is it Time To Make Designer Babies?
A Science Article Analysis Bases on The Article
Date of article publication: September 10, 2015
Author: James Gallagher
Analysis by: Jessica Vela
Author: James Gallagher
Analysis by: Jessica Vela
The evolution of science is very quickly advancing, more than we realize and the article Is It Time To Make Designer Babies? is a genetics-related article that provides strong support to prove it. The idea of making designer babies is almost too advanced, something that still seems like a futuristic concept, but is it possible? What is a designer baby? A designer baby is a regular human baby that has been modified by altering their DNA.
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DNA is passed on from generation to generation, it determines the genes that one inherits from your mother and father. DNA is able to carry many diseases like the blood disorder beta thalassaemia, which reduces the production of hemoglobin, an iron-containing protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to cells throughout the body. The reason to modify human embryos serves to correct defects in DNA, protecting babies who are prone to genetic diseases passed down from their parents. Through the same science, alternations to height, beauty, hair color and intelligence could not be far from reach as well. Genetic engineering is advancing at a quick pace, especially in Europe and Asia, where many politicians have started the debate on what should truly be acceptable since the science is already possible. In fact, earlier this year (2015), the creation of a baby with the DNA from two woman and one man was decided in order to prevent the baby from being born with “mitochondrial diseases.” Editing DNA happens when “molecular scissors” combine with a "molecular sat-nav” traveling to a precise location of the DNA and cuts it. The DNA then tries to repair itself, which allows scientist to insert new sections of DNA that they have engineered, that is the short synopsis of the action. Parliament, however, has not yet allowed by law for scientists to freely experiment with embryos, which also means destroying many throughout the experimentation.
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The article was picked because of the astonishing relation to a book called A Brave New World. Written by Aldous Huxley, A Brave New World is a dystopian science fiction book from the 1930’s depicting a bizarre future society in which babies are no longer born from a mother and people are freely able to engage with each other without commitment. Babies are made in laboratories by uniting a sperm and an ovum, genetically modified to fit into a certain role in their society. Some babies, classified as Alphas, are modified to be superior over others, they are built stronger, taller and with a pleasing physical appearance. Other lower caste workers classified as Epsilons are made to mature as quick as possible and spend their life working, they are modified to like what they do in their life. People from the society of this book no longer live in families, religion is banned along with any other humanitarian beliefs, the society is 100% based on science, human emotions are barely noticed. The article Is It Time To Make Designer Babies? almost seems to me, as I analyze, that Aldous Huxley might not have been all wrong about the future he depicted in his book. Though his book is still far from our civilization, the advanced science of genetically modifying babies is similarly surprising for a book written in the 1930s. This amazes me, as I wonder what exactly science will bring of the future, which leads to its importance in the world of today. |
The article shows importance to the world of today due to its scientific content. This discovery has marked science history which has opened much more to research. Everyone should consider this as a new door to the future of humanity with results that are not at all predicted yet. Genetic engineering can improve society in the means of having healthier babies born by preventing genetic diseases. Though this can be a great deal for the world of today, there are also other key points to consider. Experimenting genetic engineering with embryos also means that the embryos will most likely be destroyed after the experimentation, this signifies that many embryos will die and never be implanted to be born. This life decision has spawned many arguments among people. Others are opposed to the technology, being afraid of the consequences that could affect humanity in the future, with the example posed by A Brave New World. All reasons are important to consider in the world of today as many are still trying to decide if the new developing science should be pursued or contained within restrictions. What do you think?
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Work Cited
“Is It Time to Make Designer Babies? - BBC News.” BBC News. Web. 20 Sep. 2015. <http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34207470>
*All other sources used for pictures can be found by clicking on the pictures, however the work cited only includes the source for the information from the text, other additional information that can relate to the topic is hyperlinked, though it was not included in the research.
“Is It Time to Make Designer Babies? - BBC News.” BBC News. Web. 20 Sep. 2015. <http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34207470>
*All other sources used for pictures can be found by clicking on the pictures, however the work cited only includes the source for the information from the text, other additional information that can relate to the topic is hyperlinked, though it was not included in the research.