A designer baby is a baby whose genetic makeup has been selected or altered, often to exclude a particular gene or to remove genes associated with disease. Designer babies can be created in two ways:
- Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD): An embryo is selected by PGD, which involves screening embryos for genetic disorders before implantation in the uterus.
- Genetic modification: An embryo is genetically modified to influence the traits of the baby. This can involve removing unfavorable characteristics or bad traits, such as genetic diseases, or adding favorable traits, such as enhanced intelligence or strength.
Designer babies have become an increasingly real possibility due to the rapid advancement of technology before and after the turn of the twenty-first century. However, the idea of designer babies has raised ethical concerns about whether or not it will become necessary to implement limitations regarding designer babies in the future. Some experts argue that allowing germline engineering in children who would otherwise be born with congenital defects could save around 5% of babies from living with potentially avoidable diseases. However, others argue that the prospect of designer babies could leave those living with diseases and unable to afford the technology feeling marginalized and without medical support.
It is important to note that most human traits are extremely complex, and the characteristics people tend to associate with designer babies, such as intelligence, height, and athletic ability, are not controlled by one or even a few genes. Therefore, the idea of creating a "super baby" with specific traits is not currently feasible. However, researchers around the world are conducting experiments in human embryos to fix harmful mutations and prevent disease using CRISPR technology. The regulatory landscape for this application is still being developed, and it will need to be regulated responsibly.
