Slashdot Mirror
Designer Babies
Singularity Hub writes "The Fertility Institutes recently stunned the fertility community by being the first company to boldly offer couples the opportunity to screen their embryos not only for diseases and gender, but also for completely benign characteristics such as eye color, hair color, and complexion. The Fertility Institutes proudly claims this is just the tip of the iceberg, and plans to offer almost any conceivable customization as science makes them available. Even as couples from across the globe are flocking in droves to pay the company their life's savings for a custom baby, opponents are vilifying the company for shattering moral and ethical boundaries. Like it or not, the era of designer babies is officially here and there is no going back."
I'm sick and tired of these designer babies and their fancy jeans and handbags and watches. Enough with the materialism. They should learn early not to value such things so highly.
I like how the summary says that the "designer baby" era is here despite the fact that, hey, we can't actually customize babies yet.
Name your daughter "prostitute", and let me know how she fairs elementary and jr. high.
Names most definitely CAN play a VERY important role in a child's life.
I'm betting she'd be very popular.
Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
I don't know, it sounds like a good idea to me. We can start with simple things like eye and hair color, and hopefully move on to eliminating the genetics that cause obesity, stupidity, and depression.
Of course stupid obese depressed people are more susceptible to advertising and consumption in general... so when google buys out the fertility clinics, that will be the default selection... and the question to couples seeking fertility help is... well... do you want a baby or not?
We offer you a child with the eye and hair color of your choice at no charge... of course you'll have to accept that he'll buy everything in sight. Your IVF treatment was paid for by advertisers after all... no we don't offer a paid option without the ads.
If you don't like that, talk to Apple... they'll hook you up with one of their models -- of course they only have exactly 3 models, they'll engrave your name on it though; but that's the extent of personalization, they cost a premium, and this year its glossy silver hair on all of them. If you don't like it, tough...