What's the Purpose of the Blog Project?
What's the Purpose of the Blog Project?
English 110 hones analytical habits of mind that are meant to be naturalized and used outside of the classroom. Therefore, the Blog Project takes the analysis you use throughout the ARP and Commonplace, and gives you the chance to practice applying it to the public writing you already interact with in your everyday life. As you become accustomed to making this analytical move on your own, you will develop into a more aware, critically thinking citizen of the world.
The thought of designer babies really scares me. The first thing I thought of was Social Darwinism and as I continued to watch this video it sounded more and more like it. While it may be beneficial to remove certain genes that carry disease, I don't like the idea as a whole. I don't think it should be the parents' job to choose if they're baby looks a certain way or is genetically disposed to act a certain way. I sincerely hope that laws are passed to prohibit this. If it's allowed who knows what kind of chaos about designing the 'perfect human' being would ensue.
ReplyDeleteTying everything in with the theme of cyborgs, femme fatales, shape shifters, and superheros, I think that designing babies is a form of shape shifting because you're taking what a baby could have or should have been and making it something else.
First off, I agree that it is a clear example of shape shifting for the same reason. It's a matter of becomming something that you truely aren't.
ReplyDeleteAs an ethical issue, it's a two-bladed sword. Should it be scary? I don't think so. The scenario comes too often that a father who is expecting a child gets diagnosed with a condition called Huntington's Syndrome. For those not familiar with biology, it is a disease that shows up later in life, 30's and 40's, and it 100% lethal. It also is a dominant trait and will spread to most offspring. If you introduced the idea of genetic engineering, society could eliminate the threat of the Huntington's allele in one generation. With this respect it should not be scary.
On the other end of the spectrum, inevitably people would use this technology to modify their children' physical features. That concept is both dangerous, and ethically wrong. If you are among the pro-life crowd, this process also presents an issue because it is in-vetro fertilization.
The bottom line is that this technology is both good and bad. I feel to an extent that it is necessary to eliminate some diseases, but it will lead to even more controversy than that of the issue of abortion.
I love that technology is advanced enough now that we are able to choose the different traits we want our babies to have. However, I am totally against it. Babies are meant to be natural without alterations. Like Alex said, it think it has the potential to be more controversial than the issue of abortion. I am very pro-choice, but I also believe that if you are going to go through with having the baby, it should be a creation of the two parents, not science.
ReplyDeleteThat technology is fantastic. American people would be so excited about that, because American guys have various colors of eye and hairs.
ReplyDeleteIt is a shapeshifting I think.
I would be love this technology if I was a rich person like Bill Gates. However, since I am not, I really disagree with this technology using on people. It should be forbid like the cloning technology on people. Firstly, the world is already very unfair to the poor. But those story like "Slumdog Millionaire" always encourage those people believe that they can have smarter children that the rich. However, this technology basically can make all the rich's babies become a smart even prettier baby than other people's. Even thought those poor children has already lost some material point on the starting line, with the using of this technology, they will lose much more than the rich kids on the starting line.
ReplyDeleteAlso, even the doctor said he like to give all the choice to his patient, I think he just wanted to make a fortune by using this technology.
Touching on the theme of our course, I am agreeing with everyone else that this is an example of shape shifting for the obvious reasons of changing the child from what it was meant to look like to looking like something else. On the science side of this video I think that it is amazing how advancements have led to even being able to imagine altering the looks of a child before they are born, but I think this is one of the scariest things that has come up in recent years. I am completely against the idea of wanting to create the “perfect human” and ordering the looks and traits of a child as if they are an item on a fast-food menu. Parents should be willing to love their child no matter what he or she looks like and should not even be given the opportunity to choose these things. Agreeing with Mallory, I hope that these laws do get passed in the near future before anything extreme happens.
ReplyDeleteWhen potential parents decide to have a baby, it's a given that they will have anticipated what they're in for. Seeing as there's no law prohibiting this phenomenon, it seems okay to use it. And frankly, I think it's incredible that we have the ability to physically alter a baby.
ReplyDeletePeople will of course disapprove, because the idea in itself is just an act of greed, but they should do so towards parents, NOT genetic engineers. Scientists should not be pinned down for the services they have to offer. The real offenders are those who choose to utilize them for their own greedy purposes instead.
If parents wants their baby to have a specific attribute, let them do it. Seeing as they have reached some sort of mutual understanding, it's obvious that they would have put some thought into it. Nevertheless, they, need to prove their case. We can't just simply alter a baby to look "better", otherwise discrimination will brew up immediately. We don't want people reaching a general consensus of what "the ideal baby is", and as a result, look down upon others who are financially unable to do the same. There should be a rigorous process implemented in order to monitor the intentions of parents. A board of officials to evaluate parental motives towards the operation would be a great way to get things going in a stable manner.
I'm curious to see how this pans out. I see an enormous conservative uproar approaching. Take cover!!
The fact that this technology was first developed to screen for diseases just shows the way we are evolving as a society; we are sadly, becoming more materialistic. This technology not only challenges religious views, but social views as well. From a social perspective, this technology just demonizes humans. We are treating our future babies, as an object; an object for the parents' satisfaction. Like Tyler said, I also believe in loving your child no matter how he/she turns out to be. Every child will have his/her flaws and advantages. There is no such thing as a perfect human. Even if there is a perfect human, who are we, to define what that perfect human has to be like or look like. That just creates a whole new argument for stereotypes and racism.
ReplyDeleteTaking all this into account, the babies would be considered shape shifters obviously because of their characteristics that they will be given. They can also be considered as cyborgs, because it is the parents who are choosing what that baby should look and act like. Hence, the baby could be a robot for their parents' satisfaction.
I’m ok with the idea that we can choose our child’s physical feature. I can’t see anything wrong with that. I don’t agree with the Hanpei that this would cause more society inequality. The idea that “rich would have smarter baby” doesn't make any sense at all. Everyone is unique because the way of thinking and doing things are different but not the brain is bright or not. Differently, this technique would make a difference in sport events. Those who would win the game in the future may be those who been chosen to do such sports.
ReplyDeleteInstead of the worry about society inequality, I believe this would cause some ethics problem. How the society would consider about those who don’t look like their parents at all? If the baby’s DNA are picked up from others, who actually is the baby’s parent? As Dr. Arthur Caplan says in the video, this would be one of the biggest things to be discussed in next a few years.
I can't agree with Feng's first statement. The inequality will occur since people with dollars to choose the specifc DNA their babies have. As you said, people's life is imparity since they come to the world. Because fortunate second generation, they could also face the competition with people with normal background. The possibility is still exist in that situation. However, once they are given birth with "smart" or "genius" DNA, the inequality seems become more substantial.
ReplyDeleteFor the echics concern, I think you pointed out the issue most probably arose in the future.
I find this to be embody the Cyborg idea more than anything else. Humanity infused with science for the betterment of the species. This is not the complete fabrication of a person. Two parents are still required.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many possibilities for this...Alongside cosmetic customization, which I understand may be morally questionable, we could (eventually) eliminate genetic diseases like diabetes.
However, I disagree wholeheartedly that this is materialistic or sacrilegious. Removing the diseases from a baby does not remove its soul, does not remove who he or she is. I do not feel that God would not have given us this science and not intended us to use it. After all, God did not address it in any holy book.
I digress. I don't believe this is an example of the Shapeshifter because it is not a person changing who they are. I believe this is an example of the Cyborg due to human betterment involving science.
I agree with what Terry said. First, the science of changing DNA is antinature. No one can change a life of a baby. If there is anything wrong with the 'science', they might destroy a life, and ruin a family. Second, why the decision is made by parents? But not the babies themselves? Everyone has a right to choose to be what kind of people. There are no difference between their hair color, eye color, or IQ. It is the effort they make after born decide who they will be. The value of a life is detemined by what they do for the world, not his/her color of eye or IQ. Finally, I think this is cyborg, but not shape shiffter. This is what people use science to against nature. Like abuse clone science, they will get punished in the future.
ReplyDeleteI understand where Alex is coming from on the cyborg idea, but I feel that this is more of an example of shapeshifter. These scientists are altering how a baby would have looked to create the "ideal" human being. They are screening out any physical characteristics that they don't feel are "ideal." I can't help but be reminded of the quest for the "ideal" human with the Aryan race. I feel that the screening out of diseases is an amazing tool that we can use in society, but the screening out and hand picking of physical features is an example of humans trying to play God. I don't feel that this is right and I believe that it could end very badly. People shouldn't play God. As people, we are each born with characteristics and skills that we are expected to make the most out of and find success. This leads to a balanced world and a world in which there are many different kinds of people that can all aid society in their own way. The world would be a terrible place if everyone was the same or had the same characteristics. It takes the uniqueness out of humanity.
ReplyDeleteJust like Morgan, this reminds me of Nazi Germany and the Aryan race. Can anyone imagine what would happen if Hitler had this ability in him prime? It would be catastrophic. He could "Shape-shift" every to be how he wanted.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up Catholic, it is taught that God makes every person with individual qualities, and we are made in his image. So I see it as offence to him that people change how he wants us to be.
I agree as I was watching this video all that came to mind was Nazi. You cannot produce a "perfect" race.
ReplyDeleteI think babies should come naturally and that you should not plan what your baby will look like. Science can only go so far.
Humans are not all powerful. We should not be able to control how a baby can turn out like. God has his own plan and if a baby comes out a way then that is how it should be.
Science helps with diseases yes, but it should not go as far as "design" a baby. I do not think that a "designer" baby is right nor is it normal. What parents in the right mind would plan out designer kid? People are unique as they are born. If people want to design a baby, individuality in the appearance will disappear. Basically there is an army of "perfect" image kids, that is not the way science should be used.
Cannot believe it!!! The world is changing so rapidly! My understanding of this world is under challenging again!
ReplyDeleteMaybe we have to adapt to this. I think in the future, there would be no debate on it. And people take this for granted. People just treat it as a normal activity. Many people may choose to choose the features of their baby. That would be pretty popular and becomes a kind of fashion. Advertisements about this may be everywhere. You cannot miss it.
If we get the ability to create a baby with all the features that we want, can we use it properly? Will people believe Jesus any longer? If we have the ability to produce people, just like Clone, should we do so?
I am very confused, frankly speaking.
Like Zexi said, I also think that this sort of 'buying' of traits is sort of an inevitable part of the future. People will most likely have to adapt to this. Even if the law 'forbids it' it won't be forbidden everywhere, and that just means that the rich can take their pregnancies to some other country if they want it that badly. Simple. I think that children are already given parts from their parents, and were never given a right to choose in the first place, so why should they be given a choice now? They aren't capable.
ReplyDeleteI think that scanning for diseases is also a perfectly normal development for people to go through. Through the past couple videos and in class we've looked at the human body, and it is EASY to determine that it is no longer 'natural' or 'normal'. People change themselves and make alterations all of the time. People just always get hyper sensitive when it comes to children. People already have normalized circumcision for males in our culture because of religious reasons. Anyone see a little bit of discrepancy when it is completely accepted to mutilate your son's genitalia 'without their permission', and considered taboo to change their eye color to blue when they can't feel it? Should people really lose or gain these rights once they are born?
When I saw this video first I have been shocked by it. It seems like we are making our toys instead of a baby. How can one man have been designed even before he was born? It makes me think about the situation of China. Actually in China the children have been educated like a machine. It is just like the new technology introduced in the video. Our younger generation will be making as their parents’ thought. They even can not grow naturally.
ReplyDeleteNot matter this will be forbidden by the law or not, it will lead human lose their nature. I don’t think this technology will become something inevitable for human. Cause it takes the free will of growing for our younger generation. In Japan, people likes to rope the tree to make it grow to the direction which the gardeners want them to. I believe plant knows how to grow and I also believe this is suitable for human.