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Would you genetically enhance your children?
Imagine this scenario: Tens years from now it will be possible to genetically modify our embryos to gain an average of 50 IQ points as adults. Assuming that the procedure is safe and legal, would you choose to perform it on your children, and why? If not, would you still stick to your decision once all your friends and neighbours were doing it?
Note: Assume that the modified genes would be passed on to future generations.
11 Answers
- zimbaLv 41 decade agoFavorite Answer
i dont like the idea however, if the majority of people were doing it, then their offspring would be superior and the people who didnt do it would probably not last long after a few generations.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
This only happens in sci-fi movies not in real life, and it wont happen 10 years from now. IQ is a score on a test, it doesn't really exist, & its not a genetically inherited characteristic. Theoretically at some time in the future it will be possible to genetically engineer people. But, what would happen is the parents genes would be replaced by genes created in a laboratory, with the assistance of machines. What would come out of the mothers womb would not be a human. To be human something must have defects, and plenty of them. Our instincts make us want to reproduce our own kind, therefore mothers of the future will not do this. Its an unwritten law that gives us a right to pass our defects on to the next generation. We have exercised this right for thousands of years and we will continue in the future. Dont worry about it.
Source(s): I'm only human, by the human league - 1 decade ago
Currently (and hopefully this won't change in the future), I abhor such "cosmetic" changes, no matter if it's safe, natural, and common. In my opinion, altering my future childrens' genetics to give them 50 I.Q. points is no better than killing a mentally retarded child just because they're... challenged. However, if my child has a potentially fatal disease, that would be different. If my children are surrounded by people or images of genetically "superior" people and feel in any way left out, I would try to the best of my ability explain my reasons for not cosmetically altering them.
As to if any of my friends, family, or neighbors decide to do it, though I would disagree with their decision (and probably try to persuade them not to do it), I would hope that they would understand my desicion not to.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
No. Your child could look like Dr Jeykll with the brains of a monkey. Genetics is tricky and subjective. It's like picking the numbers from the lottery. Cloning of humans is risky, they may look like the exact duplicate, but could become a serial killer. It's Not nice to Fool Around with Mother Nature.
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- 1 decade ago
No I wouldnt.I love my son just the way he is!The good AND not so good.No matter how safe it is.Children are a very special gift,given to us just the way they are.I think genetically engenering anything is a bad thing.
- 1 decade ago
Ya know? I have no idea, it'd probably be all Gattica-like though, so we'd have 'regular' people pretending to be 'modified'
honestly, I think I wouldn't stigma my child by not giving him a modification, orrr, I'd just teach them, a lot, and they'd be an awesome norm.
- rishelLv 44 years ago
the position have you ever been...do you opt on a tall lengthy leg attractiveness with tremendous breast and one which looks like you out of your ethnic team? this has been occurring for a lengthy time period the in hardship-free words differance is now genes are being sliced to make it take position...as for now people purely save on searching for that is purely not waiting for the streets...per chance next week
- P.A.M.Lv 51 decade ago
I learned a long time ago that it is not nice to try and change mother Nature. Let it be. Everytime we get involved with changing something we screw it up, let's not and live happily ever after.
- Anonymous1 decade ago
Don't mess with Momma Nature.