Designer Babies?

In February 2009, Fertility Institutes offered to let parents choose their kids’ hair and eye color. Currently, the Los Angeles based fertility clinic is the world’s largest provider of gender choice treatment.

Pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD for short) is a technique whereby three-day-old embryos (consisting of about six cells) are tested in a lab to see if they carry particular genetic diseases; PGD allows doctors to screen for dangerous genetic diseases by looking directly at the genes of embryos. Embryos free of disease are implanted in the mother’s womb, so deadly diseases such as cystic fibrosis, tay-sachs, and breast cancer are avoided for newborns.

Recently, scientists have uncovered ways to extend PGD to select for not only sex but also for cosmetic traits. Cosmetic traits are correlated with a large number of DNA markers known as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs for short).  As a result of advancing PGD technologies, scientists can now screen for certain SNPs that influence eye and hair color. In this way, the clinic can offer selection of certain cosmetic traits.

Inevitably, public outrage followed. However, proponents of this treatment argue this isn’t genetic modification in any way, only embryo selection. In fact, supporters say it doesn’t achieve anything that couldn’t be achieved naturally stating there is nothing wrong with the scientific selection of the ideal sperm and egg.

However, knowledge of the genetic factors is incomplete, and it’s not clear that Fertility Institutes can deliver on its promise. The treatment only increases the chances of desired cosmetic traits. Furthermore, the clinic has so far only received “half a dozen” requests for service.

Critics may argue that the selection for a “designer babies” (e.g. a green eyed blond haired daughter) may ultimately decrease human diversity. I find this argument unconvincing. For example, the first trait selection baby was born in 2010 – the cost of the process? $18,000. Undoubtedly, most families do not have the money to access this expensive treatment. As a result, there will likely not be many parents who can afford “designer babies” anytime soon. It is unfortunate that society will not probe this frontier anytime soon. Just a month later, the clinic shut the program down on March 2, 2009.

(***) note – I'm playing devil’s advocate

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/03/designerdebate/