Designer Babies: Have we gone too far?

Designer babies are a term that refers to babies whose genetic information has been altered. When the thought of designer babies goes through your head, the question that follows is “How would they be made?” These babies are made by creating an embryo by in-vitro fertilization. After the first five days of creation a single cell is separated from the embryo. Then the cell is genetically tested. The parents then choose whether to implant the cell in the womb or to dispose of it.

^ This is the separating of the embryos, to be tested.

Designer babies are a very controversial topic. Some think that it is a good thing and some strongly disagree with the thought of it. The up side of designer babies is that it lowers the chance of passing on diseases. Adam Nash is the world’s first designer baby in the year 2000. Adam was a designer baby so that he would be able to save his dying sister’s life. His sister suffered from a blood disorder called, Fanconi’s anaemia, and the chance of Adam getting it was very high. Scientists selected specific genes to make sure that his embryo would possess the right cells to save his sister’s life. Adam became the donor for his sister and doubled her chances. The same thing was also done for a child in the United States, after the claim was denied in the United Kingdom. The down side of designer babies is that, yes it is used for limiting genetic diseases, but now parents are using this technique for cosmetic reason. Parents are using this technology to choose the child’s gender, eye colour, hair colour, etc. The National Director of Christian Voice, Stephen Green said, "The objection to the idea of designer babies is that it divorces procreation from the act of sexual congress, and there's a real sense in which it is playing God." I think that however the child is born, that is the way they are. Yes, there might be challenges that come along with them, but what comes easily?

Some people refer designer babies to abortion because in their eyes it is still killing a child. They believe that by “designing” the child you are killing whatever talent and characteristics that make up the child as well. In a sense this true, because you are not really letting the baby grow and become what it was meant to be. Also, in the process of testing the embryo many are not suitable and are then disposed of.  

As we are expanding the population of designer babies we are creating this army of “designed” humans, who in the future will have certain expectations to live up to. Are we setting the bar too high for designer babies? Some are only designed to destroy the genetic diseases and others are created to be extremely intelligent, athletic, etc. The ones who are just created to basically survive will be put in this category of designer babies and they will have to fight to live up to standards. But for the other humans in the world who are not “designed” they will be looked down upon and things will be harder for them and they will have to compete against these intelligent designed humans. Due to designer babies, the level of biodiversity will raise, which in the long run could also end in disaster.

Ethically, I really do not think that it is up to us to decide what we pass on to the next generation.  I guess that it is true that parents have the best interests at heart for the child, but not to the extent of literally “designing” what the baby should look like or what the gender should be. 

 

Work Cited List 

1.      Keim, By Brandon. "Designer Babies: A Right to Choose? | Wired Science | Wired.com." Wired News. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. <http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/designerdebate/>. 

2.       Johnson, By Priya. "Pros and Cons of Designer Babies." Buzzle Web Portal: Intelligent Life on the Web. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. <http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-designer-babies.html>. 

3.      "Designer Babies?" Jesus Christ Is the ONLY Way to Heaven! Web. 20 Nov. 2010. <http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/End of the World/Genetics Nightmare/designer_babies.htm>. 

4.   "Designer Babies: Ethical Considerations (ActionBioscience)." ActionBioscience - Promoting Bioscience Literacy. Web. 20 Nov. 2010. <http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html>.

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Greenpeace efforts to protect biodiversity in our ecosystems.

As you can tell from this picture, Greenpeace was created to help protect our world and create a sustainable environment.

Biodiversity is one of the most important global issues in our world today. Many of the problems going on with biodiversity are to blame on humans, but some humans are also the ones trying to make a change to better the living conditions and environment. (1)Biodiversity is an extremely important part of life on Earth. It is not only the variety of living organisms on our planet, but also the interdependence of all these living things, including humans. In order to survive humans have created organizations to help better their living conditions, such as Greenpeace. Greenpeace seeks to: (2) Protect biodiversity in all its forms. Prevent pollution and abuse of the earth's ocean, land, air and fresh water. End all nuclear threats. Promote peace, global disarmament and non-violence. Greenpeace does not accept any donations from corporations and governments because they want to act on the behalf of the planet first and foremost. Greenpeace is known for being the most productive environmental organizations in the world. Greenpeace operates in more than forty countries in the world, with their headquarters in Amsterdam. They average more than 89,000 supporters in Canada, and worldwide 2.9 million members.

Greenpeace honors RONA and many other forest producing companies in their role to protect the Boreal Forest.

Greenpeace has been successful in persuading corporate customers to use environmental- responsible forest products. This is to help protect the Boreal Forest which (3) is the most extensive vegetation zone in Canada and covers significant areas of every province and territory. It is also home to many wildlife animals and several lakes and rivers. (4) In August 2009, the company announced a landmark agreement that ensures greater protection and more sustainable management for the world’s forests, including the Boreal. This agreement is crucial to reversing the continuous destruction and loss of habitats in the Boreal Forest.  Greenpeace is very successful in creating a better living condition for wildlife in the Boreal Forest.

Greenpeace, “protect the Great Bear Rainforest keep the promise” banner.

Greenpeace is also involved in the Great Bear Rainforest.  They fought to guarantee better and more protection for the Great Bear Rainforest. This is an ongoing project for Greenpeace as they continue to work with the government of B.C. and several other partners to provide the forest’s long term sustainability’s. (5)The ancient Great Bear Rainforest is one of the largest tracts of temperate rainforest left in the world (2 million hectares), and is home to thousands of species of plants, birds and animals.

Thanks to the efforts of Greenpeace the government of British Columbia announced a bond to preserve seventy percent of the Great Bear Rainforest.

Thanks to these efforts of Greenpeace and many more, they were able to find ways of protecting the environment and keeping our world more stable. Greenpeace is a human organization creating a better and more positive effect on our ecosystems.

Work Cited:

1.      "The Significance of Biodiversity: Why We Should Protect the Natural Environment." Serendip's Exchange. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1692

2.      "About Us | Greenpeace Canada." Inspiring Action for a Green and Peaceful Future | Greenpeace USA. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/About-us/

3.      "Boreal Forest." The Canadian Encyclopedia. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=a1ARTA0000888

4.      "Boreal Forest | Greenpeace Canada." Inspiring Action for a Green and Peaceful Future | Greenpeace USA. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/campaigns/boreal/

5.      "Great Bear Rainforest, British Columbia, Canada." British Columbia Tourism Travel Guide: BC Hotels - British Columbia, Canada. Web. 28 Sept. 2010. http://www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=4120


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