Designer Babies: Good Idea?

“Designer Babies” is a term being used in the media to describe the change of characteristics for babies before birth. This is selecting and modifying the genes of the babies for desirable traits for what the parents choose. The big question that we face: is this acceptable?

Can you fill in the pieces?

Many scientists believe this process is acceptable for research. However, there has been controversy in the media. There are many people who stand against this because of ethical concerns. Although this process hasn’t been mastered yet, it will be a matter of time that scientists will be able to perform the procedure successfully. Many people believe is it wrong to modify humans as others believe it is acceptable. Society fears that it will be taken too far and eventually start choosing the traits for children.

I feel we should accept our child no matter what but this research would be able to get rid of diseases such as Down syndrome. However we can’t do any more than scan for diseases. This is PGD or Pre-implantation Genetic Diagnosis. PGD is done in embryos created through InVitro Fertilization, basically where an egg and sperm from the parents are taken to a lab and fertilized there. At that time it is implanted in the mother’s womb. During the period of PGD, the embryos are scanned for certain diseases. If today’s technology allows us to remove diseases, I think it is acceptable to have this.

Humorous comic

I agree that people believe it is wrong that we are choosing the traits for our babies making them perfect, rather than making them with our DNA. Designing a child for cosmetic purposes is wrong as many people would want a same child. Many races would be created causing discrimination. We should not be changing the child as we are getting a gift of life.

If this technology was created in the future, it would be abused on changing the cosmetic traits of their child. Of course they would make a perfect child to their eyes. I am for this research for the ability of removing certain diseases. However, I am not for this just to change my child’s cosmetic appearance. I would love my child for what it is. Many people are against this because it is a huge risk and waste of money. Currently, all this procedure does is that it allows us to prevent babies from diseases before pregnancy, and save lives.

References:

http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/in_vitro_fertilization/article_em.htm

http://www.bionetonline.org/english/content/db_cont1.htm

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/273415-overview

Photos I used:

http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/rjo0403l.jpg

http://www.scientificamerican.com/media/inline/regulate-designer-babies_1.jpg

Blogs I commented:
Patricia Relatado
Dora Lam

Save the Forest!

It is said that humans are the most invasive species in the world due to the way the media portrays our interaction with the change of environment and living things. It’s true we have done many activities that have destroyed and risked the lives of many species; however people around the world are progressing to take action to maintain the biodiversity of our ecosystems.



A general map of the Amazon biome



Let’s take the Amazon Rainforest for example. This rainforest covers an area of 6.7 km², surrounding areas in Brazil, Bolivia Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Guyana, and more. Within the last decade, at least 1,200 species of plants and vertebrates have been discovered within the Amazon vicinity. However, in the future years, the Amazon Rainforest could become extinct due to the needs of humanity.

Today, the agricultural business has been in growth for years and is still growing strong. Driven by demand from around the world, 19,000 km² of the rainforest was deforested between 2000 and 2007. All this deforestation has been converted into sugar cane fields, cattle ranches, timber plantations, soy farms, and more. Due to the booming agricultural business, the Amazon has been completely integrated into the global economy while also trying to meet economic demands.

What could happen to the Amazon Rainforest

Deforestation and illegal logging has affected the Amazon Rainforest to a high value. In the past 50 years, 17% of the Amazon forest has been lost because of this. There are many impacts of deforestation on the Amazon Rainforest. Social impacts are one of them. With deforestation, the benefit on natural resources will become very scarce towards the people that are in need of it. Aside from social impacts, the loss of biodiversity is also occurring. With deforestation in progress, many species would lose their habitant and can no longer reside in what is left. On a positive note, deforestation has dropped down 14% from August 2009 to July 2010. This small amount of percentage tells us that there is proof there can be hope into stopping all of the deforestation.

A WWF volunteer working at the Amazon Rainforest

So what are people doing around the world to help the Amazon Rainforest? Well, WWF is doing all it can to protect the Amazon conservation. In fact, WWF has a strong relationship with the Amazon Rainforest; they have been working there for more than 40 years. With the rapid rate of deforestation, they find objectives and solutions to stop this. WWF has come up with many objectives such as promoting a sustainable use of natural resources in order to provide incentives to maintain the natural habitant and consolidating a network of protected areas that represents the region’s biodiversity. With working with the World Bank, they’ve come up with 3 targets to their approach: improved implementation of existing protected area, new protected areas, and the certification of timber management.

Humans are an invasive species however we also help and sustain on saving our biodiversity, helping millions of species and creating a better earth. Humans can prevent deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest and turn the land into a better biodiversity.

References:
http://rainforests.mongabay.com/0803.htm

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/forests/amazon/

http://www.worldwildlife.org/what/wherewework/amazon/index.html

http://www.amazon-rainforest.org/destruction.html

http://www.rain-tree.com/facts.htm

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/amazon/

http://wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/where_we_work/amazon/problems/

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/climate/as-we-strive-for-zero-deforestation-rates-in-/blog/29246

Photos I used:

http://photos.mongabay.com/07/brazil/amazon_basin_map-max.jpg

http://www.celsias.co.nz/media/uploads/admin/Amazon.jpg

http://static.rainforestrescue.sky.com/assets/images/2010/10/11_jpg_1000x690_crop_q100.jpg

Blogs I commented:
Kyle Tran
Kim Abanador

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