Honors Bio

Chris Armand
Period: 6
Gene Technology Opinion Statement

Should parents be able to manipulate the genes that will be expressed in

their future offspring?

Im completely against the idea that parents should be allowed to modify their childrens
DNA. The genetic techniques behind the manipulation of the embryos are very expensive and
time consuming. This not only allows rich people to have the upper hand/ better genes but it
creates a divide in society. If parents were allowed to manipulate, we will also need to be able to
decide where the line will be drawn. Parents will begin picking out physical traits and even
psychological traits which predetermines their offspring and in turn goes against the whole
concept of conception. When parents choose the desired traits for their offspring, they not only
affect their child but the generations beyond. Who are they to make decisions for their childrens
children? While others may argue that the manipulation of genes may spare children of disease
and other ailments, it may lead to other problems in the offsprings future. The unknown
consequences and risks associated with the process of manipulating a humans genes is huge.
Designer babies will be a threat to the worlds diverse nature. Parents will pick out the most
desirable traits for their kids which in turn will begin to limit variation in our species. The
morality of manipulating an offsprings genes is also in question. Why play God? Why are we
editing human beings? We as humans werent meant to be created by machines and chemicals,
but by other humans. Genetic testing has been banned from multiple countries already, many
people all over the world frown upon it. Parents passionate about sports, would have the athletic
ability engineered into the child, however, the child may not want the same. Evidence shows that
biodiversity. God made us all different. Who is man to change that?

Sources
1.

Designing Life: Should Babies Be Genetically Engineered? - Wynne Parry

http://www.livescience.com/27206-genetic-engineering-babies-debate.html

2.

Designer Babies: Ethical Considerations- Nicholas Agar

http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotechnology/agar.html