Running Head: DESIGNER BABIES: A CONTROVERSIAL TOOL

Designer Babies: A Controversial Tool

Mark Shehata
57163
American University of Sharjah

DESIGNER BABIES: A CONTROVERSIAL TOOL

Designer Babies: A Controversial Tool
Specific purpose: To persuade my audience into considering designer babies as a positive
advancement.
Central Idea: Designer babies are a technological advancement that would do humanity good
by reducing the effects of diseases and enhancing human potential.

I-

Introduction
A- Example of Cystic Fibrosis.
1- Encyclopedia Britannica defines Cystic fibrosis as an
inherited disorder mainly affecting people of European
ancestry. ("Cystic Fibrosis", 2016)
2- According to Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the genetic disease
has a lot of negative symptoms. ("About Cystic Fibrosis",
2016)
a- Persistent coughing
b- Salty skin due to excessive sweating
c- Frequent lung infections
d- Shortness of breath
e- Infertility
3- The little girl shown on the slide has cystic fibrosis. All the
symptoms I have just stated applies on here.
4- Unfortunately, the cures for this disease is hectic for both
the patient and their family members.
5- On the bright side, God gave us the brains to come up with
a cure that eliminates cystic fibrosis and a lot of other
genetic diseases once and for all.
6- Surprisingly, some people reject it because its unethical.
B- In this speech, I am going to talk about Designer babies.
1- Although the term Designer baby might sound like its a
wrong practice, its essence is basically a synonym for
germline engineering.

DESIGNER BABIES: A CONTROVERSIAL TOOL

2- According to the institute of ethics and emerging
technologies which was founded by Nick Bostrom, a
professor of applied ethics at oxford university and James
Hughes, an associate provost at the University of
Massachusetts, I quote, Germline genetic modification is a
form of genetic engineering which involves changing genes
in eggs, sperm, or very early embryos ("Germline Genetic
Modification", 2016)
C- And so, Designer babies represented by Germline engineering
is a technological advancement that would do humanity good
by reducing the effects of diseases and enhancing human
potential.
II-

Body
A- Like most new emerging technology, germline engineering is
potentially dangerous if misused.
1- We are going to assume that it will not be misused.
Something laws can control.
2- We are going to assume that the process of genetic
engineering is perfected. Something that biotechnologists
are working on.
3- Our focus is going to be on the conceptual basis of
designing a baby.
4- As a designer, I define design as a method of creating order
which enhances a function. This should not be confused
with adding a function to enhance a system.
5- In simple words, it should be used as a method of
prevention only.
6- Anything other than that would cause unfair competition.

DESIGNER BABIES: A CONTROVERSIAL TOOL

B- First of all, genetic engineering can enhance the human gene
pool by removing faulty genes.
1- For example, couples nowadays could know if their baby
would be born healthy or not.
2- Designed babies would allow the couple to cure their baby
before it is born or even before it is formed.
3- According to the national youth leadership network,
designer babies lowers the risk of inherited diseases and
prevent genetic disorders. ("8 Most Notable Pros and Cons
of Designer Babies", 2015)
a- According to the center of genetics and society, a
nonprofit organization Marcy Darnovksy a writer of
human biotechnology who received her doctoral
dissertation on history of consciousness from the
University of California. ("CGS : 'Savior sibling' raises a
decade of life-and-death questions", 2016)
b- For example: the first known designer baby was is Adam
Nash.
c- His sister had Fanconis Anemia.
d- If he was born naturally, he would have had the same
disease.
e- He was genetically modified.
f- So when he was born, he did not have the disease nor
its genes.
g- In addition, step cells from his umbilical cord was used
to treat his sister.
h- They call him the savior sibling.
C- Designer babies and germline engineering open new
possibilities and expand human potential.
1- Since designer babies eliminate the risk of diseases, the
average human life span would be prolonged.

DESIGNER BABIES: A CONTROVERSIAL TOOL

2- In addition, aging, which is the root cause to human
mortality would be greatly reduced.
3- Prolonging human lifespan means that:
a- You can have multiple careers.
b- Retirement age will be pushed forward. Meaning more
people will be exploring their fields and reaching their
full potential.
c- There would be room for mistakes.
d- Economies will have more experienced work force.
e- Hence, technological advancements would be pushed
forward.
f- Last but not least, more retirement homes in Florida.
D- However, some people think that genetic engineering is
unethical for a couple of reasons.
1- Interference with nature.
a- Life is basically a series of interferences with nature.
2- You are playing God.
a- God gave us the brain that would help humanity evolve
to the better. Why not use it? Why oppress an idea with
benefits that outweighs its drawbacks?
3- It is dangerous to have enhanced intelligence.
a- Precisely talk about a universal increase in intelligence.
b- According to live science online magazine, Richard
Haier, a neuroscientist focused on the origin of
intelligence said and I quote, Intelligence is
independent of personality and emotion, so you can
have very intelligent people who are also just kind of
crazy people ("What If Humans Were Twice as
Intelligent?", 2012). End quote.
III-

Conclusion
A- According to tech insider, who cited sources from Araki and
Ishii, researchers about reproductive biology and

DESIGNER BABIES: A CONTROVERSIAL TOOL

endocrinology stated that 29 countries had an outright legal
ban on genetic editing. ("This map shows where researchers
might design the first genetically engineered baby", 2016)
B- It is shameful how governments would ban a tool that would
bring life to people.
C- I think that this topic is mostly about the play of words, so
why not change the expression, hacking the human
nature to enhancing the human system

References
About Cystic Fibrosis. (2016). Cff.org. Retrieved 8 July 2016, from
https://www.cff.org/What-is-CF/About-Cystic-Fibrosis/
CGS : 'Savior sibling' raises a decade of life-and-death questions. (2016).
Geneticsandsociety.org. Retrieved 8 July 2016, from
http://www.geneticsandsociety.org/article.php?id=%205388
Cystic fibrosis (CF). (2016). In Encyclopaedia Britannica. Retrieved from
http://academic.eb.com.ezproxy.aus.edu/EBchecked/topic/148824/cy
stic-fibrosis
Germline Genetic Modification. (2016). Ieet.org. Retrieved 8 July 2016,
from http://ieet.org/index.php/tpwiki/germline_genetic_modification

DESIGNER BABIES: A CONTROVERSIAL TOOL

This map shows where researchers might design the first genetically
engineered baby. (2016). Tech Insider. Retrieved 8 July 2016, from
http://www.techinsider.io/what-countries-allow-researchers-to-edithuman-embryos-2015-10
What If Humans Were Twice as Intelligent? (2012). Live Science. Retrieved
8 July 2016, from http://www.livescience.com/17918-humansintelligent.html
8 Most Notable Pros and Cons of Designer Babies. (2015). NYLN.org.
Retrieved 8 July 2016, from http://nyln.org/8-most-notable-pros-andcons-of-designer-babies