TOK Ethics- Genetically

Modified Babies
(Designer Babies)
Semaj Davis

Real Life Situation

In 2000, the first designer baby, Adam Nash, was born.
Second child of Lisa and Jack Nash, Adam provided the
stem cells that were required to cure his older sister of
bone marrow deficiency
Embryos were selected in such a way that they would
not contain the gene that lead to the disease of Fanconi
Anemia, the same disease that his elder sister was a
victim of.
Adam Nash has been called the world's first savior
sibling

Real Life Situation

Since then, a number of couples have opted for their
own designer baby, to save their naturally born child or
to prevent their child from inheriting a genetic disease.
This has now become a very controversial topic since
the same technique can be used to ensure desirous
traits in a child
Genetic modification can allow the parents to select
features like eye color, height, intelligence and
attractiveness of their children.

Knowledge Issues
To what extent is it ethical for parents to genetically modify their child ?
Is gene therapy morally acceptable when aimed to prevent diseases but
unacceptable when it comes to deciding aesthetic appearance?
With the use of Sense-Perception and Reasoning to what extent is the selection
of genetic traits justifiable?
AOK
-Ethics: set of moral principles that guide human contact in individual cultures
-Natural Science: the study of the nature and involves experiments and
theories
WOK
- Sense Perception
- Reason

My Perspective on the RLS

The birth of Adam Nash using the PGD technique was
justified.
This is because this technique was used not only to give
birth to a healthy child without the genetic disease, but
also helped another individual suffering from the same
disease.
The technique was not used to select any non-medical
traits of the child such as the alteration of appearance
which is unethical.

Natural Sciences
This technique allows the parents to ensure that their children do
not suffer from a genetic disease, as shown by the case of my
real life situation.
Ethical viewpoints should not hamper the growth of technology.
Going by survival of the fittest, humans should be able to
control their own evolution.
Theoretically, it leads to increased chances of survival and life
expectancy.

Natural Sciences (Counter

Claim)
This process is still in its early stages of development
It is not a foolproof method. We also have to take into account the
unforeseen consequences.
Any unintended consequence will change the gene pool of the child,
hence affecting any further descendants of the child.
There are no guarantees that the selection of genetic traits will lead
to development of those traits in the child, as these depend upon a
number of other factors such as environment, lifestyle and other
socioeconomic factors.
A single gene contains multiple traits. Therefore, changing a single
gene may change multiple traits. Ex: The child could be intelligent
but have anger management issues.

Ethics
Is the selection of genetic traits not related to medical issues ethical?
The process remains expensive. Therefore, it is only the elite class of society which
will be able to afford such facilities
The designer individuals will think that they are scientifically better than those
born through natural means
This will lead to an increase in the socio-economic differences.
Lead to a dystopia
Consequentialism:
-Rightness or wrongness of an action should be viewed in terms of the
consequences of the action.
Utilitarianism:
-Good is what produces the greatest amount of happiness for the greatest number.

Being applied to WOKs

Sense Perception:
Different people have different perceptions of beauty.
However, certain characteristics are usually preferred such
as complexion, eye color etc.
Each parent will look for similar characteristics for their
child, like intelligence, beauty and so on
This will lead to loss of individuality of humans, which
makes every person unique and important
Beauty may just become a set of characteristics, rather
than an abstract concept depending upon the perception

Sense Perception:
In today's age, people are more concerned about their superficial
beauty.
Selection of genes that make you beautiful will only increase this
superficiality in the society, and less importance will be given to the
character of the individual
Reasoning:
Are children with genetic disorders inferior?
We are not helping the child, just making the job of the parents easier
If parents do not wish a sick child, will they be capable of taking care of
their healthy child once the child becomes sick?
If used to select gender of child, this may lead to an imbalance in the
society
You are playing God and interfering with his work
It is against religious sentiments. Which do we consider above the
other?

Different Perspectives
Professional (Scientist & Doctor)
-Humans should have the capability to control their own evolution.
-It is the right of the parents to choose what is best for their unborn child. They
should
control the extent to which they wish to select the genes of their child
-Government does not have the right to control reproduction
Parents

-It is their right to pursue what is best for their child

-Their fears about genetic diseases are rational
-This is just another way for parents to control their children. Other ways include
education,
religion, morals and others
-However, parents cannot change their decision if they are unhappy with the
consequence

Different Perspectives
Unborn Child
-It is not possible to ask for the unborn child's consent
-When the child grows up, he may think that his natural self was not wanted by his
parents.
-The child may face emotional trauma if the very genetic abilities he was given are
not his strong point
-The child may develop a superiority complex, as the child will know that he is
genetically better than those born through natural birth
-Some people think that the children need to be born of their own worth. If they feel
that
they were born only to save their sibling, this may make them feel insecure.

My View Point (Based on

WOKs/Perspectives)
I feel that genetic selection of traits should be allowed on a case
by case basis
If PGD can save the life of another child, then the parents should
have the right to undergo the process
However, selection of genes for non-medical purposes should be
prohibited, since this leads to increase in the differences in the
society
The child can be monitored once in a while to ensure the safety
of the process

Other Real Life Situation

Nazi Eugenics:
During the Nazi regime, certain sections of the society were identified as
Lebensunwertes Leben or Life unworthy of life
These included criminals, insane, homosexuals etc. These were identified and
eliminated from the hereditary chain.
By the end of the Nazi regime, over 400,000 people were sterilized against
their will.
How this relates to my own Knowledge Issue?
Those who were born using the PGD technique with genes that control beauty,
height, etc. may consider themselves to be superior.
This may lead to unpredictable consequences.

Support for Disease-Related

Modification
Can prevent child from inheriting genetic disease
Both child and parents will have easier lives without
having to worry about debilitating diseases
In the very long run, as genetic diseases are eliminated
from embryos, they will gradually cease to exist
If treatments or procedures exist that can vanquish
serious diseases, it is immoral not to use them

Conclusion
Since it goes against the views of a large part of the society,
governments allow such a process on a case-by-case basis, and
only for medical reasons.
Genetic engineering on humans is acceptable only for preventing
diseases but not for other superficial reasons (i.e. intelligence,
athletic ability, eye color, etc.)