If you're not exactly sure on what this issue is really about, here is an article from the Stanford Review listing some arguments for and against.

As it stands right now, I agree with genetic modification to an extent. In my opinion, doctors should limit these procedures to only eliminate prenatal defects like Down Syndrome, and eventually autism. However, changing your child's natural appearance, such as their eye and hair color, height, and personality traits should be off-limits. To me, doing so is unethical, immoral, and just seems like we're messing too much with mother nature.

As it stands right now, I agree with genetic modification to an extent. In my opinion, doctors should limit these procedures to only eliminate prenatal defects like Down Syndrome, and eventually autism. However, changing your child's natural appearance, such as their eye and hair color, height, and personality traits should be off-limits. To me, doing so is unethical, immoral, and just seems like we're messing too much with mother nature.

^^
pretty much my opinion on the subject.

"Scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could that they didn't stop to think if they should."

There are already places where you can select eye color, gender, etc.

I would do it because I like to know what I'm getting.

But some, like myself, would argue that that interferes too much with nature.

"I never asked for this."

First, genetic engineering limits children’s autonomy to shape their own destinies. Writer Dinesh D’Souza articulates this position in a 2001 National Review Online article: β€œIf parents are able to remake a child’s genetic makeup, they are in a sense writing the genetic instructions that shape his entire life. If my parents give me blue eyes instead of brown eyes, if they make me tall instead of medium height, if they choose a passive over an aggressive personality, their choices will have a direct, lifelong effect on me.” In other words, genetic enhancement is immoral because it artificially molds people’s lives, often pointing their destinies in directions that they themselves would not freely choose. Therefore, it represents a fundamental violation of their rights as human beings.

Well that's an utterly retarded argument so I won't even address it.

Second, some fear that genetic engineering will lead to eugenics [. . .] [Prenatal] testing, combined with abortion-on-demand, has made people with Down syndrome an endangered population…This utilitarian view of life inevitably leads us exactly where the Nazis were creating a master race.

Again, fucking retarded.

A third argument is that genetic engineering will lead to vast social inequalities.

This is essentially the same as the first argument in that it ignores the fact this already happens. People with certain genetic predispositions because insanely more likely to end up in prison or dead. I agree that this could exacerbate the problem, but I'm sure it's no reason to just completely stifle the practice.

Quote from: Dustin xLilD on January 09, 2015, 12:57:00 PM

Unnatural.

Why should we abort fetuses with Down Syndrome when there is an option to remove the defect and allow the child to have a life?

a coat hanger is much cheaper


For real though the "unnatural" argument doesn't make sense to me. We're natural creatures using resources gathered from nature and information gained from studying nature to do this. What's not natural about that?

In all seriousness though I'm all for it, arguments about it being unnatural or the same as eugenics are total bunk since natural gene distribution is already random and unequal to begin with.

I only support it if the genetic modifications help people. Vain idiots shouldn't be allowed to genetically modify their children.

Your avatar always makes me smile :^)

height

Lets say being short ran in your family and the tallest people in it are lucky if they reach 5ft. Wouldn't you want the ability to get rid of that defect by being able to remove that gene or getting rid of it?

personality traits.

If you were able to wouldn't you want to remove the trait that causes your kid to be anti-social or hostile?