CYIL vol. 10 (2019)

CYIL 10 ȍ2019Ȏ OPENING THE DOORS FOR DESIGNER BABIES? … modification that it really consists in designing the genome 7 of persons. Unsurprisingly, this concept is connected to serious ethical controversies. To some extent, the content of these controversies will depend on the person who is the designer . Basically, there are two possible answers to the question of who will be responsible for the choice of traits introduced to a child. First, it can be the state or some other authority. This model would probably entail coercive methods and resembles the infamous “old eugenics” of the late 19 th century and the first half of the 20 th century. For these reasons, it is generally rejected by contemporary ethicists and scientists. The second option is that the parents would choose whether or not and how they wish to genetically modify their offspring. This approach, along with selective implantation of embryos based on preimplementation genetic testing, is sometimes called the new eugenics . According to its supporters, it is ethically different from the old eugenic practices since it is based on solid science and informed consent. 8 The so-called new or liberal eugenics is by some authors understood as a new way of increasing the well-being of humankind 9 . The deliberate creation of children with the best chances of achieving the best possible life is sometimes even considered a moral obligation 10 . On the other hand, it might be argued that the ultimate goal of both types of eugenics is the same, i.e. the development of a superior human being. 11,12 There are basically two arguments against the assumed novelty of new eugenics. First, we can theoretically design the genome of a person, but we cannot reliably design her actual traits. The result of gene modification would consist in a higher probability of a certain trait. Genetic determinism in its simplifying or absolutized forms is fallacy 13 . Even a child with the perfect genetic mix for playing the piano, scientific career, or football might end up as hating music instruments, school, or sports. The full control of the outcome will always be illusory. 14 Second, a certain level of eugenics is a normal part of life. The choice of a life partner is usually from a significant part motivated by the desire for a good father or mother of one’s children. Our evolutionary heritage makes us look for the partner who seems to possess the 7 Genome is the complete genetic material (set of genetic information) of an organism. See the definition of the genome at Scitable by Nature Education accessed 24 May 2019. 8 See VIZCARRONDO, Felipe E. Human enhancement: The new eugenics. The Linacre Quarterly. (2014, Vol. 81, No. 3), p. 239. 9 See for example Nicholas Agar’s book dedicated to the philosophical defence of liberal eugenics: AGAR, Nicholas. Liberal Eugenics: In Defence of Human Enhancement. Malden, Oxford, Carlton: Blackwell Publishing, 2004. 10 See SAVULESCU, Julian, KAHANE, Guy. The moral obligation to create children with the best chance of the best life. Bioethics. 2009, Vol. 23, No. 5, pp. 274-290. 11 See VIZCARRONDO, Felipe E. Human enhancement: The new eugenics. The Linacre Quarterly. (2014, Vol. 81, No. 3), p. 242. 12 For a further critical analysis of the concepts of old and new eugenics, see SANDEL, Michael J. The Case against Perfection: Ethics in the Age of Genetic Engineering. Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, Harvard, 2007, pp. 63-83. 13 See for example BJORKLUND, David F. Behavioral Epigenetics: The Last Nail in the Coffin of Genetic Determinism. Human Development . (2018, Vol. 61, No. 1), pp. 54-59. 14 A Princeton microbiologist Lee Silver aptly says that “all that anyone will ever get from the use of cloning, or any other reproductive technology, is an unpredictable son or daughter, who won’t listen to his parents any more than my children will listen to me” . As cited in STEINBOCK, Bonnie. Designer babies: choosing our children’s genes. The Lancet. (2008, Vol. 372, No. 9646), p. 1294.

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