The Future of Genetically Engineered Children [Infographic]

The rapid evolution of modern technology is something we take for granted. But does our willingness to allow this evolution extend to genetically engineered children? Each year in the US, 40,000 babies are conceived via assisted reproduction, and PGD (Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis) has been in use since the 90s. With PGD, parents can screen for any unwanted genetic traits, whether these traits are disease-related—cancer genes or blindness, for example—or cosmetic.

Using PGD for cosmetic reasons is a controversial issue. While it’s still allowed in the US, non-medical sex selection by way of PGD is illegal in Canada, the U.K., and Australia, among others. More than half of people surveyed said that “designing” babies for cosmetic reasons (height, intelligence) shouldn’t be allowed. The cost for the selection of physical traits in babies would not be easily available to everyone because of its high price, but who knows what could happen in the future?

The future of baby-making is still unclear, but one thing is certain: the possibilities are endless. To learn more about the future of genetically engineered baby-making, check out the infographic below presented by CheapNurseDegrees.com.

Source: The Future of Baby Making