents can choose an embryo that has been screened for medical disorders and then go on to choose the sex of the baby. Some clinics even allow selection for traits such as hair color, eye color, and height.
Selective breeding has of course pre-dated the existence of homo sapiens and there are examples of selective breeding taking place throughout our entire history. A recent example would be Yao Ming (http://www.smh.com.au/news/basketba...-of-the-state/2006/01/18/1137553645228.html?3). Sperm Banks are another example, allowing women to positively select traits they deem desirable in a child. Realistically every instance of reproduction is an example of selective breeding however when factors such as "love" or other intangibles are removed from the equation selective breeding purely based on physical qualities becomes more pronounced.
I think that the next step for the near future will be allowing parents to select traits for their children that are artificially implanted and not inherited from either parent. DNA in an embryo could be modified to include traits for blue eyes for a Japanese child who's parents do not naturally carry the trait. Once this becomes common I think that new babies will probably become majority selected and minority inherited, parents giving their child just a few of their own traits as a signature on an otherwise purely engineered child.
Its a bit frightening to think that a great deal of parents could be creating children purely based on a passing aesthetic of no intrinsic value, allowing other traits to go extinct which may have been beneficial. These traits could of course be artificially re-implanted.
What do you guys think?
Selective breeding has of course pre-dated the existence of homo sapiens and there are examples of selective breeding taking place throughout our entire history. A recent example would be Yao Ming (http://www.smh.com.au/news/basketba...-of-the-state/2006/01/18/1137553645228.html?3). Sperm Banks are another example, allowing women to positively select traits they deem desirable in a child. Realistically every instance of reproduction is an example of selective breeding however when factors such as "love" or other intangibles are removed from the equation selective breeding purely based on physical qualities becomes more pronounced.
I think that the next step for the near future will be allowing parents to select traits for their children that are artificially implanted and not inherited from either parent. DNA in an embryo could be modified to include traits for blue eyes for a Japanese child who's parents do not naturally carry the trait. Once this becomes common I think that new babies will probably become majority selected and minority inherited, parents giving their child just a few of their own traits as a signature on an otherwise purely engineered child.
Its a bit frightening to think that a great deal of parents could be creating children purely based on a passing aesthetic of no intrinsic value, allowing other traits to go extinct which may have been beneficial. These traits could of course be artificially re-implanted.
What do you guys think?