Question

fl25 bio 1111 - va2 - principles of biology lab i
should we design our babies?
\would you like a blue - eyed or a brown - eyed baby? is alzheimer’s in your family? we can screen for that. and obesity? we’ll see what we can do.\ in the not - too - distant future, doctors might routinely ask such questions of expectant parents. they might even alter the genes of a developing fetus and create, in effect, custom - made babies. but should they?
like no other species on earth, we humans can influence what genes and traits are passed on to future generations -- and thereby impact the course of our evolution. will our power to manipulate human heredity lead us down a dangerous path?
explore what the future may hold, and ask yourself...
. do the benefits of new genetic tools outweigh the risks?
. birth control already influences how couples control their reproduction and heredity. will new techniques to screen for and alter genes be a radical shift?
. what if a new era of genetic testing allows parents to spare their children the suffering of diseases and early death?

Explanation:

This text explores ethical, scientific, and social - implications of gene - manipulation in human reproduction. It considers the power to influence heredity, potential benefits like disease prevention, and risks of new genetic tools.

Answer:

The questions raised prompt reflection on the complex issues surrounding human genetic engineering and its impact on reproduction, heredity, and evolution.