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Pssst! Wanna Buy a Designer Baby?

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Jack Kelly, Feb 22, 2007.

  1. Jack Kelly

    Jack Kelly New Member

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    Tonight on 'Nightline'
    Thursday, Feb. 22, 2007 —


    Buying a Baby?
    Tonight, a look at a new and controversial fertility treatment for couples who have run out of options. The Abraham Center of Life claims to be the world's first donor-created human embryo bank. Using sperm donors with PhD's and egg donor who are young and "attractive," the center offers an alternative for infertile women who want to experience a pregnancy and increase their odds of carrying a child to term. It may be cheaper than IVF or adoption, but experts say the practice comes perilously close not only to buying a baby, but to designing one for sale. ABC's JuJu Chang reports.


    Thought this one might be good for a post or two.

    Anything wrong with buying embryos "made" from good-looking, PhD.-caliber parents?
     
    #1 Jack Kelly, Feb 22, 2007
  2. galaxee

    galaxee mostly benevolent

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    yikes. another challenge to medical ethics...

    personally, i wouldn't want anything to do with it.

    and a phd is more a measure of bullheadedness than intelligence...
     
    #2 galaxee, Feb 22, 2007
  3. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    This has been going on for as long as there have been sperm banks. The only difference is now you get to choose the mother's genes, too.
     
    #3 Stev0, Feb 22, 2007
  4. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    How long until we can custom order whatever attributes we want over the net? 'Designer genes' takes on a whole new meaning.
     
    #4 hyo silver, Feb 22, 2007
  5. eagle33199

    eagle33199 Platinum Member

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    This has been going on for a lot longer than sperm banks... Individuals "custom design" their children's genes when they chose a mate. Darwin had it right for animals - survival of the fittest.

    When we started with IVF, it simply expanded the options for some people - Someone who maybe wasn't able to "hook up" with the town football star could still get his sperm.

    For me, the issue isn't in choosing the biological parents - It's in the fact that they're actually growing embryos for the procedure.
     
    #5 eagle33199, Feb 23, 2007
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