E-Dog Night Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 http://health.msn.com/pregnancykids/pregnancy/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100157198 Kinda scary. ------ Designing Your Baby The technology is in place to order up a child’s physical traits or intellect. The issue is how far we want to take it. By Scott McCredie for MSN Health & Fitness It started a decade ago with Dolly the Scottish sheep, the world’s first cloned mammal. Then a year later came Lucy the Canadian mouse, the first mammal with artificially implanted genes that could be inherited by her offspring. Since then, the world has expressed a mixture of confusion, horror and optimism at the potential of genetic engineering to prevent diseases in humans and “enhance” physical or cognitive traits. So where does this technology stand? Are we any closer to creating so-called “designer babies”? And is there a developing darker side in which parents intentionally alter a baby’s genetic makeup so he has the same condition, such as deafness or dwarfism, as his parents? If the last question shocks you, be clear that a survey published by the medical journal Fertility and Sterility showed that about 3 percent of U.S. fertility clinics—four out of 137 responding clinics that perform embryo screening—already have performed procedures to help couples create children with a disability such as dwarfism or deafness. First, a few definitions are needed. According to Marcy Darnovsky, associate director of the Center for Genetics and Society, in Oakland, Calif., when people say “designer baby” they often mean different things. Some refer to the ability to select the sex of an embryo; others interpret it as selecting the embryo (fertilized egg) itself. Embryo selection is increasingly used for in vitro procedures when couples are at high risk for certain genetic diseases, such as cystic fibrosis. It allows them to screen out embryos carrying genes associated with the disease. Most scientists avoid the “designer baby” phrase altogether, preferring “germline engineering” or inheritable genetic modification (IGM), defined as the altering of genes that pass on to future generations. This contrasts with non-inheritable gene therapy, such as when altered genes are added to body tissue, say, a diseased lung, in efforts to improve function. (click on link above for entire article) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slateman Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I want an 8 foot tall child :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rictus58 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 The technology is in place to order up a child’s physical traits or intellect. The issue is how far we want to take it. Do you think anyone would order a 4ft tall ugly dumb child? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-Dog Night Posted March 12, 2007 Author Share Posted March 12, 2007 No, probably not. I think there will be a market to order up very smart, good looking children who are genetically pre-disposed to earning large sums of money, coupled with a highly generous streak and an intesnse loyalty to their parents. It's not a baby, it's a cash cow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frommd Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I designed mine the old fashioned way, and had a blast doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IONTOP Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 What was the movie about this? Gattaca? That was an awesome movie.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RabidFan Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 That movie was tripe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IONTOP Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 That movie was tripe. Heck yeah... if tripe means awesome I agree!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrockster21 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Can I get one with a third arm? THAT would be friggin' cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brave Little Toaster Oven Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I'd genetically engineer my kid to look just like me, but 7 feet tall and run a 40 in 4 seconds flat.......he will then be drafted by the Redskins and the Redskins will win the Superbowl every year......it works on Madden :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddys little skins fan Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 designing babies would suck. it's like darwinism out the window. and only the rich would be able to do it, making super-babies... widening the social class gap. it's hard enough with all of the accidental, random protegies out there to compare yourself to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zguy28 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 What was the movie about this? Gattaca? That was an awesome movie....No, it was Star Trek 2.Khan was a eugenics product, remember what happened there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMetal Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 This is exactly like that old SNL skit with Eric Idle. (If anyone else remembers this I'll eat my hat) He plays a prenatal geneticist counseling a couple on all the "customized options" available for their newborn. "I'd like a shrimp-headed welder, with pods!" Freaking classic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Brave Little Toaster Oven Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 This is exactly like that old SNL skit with Eric Idle. (If anyone else remembers this I'll eat my hat) He plays a prenatal geneticist counseling a couple on all the "customized options" available for their newborn. "I'd like a shrimp-headed welder, with pods!" Freaking classic. I seem to remember that, was it a really old one, or was it a late 90's one? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpillian Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 No, it was Star Trek 2.Khan was a eugenics product, remember what happened there. KHAN!!!! KHAN!!!! William Shatner's never acted so pissed... :laugh: I think I'd order my kiddo with a laser beam. Spanking would be out the window of course, but man she'd kick ass... :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prosperity Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 What was the movie about this? Gattaca? That was an awesome movie.... You are talking about Gattica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IONTOP Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 You are talking about Gattica You are talking about me talking about Gattica... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zguy28 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 KHAN!!!! KHAN!!!!William Shatner's never acted so pissed... :laugh: That's because they told him he was going to have to do an ST convention cameo that afternoon. :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsOrlando Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 This only reminds me of Hitler's attempt to create a super-race, I don't think good can come from this. Nature must take it's course or for some of us posters, it's wrong to play God. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zguy28 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I wonder how the European community feels about this? It would be ironic if they support it, since they were the ones to poo-poo genetic engineering on food crops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McMetal Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I seem to remember that, was it a really old one, or was it a late 90's one? REALLY old one...late 70's. Very Python-esque skit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rincewind Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Do you think anyone would order a 4ft tall ugly dumb child? Depends on whether or not you run a chocolate factory. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oriolesfan93p Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I know that there aren't a lot of Anime fans here, but there are a series of animes call the Gundam series where basically there is a war between the genetically engineered (coordinators) and the non genetically engineered (naturals). I know its a cartoon but it does point out how people can be and the inherent dangers in this sort of action in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zguy28 Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 I know that there aren't a lot of Anime fans here, but there are a series of animes call the Gundam series where basically there is a war between the genetically engineered (coordinators) and the non genetically engineered (naturals).I know its a cartoon but it does point out how people can be and the inherent dangers in this sort of action in the future. Wasn't that the premise for part of the show Earth2? They called them "tanks" and they had no bellybutton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oriolesfan93p Posted March 12, 2007 Share Posted March 12, 2007 Wasn't that the premise for part of the show Earth2? They called them "tanks" and they had no bellybutton. Never saw that show, but the anime I mentioned is really good... People dismiss anime because it is a cartoon but really a lot of it has really good writing and isn't always directed at 6 year olds Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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