1. DESIGNER BABIES

2. What?  Definition: The term used to define the genetic engineering of an embryo’s genes and genome in order to specify the genes of the baby to result in a custom designed child.

3. How?  Made possible by new technology: InVitro Fertilization Human genome DNA manipulation / genetic engineering  Process: Screen DNA of egg and sperm Knowledge of genome

5. Use  Pre-Implantation Diagnosis (PDG)  Cosmetic and Characteristic Alterations  Germline Therapy

6. PDG  - Screen embryo for risk of diseases from parent’s Example: Huntington's Disease  - Able to screen for birth defects Example: Down Syndrome  - Able to select the correct unaffected embryo and place in womb

7. Down Syndrome  Distorts facial features  Heart problems  Mental retardation  Can develop cancer  No current cure  1 in 800 children  Extra copy of all or part of chromosome 21

8. Huntington’s Disease  Affects part of brain that controls movement  Jerky movements  Dementia – loss of reason  Personality changes, behavior problems, memory loss  If parent has it, child has 50% chance of getting it  Develop after age 40

9. Cosmetic & Characteristic Alterations  Sex Selection done today  In the future selection of certain traits will be available: Eye color Hair color Beauty Intelligence Athleticism

10. Germline Therapy  Performed on egg, sperm, or embryo  Replaces defected sections of DNA with healthy DNA

11. Alternatives  Traditional Methods to ensure gender: Conceive at correct time Dairy food for girl, salty food for boy  Sperm Sorting  Prenatal Diagnosis If “wrong” gender can have an abortion

12. Current Laws  Sperm sorting and prenatal testing is legal in most countries  No laws against PDG in USA Depends on clinic: ½ of US fertility banks allow gender choosing; 23% allows supplying blood to sick siblings  Germany allows prenatal testing  UK allows PGD to be used to find disease or sibling match

13. + The Positives + + Prevents certain genetic diseases + avoid financial and emotional strains upon parents; have healthy kids + Avoid gender specific disease which run in the family + ex: color blindness + It’s worth the cost + already paying for IVF, double check to make sure that the child is healthy + It’s natural + Help with the womb’s natural process of checking for defects + It’s similar to what’s being done today + Equal to replacing defective organ + Savior Child + Create specific child in order to be the donor for a very ill child + Balancing Families + Families who already have children of one gender able to pick the other