The Search for a Perfect Baby

In biology last year, our class watched a movie called GATTACA. It dealt with a utopian society that genetically modified almost everyone and where a naturally conceived child was a rarity. The genetically imperfect were forced to work in the lowest levels of society. For most students this movie was a way to get out of daily homework. For me, the movie revealed a lot about other people and their ideals. From my perspective as someone with birth defects, it was eye-opening to see that people fear them so much that they would be willing to change someone’s DNA to prevent them, and push those who do have defects to the bottom of society. After the movie, our teacher asked who would genetically modify their child. It was shocking to see that it was about a 50-50 split. Why would someone ever genetically modify their child?One reason in favor of genetic modification was that people want to make sure that they can provide for their child’s needs. While it could be helpful to know if your child will need extra care before they are born, there are some things that you just cannot catch. Many problems that could happen cannot be identified  before birth. Genetic modification sets false expectations for parents, since some defects will not be known until they are brought into the world, or even years later. Another argument in favor of genetic modification that was really concerning was “I want to provide a better life for my child.” Everyone would probably agree that our experiences shape who we are. For those of us born with defects, that is a huge part of who we are today. By taking away such a vital part of our identity, you are taking away our individual passions and our view of the world. In the future, it is possible that parents will be able to choose certain traits for their children, such as being more muscular because the parents want their child to be a starting quarterback. It is one thing to genetically modify plants to increase food supply, but to genetically modify people? And to do so for the parents’ dream child? If genetic modification continues, what will it do to the child? It has been found in studies that creating a desirable trait, such as improved memory, could potentially increase undesirable traits, such as sensitivity to pain. By genetically modifying our children, we are not giving them a chance to be themselves, instead substituting our own desires for who they were meant to be. My parents have said before that they wouldn’t want their child to have defects; that’s never a thing a parent wants. However, they have seen that it has made me stronger and given me a different outlook on life. I cannot begin to articulate the impact that my differences have had on me because I wouldn’t be myself if I didn’t have them. I do know that my defects have made me want to raise more awareness for lesser known genetic and birth defects, something I probably would not have done otherwise. Even though it was not the most desirable situation, they do not regret me being born the way I was because otherwise I wouldn’t be me.