Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


5

Critics Blast 'Designer Baby' Clinic

LA Doc offers defect-screening technique to pick eye color

Share

(Newser) – The founders of an embryo technology that identifies birth defects are furious that a leading Los Angeles fertility clinic is using their discovery to enable couples to choose baby traits like hair and eye color. The role of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis—which identifies thousands of characteristics in a three-day embryo—was intended to help screen out debilitating conditions, not create $18,000 "designer babies," they tell the Telegraph.

"I'm totally against this," said one of the scientists. "My goal is to screen embryos to help couples have healthy babies free of genetic diseases. Traits are not diseases." But the head of the fertility clinic, which already offers gender selection, calls the "cosmetic medicine" breakthrough "incredibly" exciting. "I live in LA and everyone here wants to have a straight nose and high cheekbones," he said.

New technology allows would-be parents to screen embryos for physical traits.
New technology allows would-be parents to screen embryos for physical traits.   (Shutter stock)
"We cannot escape the fact that science is moving forward," said a fertility doctor offering his clients trait selection among embryos.   (Shutter stock)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
CNN reports on the clinic that promises to provide trait selection to parents. The institute already offers gender selection.   (CNN Video)

View larger videos >>
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next »

It's ridiculous and irresponsible. There are thousands of desperate couples who have no hope without this technology, and here we are talking about this." - Mark Hughes, one of the fathers of pre-implantation genetic diagnosis

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.20.09
The Health-Care Wars Have Just Begun
11.19.09
Sarah Palin Deserves Some More Attention
5 comments
VIEWING:
 
Chudluv
Mar 2, 09 2:51 AM CST
Here comes "Gattaca" the movie about genetic designer babie's... Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
proxieme2
Mar 2, 09 4:14 AM CST
Wow. >>But the head of the fertility clinic, which already offers gender selection, calls the "cosmetic medicine" breakthrough "incredibly" exciting. "I live in LA and everyone here wants to have a straight nose and high cheekbones," he said. <<< Are we sure this isn't an Onion article? I mean, really? WTF?!? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Reader9713228
Mar 2, 09 9:11 AM CST
Yes indeed, I want a blond-hair, blue-eyed boy. I also want any criminal predisposition extracted. A straight nose and high cheek bones would be nice. Could you screen for any mental disorders too because nobody wants that. You better screen for me a mate as well because no one will be good enough for mom and dad. LOL Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Laugh
Mar 3, 09 2:05 AM CST
If it can be done, it will be, because that's the same as picking a marriage partner: a person who has charcteristics/traits you want to see in your children eg. a sense of humor or tallness. This is a variation on an age old theme. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
radnip
Mar 3, 09 5:23 AM CST
Did anyone seriously think this was NOT going to happen? Does anyone really think that right now someone is trying to clone a dinosaur? Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

20 Stories

(AP) - The biological parents of a baby boy born to a woman implanted with the wrong embryo say they will remain "eternally grateful" for her decision to turn the baby over to them. The Toledo woman gave birth to a health baby boy this week after a fertility clinic mistakenly... More »

MORE ABOUT:
baby • embryo • birth • fertility clinic

Healthy Baby Born 22 Years After Dad's Sperm Frozen

Former teen leukemia patient sets record

Apr 14, 09 11:34 AM CDT
(Newser) - A North Carolina man had his sperm frozen when he was 16, before leukemia treatment rendered him sterile. A record 22 years later, Chris Biblis and his wife conceived a daughter—and now she’s been born healthy, the Times of London reports. “From my life being saved to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
sperm • in vitro fertilization • baby • sterilization • cryogenics

(Newser) - Nadya Suleman became a national sensation this week, receiving death threats and a getting the business end of critical interview with her own mother, but she says she’s doing just fine. "I'm OK, and the babies are good," she told Us Weekly reporters today outside her home.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
in vitro fertilization • mothers • baby • fertility treatment • infants • fertility clinic • multiple births • octuplets • Nadya Suleman

20 Stories


US couples want to select traits
LifeSiteNews.com

What will happen to race?
BlackVoices

Baby selection is already happening
Mom Logic


Science & Health 
TwitterFollow @NewserScience on Twitter

 
medical breakthrough • in vitro fertilization • baby • embryo • genetic alteration

from our news partners