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If you could alter genetic makeup of your baby would you do it?

MVP

MVP

Well-Known Member
Strictly hypothetical questions - lets say science advances to the point where they can fix genetic mutations like Down syndrome, Autism, Marfan, etc or other congenital disorders during early pregnancy - would you be ok with that? What about other things like homosexuality... lets say they figure out the gene which is responsible for it - doctor tells you your son/daughter will be homosexual but you can change it at 6-8 weeks of pregnancy - what would be your decision?
 
I would definitely edit out any genetic diseases.

I would make sure I add the homosexuality genes if they are not present, though.
 
Definitely edit out any genetic diseases sure.


But also add a gene that make him/her love me unconditionally... (this is what's preventing me from wanting children at the moment, a fear that they'll become rebels).
 
Yes. If it were available and completely viable. I have a son who is now 21 and he suffers from epilepsy as well as a host of other genetic issues, such as mild autism, which all together haver given rise to severe depression (which can also have a genetic component), anxiety and social phobias, along with moderate obsessive compulsive disorder, among other psychological issues. He has and will continue to lead a difficult life as a result. He does his best but we have had discussions where he has opened up and asked why he has to be this way and that he often wishes he had never been born. If I could turn back time and fix the genetic components of his issues before he was born I would absolutely do that rather than watch him suffer.
 
ONE LOVE said:
Definitely edit out any genetic diseases sure.


But also add a gene that make him/her love me unconditionally... (this is what's preventing me from wanting children at the moment, a fear that they'll become rebels).
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You'd be better off getting a love-bot. I bet those will also be available by the time you're able to turn your children into unthinking slaves.
 
MVP said:
Strictly hypothetical questions - lets say science advances to the point where they can fix genetic mutations like Down syndrome, Autism, Marfan, etc or other congenital disorders during early pregnancy - would you be ok with that? What about other things like homosexuality... lets say they figure out the gene which is responsible for it - doctor tells you your son/daughter will be homosexual but you can change it at 6-8 weeks of pregnancy - what would be your decision?
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Yes.

Simple one for me.
Seems like the question is basically "if you could have a healthy baby or an unhealthy one which one would you choose?"

I would choose for my baby to not have down syndrome, autism, etc.

Regarding homosexuality, I don't have a problem with homosexuality and don't really care if my daughter is gay when she grows up but I guess if I could choose then, ya I would choose to have her be straight since I think that there are less obstacles/difficulties for a straight person than a gay person and I feel that part of my job as a parent is to help her avoid unnecessary obstacles.
(iirc homosexuals commit suicide at a higher rate than straight people for one example and have more problems with depression iirc)
 
spent most of my undergrad studying these topics exactly.


This is already being done to some extent-- when doing IVF and using a sperm donor you straight up get a binder of what the donors look like & you basically choose what you want your baby to look like.


As far as I can tell the hope is that you can progress to the point where you can edit out deleterious genotype of diseases with very discrete, localized explanations behind their phenotype (like CF or SCA or Huntington's) but this could only really be done through IVF which *technically* kills life if you're one who believes that life begins at conception.
 
Unfortunately the technologies are advancing more quickly than the ethical discussions surrounding them, so these sorts of conversations need to be had more frequently and across people of multiple disciplines/walks of life
 
dalamon said:
Unfortunately the technologies are advancing more quickly than the ethical discussions surrounding them, so these sorts of conversations need to be had more frequently and across people of multiple disciplines/walks of life
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Bioethicists are conservative as ****. I think sociologists and other types of scientists should get in on the discussion.
 
What if you could choose race alongside the homosexual component. Would you do that? If so, then which race would you choose?
 
LogGrad98 said:
What if you could choose race alongside the homosexual component. Would you do that? If so, then which race would you choose?
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Same phenotype as myself, obviously. Why would I choose something else?

Edit: plus whatever phenotype the mother is. Duh.
 
Okay, a serious response now.

I would get rid of any genetic diseases and deformities. Anything else, imo, is a violation of the baby's integrity of personhood. If they want to change their eye color or athletic ability or whatever, then they can edit their genetics themselves.

Also, OL gave the worst response in this thread. Editing a person's genetics to make them unconditionally love you! /facepalm
 
LogGrad98 said:
What if you could choose race alongside the homosexual component. Would you do that? If so, then which race would you choose?
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What gene would control "race"? Are you referring to melanin content? Because even that doesn't determine race. Race has no genetic basis
 
dalamon said:
What gene would control "race"? Are you referring to melanin content? Because even that doesn't determine race. Race has no genetic basis
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What people mean when they say race is "general look". It's really no deeper than that. If anything, it's shallower.
 
Siro said:
Okay, a serious response now.

I would get rid of any genetic diseases and deformities. Anything else, imo, is a violation of the baby's integrity of personhood. If they want to change their eye color or athletic ability or whatever, then they can edit their genetics themselves.

Also, OL gave the worst response in this thread. Editing a person's genetics to make them unconditionally love you! /facepalm
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LOL .. that bit about unconditional love was half serious BTW.
 
MVP said:
Strictly hypothetical questions - lets say science advances to the point where they can fix genetic mutations like Down syndrome, Autism, Marfan, etc or other congenital disorders during early pregnancy - would you be ok with that? What about other things like homosexuality... lets say they figure out the gene which is responsible for it - doctor tells you your son/daughter will be homosexual but you can change it at 6-8 weeks of pregnancy - what would be your decision?
Click to expand...

Things like Down Syndrome yes. I would have them fix it.

In the hypothetical that being gay is something findable and is actually found. NO, I would not fix it. Nothing wrong with it.

I have a wonderful 18 year old daughter who is gay. She is good the way she is. Wonderful sister with a wonderful wife raising a wonderful boy (straight) and they are fine the way they are. Two cousins are gay and they are fine the way they are as well. It is not something that needs "fixing" IMO.

Edit: I'm with Siro
 
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