First, human genetic engineering must be defined to properly understand it. According to the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), Human Genetic Engineering (HGE) is a process by which scientists and medical professionals alter the genetic makeup, or DNA, in a living human cell (Clapper). Essentially, the idea is to fix any faulty genes a baby possesses before they are born. There are two approaches to HGE: somatic and germline. Somatic engineering targets specific genes in specific organs and tissues that do not affect the genes in the eggs or sperm. Somatic engineering does not alter the person’s genetic makeup, but it does treat and fix any issues that the person may possess. However, germline engineering differs greatly from somatic engineering because it alters the …show more content…
This changes the DNA makeup of the entire bloodline of the future family. The controversy begins exactly there for those who are anti-HGE—the altering of an entire family’s bloodline, as well as the costs of the procedure. “Designer Babies” is a common term in the field of bioethics that stems from the idea of human genetic engineering. Basically, the parents have the ability to choose the genetic makeup of their child. If they decided they wanted their baby to have crystal blue eyes with black hair and also be highly intelligent, they would go to the engineer and present their desires. The engineer would then change the babies DNA to fulfill those wishes. Therefore, the baby is custom made and then called a “Designer Baby”. These procedures are expected to surface within the next 20 years. We have seen similar