Designer Babies

[southern]

Have you heard about 'Designer Babies'? What are your thoughts on this subject?

 

[matt01]

The colloquial term "designer baby" refers to a baby whose genetic makeup has been artificially selected by genetic engineering combined with in vitro fertilisation to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes or characteristics. The term is derived by comparison with "designer clothing". It implies the ultimate commodification of children and is therefore usually used pejoratively to signal opposition to such use of reprogenetics.

I remain confident that the Lord is capable of forming our children as He finds appropriate.

 

[ubermadchen]

What are designer babies? Are they like designer dogs where owners specially breed animals to be non-shedding/safe-for-the-whole family?

 

[Andres]

my thoughts are it is sin to try and elevate ourselves to the position of the Creator.

 

[JBaldwin]

To me it is horrifying. It is trying to play God.

 

[Notthemama1984]

I preface this post by admitting I have not thought much about the subject.

I am torn really on my thoughts. I see the argument about not playing God, but I think the argument is not that solid. I think we play "god" all the time with our body. For example if a person is born with a defective heart valve, modern medicine has provided a way for us to correct this defect. I do not see Christians lining up outraged over this surgery. What is the difference between correcting a problem and preventing a problem? I just don't know really.

 

[Marrow Man]

Sorry, but no designer baby's going to be cuter than this:

 

[JBaldwin]

I preface this post by admitting I have not thought much about the subject.

I am torn really on my thoughts. I see the argument about not playing God, but I think the argument is not that solid. I think we play "god" all the time with our body. For example if a person is born with a defective heart valve, modern medicine has provided a way for us to correct this defect. I do not see Christians lining up outraged over this surgery. What is the difference between correcting a problem and preventing a problem? I just don't know really.

The philosophy behind designer babies is the same as that which Hitler practiced (trying build a "master/perfect" race) How could we who believe in the sovereignty of God dare to try to determine who is born and who is not born?

 

[Notthemama1984]

I did not realize "designer babies" had anything to do with who was and who was not born. I was under the impression that it dealt with who was born with and without certain characteristics.

---------- Post added at 01:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:36 PM ----------

I preface this post by admitting I have not thought much about the subject.

I am torn really on my thoughts. I see the argument about not playing God, but I think the argument is not that solid. I think we play "god" all the time with our body. For example if a person is born with a defective heart valve, modern medicine has provided a way for us to correct this defect. I do not see Christians lining up outraged over this surgery. What is the difference between correcting a problem and preventing a problem? I just don't know really.

The philosophy behind designer babies is the same as that which Hitler practiced (trying build a "master/perfect" race) How could we who believe in the sovereignty of God dare to try to determine who is born and who is not born?

I feel the same line of thinking can be taken as, "How could we who believe in the sovereignty of God dare perform any medical procedure which alters that which God has determined to happen physically to us?"

This would mean that we should not do things like have cancer treatment. God has sovereignly chosen for someone to have cancer, thus who are we to mess with what God has determined?

 

[JBaldwin]

I really don't think medical procedures which actually help to heal someone are even in the same category as procedures to determine who is born and who is not born. I would argue that some medical procedures are as bad as designer babies. For instance, I am against plastic surgery unless it is to help correct a problem which is making it difficult for a person to live, i.e. repairing a cleft palatte, so a person can eat without food falling out of his mouth. That is completely different than choosing gender and appearance.

Jesus healed the sick including making a man who was stuck on a bed all his life to get up and walk.

 

[Notthemama1984]

I guess I need to see where "designer babies" are determining who lives and who does not.

 

[LeeJUk]

An explanation can be found here. Basically it seems it's where eggs with the best genetics are selected.
What is a designer baby?

 

[Notthemama1984]

Ok, I was under the impression that designer babies were babies created using body cell gene therapy or some version of gene therapy to remove or correct genetic defects.

 

[PresbyDane]

I want a Calvin Klein one

Sorry I could not help myself, this is another one of those stupid things that I can not take as anything else as rebellion against God.