Coming Soon: ‘Designer Baby’ to beat Alzheimer’s disease
by Anshuman MiraniThis is a headline in the Times Of India of April 2, 2007. The
article goes on to tell about a couple in Britain who are having embryos screened
so as to prevent their kids having early onset of Alzheimer’s which has
been a persistent problem in their family.
However, while there is no question about the benefits to the couple, the article
expresses the fear of many critics that this could be the first dangerous step
towards ‘Perfect Babies’!!!
Are the fears validated?? Are we really heading into an age where people will have the choice to decide?? Are we on the verge of breeding ‘Superhumans’?? These are some of the questions that society needs to answer not only today but they will indeed be asked time and time again.
Where do we draw a line if indeed we do draw one!! There is no doubt that with the quantum leaps that we are making in all fields of biology, such screening of embryos will help save a lot of lives. Not only with Alzheimer’s but in the case of many genetically transferred fatal diseases, such screening will give a lifeline and a ray of hope to millions across the world. Parents will be able to ensure a healthy and safe future for their children and who can indeed argue against that.
But how do we decide where to draw the line?? Will the picking and choosing of embryos ultimately not lead to ‘perfect’ and designer babies?? Parents will want kids that are destined to be beautiful, that will have sure shot intelligence. People who can afford such designer babies will make use of it if allowed. The ironical and rather threatening aspect is that the policy makers of today and those of tomorrow will be the ones who will have the money to afford designer babies. Who is to say that somewhere along the line, a supporter of this so called ‘perfect baby’ phenomenon will not put it into action. And what happens then? At the risk of sounding stupid to many, I venture to say, will our society not become divided just like we were by the caste system?? The scientists having a different standard, the sports persons a different, and so on… not because of what they themselves grow up to be, but because what their parents wanted them to be. And where do the people who cannot afford this go?? Do they stagnate because their ‘normal’ kids can’t compete against these ‘Superhumans’? Who performs the tasks that nobody wants?
The big point here is that right now, not only does no consensus appear on
the issue but there doesn’t seem to be one coming in the near future.
The only way seems to be self-regulation and when has men ever trusted his fellows.
While the debate continues, it is upto society to decide ‘Where to draw
the line!!’
April 2007, Jeev
http://www.dce.edu/jeev
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.