Genetic Engineering: Creating "savior" babies, breeding deafness, avoiding illness? What is ok?

The Roloff family from TLC's series
"Little People, Big World"

With the announcement earlier today of the first "cancer-free" baby, thanks to genetic testing of embryos, it raises the question of what is too far, what is ok, and what is the future.  The questions are not just science fiction, as genetic testing is happening now already and we are quickly moving towards more widespread testing available to parents.

What can we test for now?

Right now, according to scientists at the University of Oxford, we are able to test for about 2% of the 15,000 known genetic conditions.  A test called karyomapping is used to test embryos during in vitro fertilization, and is expected to be widely available within the next year or so.  This process can test for muscular dystrophy, cystic fibrosis, and Huntington's disease.  It can also detect an increased risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease.

This process of "Preimplantation Genetic Screening" could also be used in the future to test for genes which contribute to intelligence, personality type (like being outgoing), impulse control, and disabilities.    Julian Savulescu, an Oxford scientist, wonders if there is any reason not to test for these things.  "Imagine a couple has two embryos that are free of major genetic disorders. 'A' has a 10% chance of Alzheimer Disease while 'B 'does not. What possible reason could there be NOT to select 'B'? Why would we leave it to chance?" 

Savulescu goes on, "People worry that this is a slide down a slope to creating designer babies, to testing for eye colour, height, mental and physical abilities. But we should embrace the selection of such non-disease traits, if they contribute to a child having better chance of a better life. Why wouldn’t we choose an embryo which will grow into a better ability at maths or music. Indeed, we should give our children the greatest range of gifts possible."

How is genetic testing being used right now to create "ideal" babies?

In addition to testing embryos for cancer-causing genes, parents and doctors are already testing for other things in their goal of creating the "perfect baby."  For several years, couples have been able to test for sex selection- do they want a boy or a girl.    In fact, if you google "choose the sex of my baby" you will find dozens of companies ready to help in the task. 

At one time, choosing the sex of the baby seemed controversial, but not so much today.  Particularly with so many other controversial uses for genetic testing being used.  There have been several cases of couples having a second child to be a "savior baby", using genetic testing to ensure the baby would have the correct make-up in order to provide marrow or stem cells for a transplant to save an ill older child.     But it turns out this is not as controversial as it may seem.  A poll in 2004 found that 61% of Americans think it is ok to use genetic testing to select an embryo that could help a sick sibling.  Only 57% thought it was ok to use the testing to choose the sex of the child. 

Testing to create a deaf or dwarf baby?

Perhaps the most controversial is the use of genetic screening to choose embryos that have what most people would consider disabilities.  In 2006, several US fertility clinics admitted they had helped couples purposely choose embryos which would produce deaf children or children with dwarfism.  The purpose was to allow the parents to have children who had the same physical attributes they had.  This is highly controversial, obviously. 

Why would someone want to give their child a trait that is limiting?  Clearly these parents did not see it as a limitation and they wanted to have a shared experience with their children. Whether this is ethical is still being debated, even as the testing is occurring.

Genetic testing and screening of embryos is no longer a theoretical frontier.  It is happening now, whether we like it or not.  We must address these questions head on before they get out of control.  Unless, of course, we are too late, and they are out of control already.  What do you think?

More information:

To read "Genetic engineering creates first 'cancer free' baby"  click here.

To read  "Preimplantation Genetic Screening: One Step Closer to the Perfect Baby?"  click here.

To read more from Slate about the fertility clinic survey, click here.

To read CBS' story "Choose the Sex of your Baby" click here.

To read  CNN's "Genetic testing of embryos raises ethical issues" about savior babies click here.

To read "Genetic testing of embryos to pick 'savior sibling' ok with most Americans"  click here.