Designer Babies, Coming to a Doctor Near You

on February 19, 2009 at 3:11 PM

This perfect baby was made by

mom and dad

Hate red hair? Want your baby to have blue eyes? Hoping for a girl? There's a company in Los Angeles that's offering "a preselected choice of gender, eye color, hair color, and complexion" pending the availability of genetic tests.

As it turns out, these tests aren't available yet, but soon very soon, you'll likely be able to have the designer baby of your choice.

As this Slate article points out, there are a lot of trends that show we are heading in that direction:

1. Embryos are screened for quality and potential disease.

2. Screening is extending to traits that are not medically important (i.e., crossed eyes and other cosmetic conditions).

3. People are already engaging in sex selection—embryos of the wrong gender are tossed.

And there's more. But you get the idea.

One of the reasons I was so excited about having a baby with my husband was to see what kind of baby the two of us would create. What would she look like? So far it turns out she's got his bushy eyebrows, my chunky thighs, and her grandma's big cheeks. In other words, she's perfect in every way!

Would you choose your baby's eye color or hair color if you could? Why?

About the author Suzanne Murray

is the Parenting & Political editor at The Stir/Moms Matter 2012.

Filed Under: newborns

Comments (16)

gypsysmiles

on Feb 19, 2009 at 3:48 PM

That is disgusting, and wrong. I would absolutely not do that.

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RanaAurora

on Feb 19, 2009 at 4:10 PM

Fortunately, in the United States, we have some restrictions that prevent abuse of a lot of things. In order to do gender selection with embryos, you have to have a genetic disorder that only affects one gender, OR already have a child (some places require at least two) of one gender and be TRYING for the other gender. Also, the embryos that aren't used in this fortunately NOW can actually be used to help save lives.

As I see no medical benefit to eye color, hair color, or skin color, though, I think it's kind of crap. What next, breast size?

Addisynsmum

on Feb 19, 2009 at 5:52 PM

I think that's just disgusting. Child bearing is supposed to be one of the most natural things in the world!! I COMPLETELY agree with In vitro and other procedures where it's not medically possible for them to conceive. However, choosing a sex even is just TERRIBLE. I mean, I have a little girl now, and would love to have a boy, but if god gives me 10 healthy girls in a row, I'll enjoy and love every moment of it! As for picking eye color, etc... that's just TERRIBLY wrong. Our society is already causing girls AND boys to become anorexic, bulemic, depressed, suicidal, etc.. do we really want those children to feel worse?! I think every child is beautiful in their own way, and every parent should accept and love their child regardless.

Shame on Society!

sandraberke

on Feb 19, 2009 at 6:15 PM

i think this is wrong! wrong wrong wrong! the joy of having a babie is wondering what they willl look like when they come out, whats the fun if you already know! my favorite part of being pregnant was looking at the ultrasounds to find out what it was. this to me personally is something i would not do. but thats just me-

jham1211

on Feb 19, 2009 at 8:02 PM

i also would not partake in this for any reason. god gives you what he gives you.

SuperNonna

on Feb 19, 2009 at 9:02 PM

YUCK... this is so horrible wrong... throwing up

litlsuzzy

on Feb 19, 2009 at 9:52 PM

that's just plain creepy

simplyjaneen

on Feb 20, 2009 at 1:00 AM

I feel it is absolutely immoral. Go ahead and bash me if you want, that's how I feel. I feel that we are blessed with children by God and that includes everything that makes that child unique. When you start picking out what your child is going to look like and what sex, you're taking away from that. If you get a chance, listen to the song Fingerprints of God, there's a video on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fu6EjIkCWk

I know not everyone believes in God and so opinions will be different based on that but I do and I strongly believe that we all should be unique and be allowed to be unique and when you start messing with that, I mean where do you drawn the line? As far as I'm concerned, that's getting a little too close to what Hitler was trying to do, you know?

South Korea has only recently started discussing lifting the ban to tell parents the sex of their baby. It's been a ban because of the fact that girls are more likely to be aborted and that's in a country where abortion is illegal.