We like things made to order — from our burgers to our cars, customization is readily available and almost expected. If we don’t want something, we just don’t have to have it. And if we want something done differently, we change it.
But there is one situation that customization and selectivity absolutely should not apply to: babies.
For the first time ever, scientists are genetically engineering human embryos. An article from Nature.com states that the attempts at genetic modification largely did not work. Of the 86 embryos that were experimented on, only a few successfully “contained the replacement genetic material.” According to a Buzzfeed article, their work is raising concerns about “designer babies.”
These experiments and tests raise countless ethical questions. First off, why do we need to genetically modify babies? Babies were not meant to be special ordered. They are created by the master creator, and I’d like to assume that God didn’t intend for scientists to change them.
In addition, these tests require embryos. Embryos are fertilized eggs; babies in the making. By experimenting on embryos, especially with such a low rate of success, the scientists are essentially performing abortions. Some may argue that some genetic modifications could save babies’ lives or prevent certain birth defects. However, if that comes at the price of losing hundreds of embryos through scientific testing, can we really say that it is a gain at all?
Now, some people may say that losing embryos is of little or no concern because they are “just embryos.” However, I believe that life begins at conception, and anyone who is pro-life likely feels the same way. So, destroying embryos is destroying human lives.
And for those who say that the idea of “designer” babies is not feasible, stem cell biologist Paul Knoepfler of the UC Davis School of Medicine said to Buzzfeed, “I do worry about stuff like designer babies because it feels like there’s this shift towards this use of the technology becoming more of a reality. But then today’s (research) makes me think that would probably be sort of disastrous.”
There may still be a long way to go before genetically modifying embryos actually becomes a reality. However, with technological and medical advances, it is a possibility. After this recent round of testing, “researchers are alarmed because the experiments caused unexpected genetic modifications.”
These are not lab rats we are messing with here — they are developing human babies. It just does not make sense to play games with the genetic makeups of babies when we do not know what the results will be. “Unexpected genetic modifications” can’t be good.
Genetic modifications are not worth the risks they present.
