The history of eugenics presents many moral and ethical questions. Genetics study today looks at reproductive technologies that will allow parents to create "designer babies". This will be predominantly motivated by individual competitiveness and the desire to create the best opportunities for children, rather than an urge to improve the species as a whole, which characterized the early 20th-century forms of eugenics.
An another example of such individual motivations includes parents attempting to prevent homosexuality in their children, despite lack of evidence of a single genetic cause of homosexuality.
Some scientists argue that eugenics and the conservation of natural resources are similar propositions. Both can be practiced foolishly so as to abuse individual rights, but both can be practiced wisely.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?? SHOULD SCIENTISTS USE CURRENT KNOWLEDGE TO CREATE "PURER, SMARTER, BETTER" BABIES TODAY? IS THERE A PLACE FOR GENETICS (EUGENICS) IN TODAY'S WORLD? AND IF SO, WHERE DOES IT END? HOW FAR DO WE GO? IN ADDTION, COMMENT ON AT LEAST ONE OTHER STUDENT'S BLOG.
USE YOUR SECRET NAME AND CLASS PERIOD. 4-6 sentences
45 comments:
After reading the article. I find it to be wrong. My reason is because scientists shouldn't have the right to determine what is the perfect baby. A person who is a parent should teach their kid to be smart. Make them better then they were.
I find it not to be a place for Eugenics in our world today. We, the people, have our own identities and cultural. No person or group should determine which way a human should be.
I don't think they should try and perfect our race or whatever they want to do. What's perfect in one person's eyes can be completely different to someone else. Having different people and races and features and abilities is what makes everyone who they are individually. I agree with liv n luv with parents should teach their kids to be smarter in certain areas and accept who they are because being like everyone else doesn't make you a better person.
A child should be considered perfect no matter what genes they may have. Why is it so essential to achieve perfection in a society. Children should be taught that all kids are special no matter what they may look like or what abilities and disabilities they may have. I agree with liv-n-luv intelligence come from what you learn and not what physical features you may have.
Yes, I think we should use Eugenics but only to save babies from debilitating diseases. Even though we should take out their bad genes the problem is that we don't know what could happen after the operation or what side effects the babies can get from doing this procedure. Another thing is that the first babies that we do this operation on, we have to make sure its safe because messing with someone's genes can be dangerous. We would be experimenting with someone's without his/her permission. If we are positive that we can remove the bad gene then yes I think we should use Eugenics. But if it were not positive than I don' t think we should be able to use it.
SoaMoa says that all children should be considered "perfect no matter what genes they have". I do agree based what this person says but if child was born paralyzed , he might go to his parents and say why you didn't fix me when you could.
I don't think scientists should use current knowledge to create "purer, smarter, better" babies. No ones perfect, everyone has imperfections. Eliminating those who are felt to be "unfit" or "feeble-minded" is extremely wrong. There is no place for eugenics in today's world because everyone has their own special quality that makes them unique, and that shouldn't be looked upon as eccentric. I agree with SimplyMe12 when they say, "Having different people and races and features and abilities is what makes everyone who they are individually." This contributes to making our society more diverse.
There is no place for eugenics in today's world. Scientists are crossing boundaries in correcting genes, and are not aware of what side effects it may have. Additionally, once it starts, where does it end? Before you know it, genetic alterations will create people that are all the same. The fact that not everyone is "purer, smart, or better" is what makes us unique. This is a quality I do not think is worth losing.
Liv n Luv makes a good point in saying that intelligence comes from what you learn and not what physical features you are born with. You cannot teach people to be unique; it thrives from different genes and traits which will be eliminated if scientists progress to genetically "fix" humans.
In the words of Hannah Montana, "nobody's perfect." In my opinion no one has the right to inflict harm against any person that in their mind is not perfect. Like liv n luv wrote i agree that intelligence comes from what you learn and not your physically physical features you are born with. Imperfection is what makes people unique and without that everyone would be the same and real progress couldn't be made. In today's world the philosophy of eugenics seems to be in a way rearing up the form of gene modification. As long as innocent lives are not being taken i guess this is a useful advance.
I think the whole eugenics idea is nonsense and the only way to achieve its goal, if possible, is to ruin millions of lives. Scientist should not use current knowledge to create "better" babies. In trying to purify the human race it would probably cause dozens of problems world wide and we already have enough global issues. Not to mention this would violate many rights that we have lived with for decades.
I agree with Capri, that if this happens everybody will be the same and there will be no diversity. Like they said nobody is perfect and we need diversity for progress.
I do not think that scientists should create "purer, smarter, better" babies. The world needs diversity, and if scientists create these babies then they would all be the exact same. They would be the same intellectually, morally, everything. There would be no competition for resources or education. It would also wipe out Darwin's Evolution theory that the weakest die and the stronger survive. Although there is definitely a place for Eugenics in the world, we shouldn't be going too far into it. If we do, then there is a large chance that scientists will want to create these babies that will wipe out genetic diseases.
I definitely agree with Soamoa that, "A child should be considered perfect no matter what genes they may have. Why is it so essential to achieve perfection in a society." I think that people strive for the unattainable goal of perfection, and if scientists create perfect children, not only would it upset the public; but also would mess up society itself.
I know this has been said already, but using new-found methods in genetics to produce smarter, "purer" offspring is a terrible idea. This is another way of trying to produce a perfect race of humans. We are living in a society that demands perfection, but what happens when we achieve this perfection? This perfect race of genetically enhanced humans will usurp other races, thus eventually eliminating any cultural influence provided by the "imperfect" races. The world would become increasingly dull.
That being said, preventing genetic deficiencies such as down syndrome is a viable idea. There is no reason to make people smarter, but preventing people from becoming mentally challenged has no visible negative consequences. That is where Genetics (Eugenics) should start, and that is where it should end.
I fully agree with Lily. Darwin's natural selection should not be tampered with, and needs to run it's course with minimal human interference. This kind of change would have serious consequences.
I think it's wrong to try to create a designer baby. If everyone was allowed to create a perfect baby, many of us wouldn't be here today. We all have a lot to contribute to our society based on our differences. There is no such thing as a "perfect" child. There may be a place for genetics if you can prevent babies from dying. Creating a perfect baby can mean so many different things to different people. I agree with Ima Weenur because genetics could be abused by creating a "perfect" race, which could eventually lead to another war and death of innocent people.
I really don't know if this will be a good thing or a bad thing, but i guess i disagree more than i agree with this. We do not know how specific people can "design" their babies and all the things that they can change through genetics with them. Maybe the only thing we will ever be able to do is assign a gender or sexual preference, but then again, what if we will be able to change everything? hair color, eye color, height, and who knows what else? 100 years down the road, maybe it will be the norm and anybody can do it, or maybe it is only for the richest people on earth. What if there are so many issues and complications with it where it causes many problems? For example, if the baby isnt exactly how they want it, a whole new type of lawsuit will be a part of our society. there are too many positives and negatives for me to truly have an opinion on this, so I am undecided.
Scientists should not be able to create the perfect baby for many reasons. For example, every medicine and treatment available today has a side-affect. We do not know how serious the side could be, and in the worst case, it could be counter productive( create an "almost perfect baby". Also, as many have said, we can't really define what perfect is. What may be perfect to me may be completely trivial to someone else. Personally, if I decide to have kids in the future I would want the child to be like me and the person I marry. I would want to watch it grow into my perfect child, not someone else's idea of the perfect child.
BlazinBaller, and some others think that eugenics is okay if the scientists are only preventing mentally disabilities or life threatening diseases. I, however, respectfully disagree, even though it is tragic that some babies die very young or are born with mentally disabilities, there are many things to consider. For example, if a scientist fixes one disability in a child, what is keeping the scientist from changing something else. If scientists are allowed this one breech of human rights, it will be easier for them to lobby for greater eugenics. THink "snowball effect".
And No. There is no place for Eugenics in today's world.
I do not think that scientists should use their current knowledge to craete "purer, smarter, better" babies in our world today, and I do not think that their is a place for eugenics in todays world, because the world we live in today is a diverse world, and diversity is a good thing, not a bad thing. There is no definition of what is better or purer or perfect, as everyone will see something different. The farthest scientists or genetics should go is to do things that better all people, like correcting fatal genetic diseases. The traits of individuals that can be viewed as good or bad by different people should not be changed. I completely agree with senio12s idea that uniqueness is a quality that we do not want to lose.
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I definitely don't think that we should be attempting to create the perfect baby. It is against nature and you can't change nature that much or it will come back to haunt you. It isn't worth it to attempt to change it, they don't know how it could turn out when they're older it could have some major side effects. But also if you were to alter a baby's dna, there is no stopping. That could be the worst part of it all, what it all finally leads to.
I don't think scientists should use current knowledge to create "better" babies. I feel like by doing so scientists are trying to play god. Genetics are genetics for a reason. Why mess with science? No one is perfect and if everyone were perfect this would be a pretty boring world. For every action we make there's always a reaction. I don't think this world should take such chances. I don't think there is any place for eugenics in today's world.
I agree with Mr. Solo Dolo it is against nature and you shouldn't mess with nature. Some things just aren't worth the consequences they may bring and eugenics is one of those things.
I don't think that scientist should create "Purer, Better,Smarter" babies because I think that if scientist do that then the world will be dull and everyone will act the same,speak the same, and think the same and I feel that the world is a lot more fun when people have their own opinions on things because it makes a diverse world and that is how I feel the world should be.
There is not any place for eugenics in the world today because the world is to diverse and people are more aware then they were back in the day and I feel if their were a place for eugenics now the there will be a lot of unhappy people who will stand up and against eugenics.
Just like many others, I think scientists shouldn't use current knowledge to create "purer, smarter, better" babies today because the world should embrace differences in people, not try to change them. No single person is perfect and is bound to have some type of imperfection. This, however, is just normal and part of life. Individuals always have a competitive nature to strive for perfection but should not when dealing with their children. Instead they should accept them for who they are and make them be the best they can be through being a positive role model, not relying on genetics to make them "perfect." There is no place for genetics in todays world because I think it is just wrong to change the natural occurrences of life. I agree with Ima Weenur in the sense that striving for a perfect race will "usurp other races, thus eventually eliminating any cultural influence provided by the "imperfect" races." The world is full of differences, some good and bad, but is made like that for a reason and should be kept that way without eugenics getting in the way.
I do not hesitate even a little in believing that scientists should not use their knowledge to create "designer babies", i.e. use knowledge of genetics and eugenics to create "better" people. This can only lead to a corrupt society where those with the money to have babies "made" with good genes will dominate and the "degenerates" are left to suffer and fail. My disposition towards is the idea is one of complete hatred; I cannot even fathom someone's fate being decided from when they were born. Sure, it's also the environment that affects a person's personality, traits, etc., but in general, the process of human creation should not be touched with. We are attempting to distort the natural order of things and nothing good will come out of this. People are becoming greed with knowledge and the things they want to do with it--it has to end now, people have to accept that people are different and just do our best to make the environment better.
Like daisy27 said, the world is FULL of differences, some good and bad, making some people gifted, and others diseased... but we can still help those people without changing who they are. The world is like this for a reason and we shouldn't let eugenics get in the way of our identity as the human race, because altering ones' genes to force people to be a certain way is not, at the very least in my opinion, humane.
I think that the knowledge we have today can be beneficial if we use it correctly. I don't think that we should be using this knowledge to try to rid babies of things like homosexuality, but I do think that it could be an advantage to try to cure babies of lifelong debilitating diseases. Many of my fellow classmates seem to think that we shouldn't use this new knowledge at all because it is like "playing god," but I think that if we could make a baby more healthy and make their life free of pain and suffering than I think we should do that. I definitely agree with the analogy that eugenics and the conservation of natural resources are similar propositions, and that they both can be beneficial. Also, I agree with Ima Weenur in that using eugenics to prevent down syndrome has no "visible negative consequences" in my opinion. There is a way to affectively use this growing knowledge, and I don't think it would be smart to ignore this knowledge.
I really think that the only thing that we should be using this genetic alteration on children to cure diseases. There are too many unforeseen effects that may occur from abusing something as powerful as genetic alteration. There have been too many books and movies about the downsides that occur from this kind of genetic modification. Plus it's not a proven science. Instead of making things better for the future we might just be making things worse by using genetic modification. I can easily imagine a futuristic dystopian world caused by this kind of technology such as a deus ex kind of world. I disagree with Frank only on the not using genetic modification whatsoever. I think that using it to prevent diseases could be good for the future.
As much as I believe eugenics is wrong because of how discriminatory it is to people who are different, I do think that it is applicable here. Many parents can't handle the responsibilities that come with raising a child with disabilities comes with. When it comes to the use of eugenics, I think we should stick with reducing the amount of babies born with diseases. Things like homosexuality aren't diseases, they're choices and have nothing to do with genes.
In regards to what other classmates say, as stated by Gus, I don't think that applying eugenics is "playing with God's master plan". If using eugenics to help produce more healthy babies then I see no down side to the situation. Saying that, eugenics should only be used in curing DISEASES, not non-disease things such as homosexuality.
While this method seems like an easy way to guarantee perfection in a child, it also seems unethical. If you have a baby, but modify its genes, can you still consider it yours? This is definitely a breakthrough in science, but I do not believe this should be used besides in case of a genetic disorder. I agree with capri because if everyone can modify their kids' genes to be "perfect," then everyone will be the same. It is totally unethical to mess with a person's DNA.
I think that using this technology to create "better" babies can be a good thimg if you use it the right way. you can make sure that babies won't have any mental nor physical disabilities which would make the world better just with that. On the other hand, I don't think that using this technology in order to fix somethig that not everyone feelsbis wron sich a sexuality is a good idea. There is no such thing as a perfect being and everyone has certain flaws. Flaws don't need to be fixed because while others think they are fkaws, someone else might think thay same thing is what makes an individual who they are. If scientist used this technology, everyone will be basically the same person because no one wants a "dumb", "ugly" or homosexual child. i also think that it is messing with the power of God, he made different individuals for a reason and I don't think that anyone should have thebpower to change it.
I agree with Gorkster 100%, technically the baby will be yours, but it will not have the same genes as you therefore it's not really your child.
I dont think that scientist use their knowledge to create "smarter" babies. Every child has something special deep inside them that defines who they are. I am personally affected by this because I'm Autistic. I highlly agree on what SoaMoa said about each child being so special no matter what disability they have
I think that scientist should start looking at on how to make our children smarter, by creating these "Designer Babies" lives can have better opportunities. I feel if the competition gets good the world will end up a better place. They should also look at how to advance brain activity so we can think better.
I believe that there are people who do believe this and want their children to be perfect but in the real world this will just cause problems. But changing their genes is just unhuman because then its not really YOUR child.
I also agree with soamoa with each child being special.
I think that it is morally wrong to create a designer baby. Scientists should NOT use this to create the child you want. Under some circumstances, it might be appropriate to use this technology, for example in My Sisters Keeper the parents used this to create a baby with the same genetics as their sick child. But using this to make a better "race" is wrong, and you shouldn’t have a child if you’re more worried about how perfect they are rather than what sport they will play in middle school. There isn’t a place for eugenics in society. God created us how we are its not how perfect you are, but its what you do with it makes you perfect or not.
I agree with Zach Turbo and how eugenics can only happen if we kill millions of people.
I think scientists should only use technology to benefit someones life if it is due to their health and disabilities. I don't think it should be used for what the eugenics movement promoted with trying to change appearances or how they made an ideal look seem better. Thats where it should end, with it only being for health purposes. I agree with ShadesOfGreen's commment on how it should be used for preventing disabilities only.
I think that no we should not try to make the “perfect baby” by taking out bad genes because no one really knos what will happen if we do by taking out one bad gene you could make a problem that’s more harsh than what they were trying to fix. I don’t feel it is any place in today’s world for eugenics because knowing the way things like this have gone in the past someone will go to far.
I don't think that scientist should try and create smarter babies. I think that babies with bad genetics should just be left the way they are. There can be a place for genetics, if it would fit in somewhere where it benefits people.
I agree with Kevin 4/5. There is gonna be good and bad eugenics.
I disagree with the fact that scientists should try to interfere with natures way of reproduction. Parents should be the ones responsible for bringing out positive traits and helping their children become smart, responsible individuals. A baby's brain is like a sponge, it all depends on what the child is exposed to our taught from when he is born that determines the type of person he or she will be.
Percy Michael Williams is in 6/7 !
While modifying the genes of individuals can be very beneficial in some ways, its negative toll it would take on society would far outweigh the benefits. The result of modification would create the dystopian society many books are written about. Modifying genetics would mess with nature and could cause an extinction of mankind if a disease or virus is spread. Without any difference in people cause of genetic modification no one would even have an immune system capable of having anti bodies. In any scenario, genetic modification is both unethical and potentially very harmful. Furthermore, every society must have bottom feeders and high rollers and without these you create a completely dull world where people wouldn't be able to achieve prosperity through hard work.
I do not think scientists should use current knowledge to create "purer, smarter, better" babies. I think people should try their best to raise their child to be the best they can be, but they shouldn't be like everyone else. I agree with daisy27 when they say adults should love their child for who they are and not expect them to be perfect. I think there is a place for Eugenics, to cure currently not curable diseases. It shouldn't try to perfect us by eliminating all the bad things, just the ones that can cause us death.
I think that it would not only be wrong, but I think it would end up hurting us more, if scientists tried to create a "purer, smarter, better" society. Diversity is what makes alot people who they are. I think that its up to the parents to teach their child how to over come their differences making them stronger people in the end.
I agree with daisy27, I believe parents should not expect their kids to be absolutely perfect and love them anyway. I believe eugenics could have some useful qualities how ever. Like removing things like.. The breast cancer gene and things of that sort. But I don't think doctors should be allowed to play god and alter things that makes a person who they are.
I think that the technology we have today to make designer babies is wrong. Just like eugenics, it's wrong. Eugenics was a horrible time in United States history and it lead to World War 2 and the extintion of 6 million Jews in the Holocaust. Many believe that history does repeat itself, so why would we want THAT history to repeat itself? Therefore I think anything that has to do with "designing" reproduction is wrong. Everything happens for a reason and by using technology to create something like that is going against that. I agree with Scott Nails post the world would be so dull and boring if everyone was the same. The great thing about everyone being different is that everyone thinks differently and people can create new ideas. Also, it makes everyone unique in different ways.
Scientists should not use their knowledge to create "purer, smarter, better" babies. This is equivalent to what people tried to achieve in the Eugenics movement. It was wrong then, it's still wrong in today's world and society. The genes that a man and woman produce in their offspring are the genes that are meant to be in that offspring. Everybody is different and unique and are special in their own way. This why a "purer, smarter, better" baby would be wrong. It goes against individuality and uniqueness. We must have diversity in our world and society.
I agree with daisy 27, I believe that parents should accept their children for who they are and who they become. Whatever genes and traits they have shouldn't change the fact that the parents should love the child/offspring for who they are.
I think that first of all it would just be wrong, but then there would just be no diversity, everyone would be of the same intelligence level. Which could no way work out. I believe that genetics could be used in todays world in some sense, to see what your baby could look like before you have it, or things of that sort, but if someone wants to make there baby perfect, that is where I think it begins to get out of hand.
I also agree with SpiderBass because I believe that it depends on how you raise your child. If you raise your child well then they are going to be better off in life, if not then it is on you, not genetics.
I don't believe scientists should try to create a purer, smarter and better race. The world is too diverse to be able to create one superior race. Diversity is what makes us, us. If everyone were the same, there would be no competition. We already have clear examples of why Eugenics is bad. for example, the holocaust. This should be a perfect example of why we SHOULDN'T create the idea of one superior race.
Scientists should not use current knowledge to create "purer, smarter, better" babies. People come in all different kinds of shapes and sizes which makes us unique. Having a diverse world is a beautiful thing and we should continue to improving a more diverse culture today. I think we shouldn't try to change what people are. Scientists shouldnt get involved in the birthing process. The result of modification would create the dystopian society many books are written about. This reminds me of Nazi Germany.There can be a place for genetics, if it would fit in somewhere where it benefits people. If people want a specific baby, more power to them, but they shouldn't influence others to be so civil minded. I agree with lex and parents should be responsible for their offspring. He has good points. I am smarter though.
The only place for genetics in todays society is to help prevent or cure diseases. I do not believe that we should use our knowledge in genetics to any way alter babies to become smarter or "purer" everyone should be unique and have individual traits. If we were to breed babies, we would become a society like the nazis. I agree with donald trump how parents should be responsible for their children being intelligent and well behaved, we should not rely on genetics for characteristics. Our scientists current knowledge should be used for curing diseases and doing things to help our health. There is no place for scientists to say what is considered "pure" because unique people are what make our world special.
I don't think that scientist should use the technology that's available today to make purer better human beings . We don't want to create one of those sci fi worlds where everybodies perfect and obedient. That wouldn't work out well and it would be boring. If everyone was made to have a perfect genetic structure then not only would people all have the same capabilities jobs would be lost like law officials because we wouldn't have criminals to deal with and basically the world would just be messed up. I agree with Chaz micheal micheals that we wouldn't want to be like the Nazis in an attempt to create what we consider a perfect society
I think that Eugenics is a sick notion that should never have a part in American society today. The world will never be perfect, and the fact that people want to force it to breed the perfect race is downright sinful, and its like what Hitler tried to do when he ruled Germany. This country has set laws in the constitution that are to protect the peoples rights and Eugenics is a flawed study that violates the constitution on which this country was based. If we started Eugenics in small places and small ways then what will stop it from growing and eventually take us back to racial prejudice?
I agree with michael 6/7 when he says we should use the resources and knowledge to use genetic research in maybe curing newborn illnesses instead of killing babies.
I believe that Eugenics does have some place in modern day society. I believe that parents should be able to make the decision to genetically alter their child if the child is affected by a genetic disease. However, I do not think that they should be able to create "designer babies" because part of the reason that we have such advanced technology and ideas is because we are all different. I agree with 9*Lex, parents should not expect perfection, or crave it, the varieties of out personalities are what define us.
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