TED BODRUM COLLEGE / 8-C
Designer
Babies…
Elif Damla AKIL
Such an amazing phrase, isn’t it? I mean, designer babies! Just
think about it! Doesn’t it seem wonderful, to be able to just
edit a child as you wish? Well, even if it doesn’t to you, it must
have been to someone, because now we have a term called
‘designer babies’. Now, even though I do not support such a
thing, I have to admit, it is a good opportunity. Many children
can be saved from being affected by gender-related illnesses,
and we could save a lot of lives that deserve to live.
However, as I believe and understand, people ‘edit’, or ‘design’
their babies out of the free will. They go to the hospital and
say something along the lines of, ‘Excuse me, I would like to
change my daughter’s behaviour, appearance and maybe
even what ever she will like in the future.’
Doesn’t that look like a bit of a power abuse? Now, don’t get me
wrong, yes, I do believe this could save a lot of lives, but would
it? Changing what’s already going to be perfect? If there’s not
an illness involved, why mess with the genes?
Imagine, twelve years from now. One of the world’s first
designer babies. She was supposed to have brown eyes and
brown hair if everything went according to the laws of nature.
Instead, she has blue eyes and ginger hair. Imagine how she
feels. Imagine when she discovers she was designed. Imagine
when she discovers, she was not meant to be like that. That
has to hurt.
What I have been trying to tell is that it’s unnecessary. To mess
with what was going to be. To decide what wasn’t meant for
baby designers to decide. It hurts. They are brought to life, and
they are not normal.
I understand that some people out there support this, and
everything that this could bring. My question is, do these
people know everything about what this could bring? Do they
know what it could do to a child? Do they know it’s wrong?
Apart from what may happen to the child during and after the
process? Genes are no game, children could get some genetic
disease when they are tried to be made prettier!
People should love and accept their children. Any child, for
that matter. People should see them through, and appreciate
who they are, not how they look, or, how talented they are. For
example, a child should not be adored because they have blue
eyes, but because they are brave enough to tell you that they
love blue. People should not allow society to put pressure on
them to change or design their babies.
I would like to emphasize that this madness has to stop. We
should say no to designer babies, as long as they are not
‘designed’ to save them from some disease, probably related
to gender . We should love them, for what they are.