Choosing Perfection: This Or That?

No parent would want their kids to grow up as louts or terrible children who would go from one house to another, stealing different things. No parent would want their kids to be used as a bad example. Growing up, there were times when my parents would use other street kids as an example. They'd say, “You see how this kid is disturbing the neighborhood, don’t be like him and avoid playing with him.” Every parent wants their kids to be a good example. I envision building a home and having intelligent, smart and thoughtful kids. Every parent wants good and healthy children, but the big question is; since we are not directly in charge of giving our kids the desired genes and traits, what can we do to achieve the perfect child? What can we do to modify our children and make them perfect?

For today’s Hive Learners’ prompt, the community asks if it would be a great idea for parents to modify the genes of their babies before they are born. Imagine living in a world where parents can pick the desired traits for their kids. Maybe all they would have to do is go to the hospital and have an ultrasound scan, then the doctor would tell them what traits and genes the child would likely have, and ask what traits they would like to modify or add. With a smile on their face, the parents would carefully consider and pick the desired traits. The mother might want the child to be caring, loving and thoughtful, while the father might want the child to be good at playing sports, intelligent and smart. What do you think about this? Is it ethical or not?

When I first read this topic, I thought to myself that this isn't right. However, on the surface level, it doesn't seem like a totally bad idea. Growing up, the family directly opposite ours had children with sickle cell disease. Before they moved into our neighborhood, they had lost two children to sickle cell disease and when they moved to our neighborhood, they were left with two. Every now and then, they would rush their kids to the hospital. The older one was a little strong, but the younger one fell sick very often. The parents would get sudden calls from school teachers and before you know it, they would rush to pick up their kids and take them to the hospital. Eventually, the younger kid died. After many years, the last child also died. It was then they decided to go separate ways. Do you think it would have been better if the parents could have done something about it before they were born? If the parents of those children had the chance to carefully select the genes and traits they wanted them to have, I'm sure they would erase all illnesses, disabilities and traits.

Similarly, there are many children out there who are not doing well academically. Every now and then, they receive complaints from school about how their children are performing poorly. Definitely, the parents would wish their children were brilliant. No one wants a child who struggles academically. However, would it be a good idea if they could choose the desired traits before their children were born?

In my opinion, human beings are not perfect. Maybe other species are perfect, but human beings are far from being perfect. If parents are not perfect, how will they make perfect babies? Our imperfections are what makes us perfect and unique. Striping this would totally change who we are. As I mentioned above, our creator is in charge of children and whenever He gives us one, He definitely knows what he is doing. Children are not born perfect, and it is up to us to build them to our desired “taste” and values. If you want a child that is brilliant, then start teaching them young. Give them the best homeschooling teachers and quality education. If you want a child that is good at sport, enroll them in a sports academy when they are young. Our creator has given us children who are open to learning and mimicking what they see and hear, it is up to parents to build and shape them however they want.

Recently, one of my lecturers told us that technology, through a method, now allows AS and AS couples to select embryos that are not SS before pregnancy. I don’t know how it works, but the method is called Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) combined with In Vitro Fertilization (IVF). You can read more about it on the internet. In my opinion, when it comes to the baby’s health, it would be a good idea if parents could do something about it.

Images in this post are mine.

Thanks for reading.