On a similar note, a company called 23andMe are designing a program that offers a service that allows clients to choose characteristics for their future child. This idea was developed since parents often look for traits and condition they want to pass to their children even before the use of genetics. However, this could lead to clients creating the fastest, strongest, most successful, and healthiest baby.
Personally, I think that both of these services are very innovative. However, there are ethical issues that will arise from these concepts. For instance, genetic biases might be established for certain employment. Furthermore, these programs are predicted to be expensive and only plausible for the upper class. Furthermore, defining people with the right intentions could be difficult, but these programs are very useful in avoiding fatal diseases. I believe that there should be an eligibility test that screens the clients on how likely genetic disorders will occur.
Both of these services that you mentioned in your blog were very innovative and interesting. I believe that the service provided by the company Genepeeks is more beneficial than the program from the company 23andMe. It is more beneficial because of the fact that fatal diseases can be avoided. This will help many children to live happy and healthy lives. On the other hand, I think that the program from 23andMe is interesting and has a unique concept, but it is more important that children have a decreased risk of developing a fatal disease than having traits that parents want passed on. However, I do agree with you that both these companies and their programs will face lots of ethical problems. Also, I see these programs being very expensive and only the wealthy being able to afford the expenses. As a result, middle and lower class Americans won’t be able to get the benefits of using these two companies’ services.
ReplyDeleteI agree that these services are innovative, interesting , AND problematic. It is great that the service provided by Genepeeks will help detect any genetic conditions that may occur. This knowledge can help women make decisions regarding artificial insemination, as well as any possible treatments they may want to consider in future pregnancies. However, I feel like the service of 23andMe is not as necessary! This is where I find ethical issues would arise. Choosing traits in order to modify the perfect child will take away surprise and diversity. I see this service being very expensive and mainly available to the wealthy, which would further leave middle and lower class Americans at a disadvantage. I do not like the idea that having/creating a child can/may be turned into more of a science project than a treasured event. I would like for services like these to be used strictly for detection of disease and aim for the well-being of the child's health rather than creating a super child.
ReplyDeleteIt is truly amazing how technology has the ability to manipulate things like undesirable or dangerous traits in a simple egg and/or sperm. While I most definitely agree with what all of you have to say, I thought of a few additional issues with this phenomenon.
ReplyDeleteWhat instantaneously stood out to me was the fact that if either the Genepeeks or the 23andMe programs were in action and used often enough, natural selection within the human race would quickly diminish. By picking and choosing certain traits that are desired, humans are creating artificial selection within their own species. To me, this seems entirely ridiculous.
Also, while I hate to say that the way the world works today is how it should work, but if babies are being "bred" to be healthy and strong and without any diseases, the world that we live in will become overpopulated. (I am talking years and years into the future). All of the deaths that would have occurred because of naturally occurring genetics would not happen, and the world will become crowded: schools will be overpopulated and there would simply be not enough land on this earth to inhabit all of these people. This is the direction we are already headed and these "genetically desirable babies" would make this concept even worse. Great job guys!