How is a designer baby created?
• An embryo is created by in-vitro fertilization (IVF) • A single cell is removed from that embryo within the first 5 days of its creation • The cell is genetically tested • The parents decide whether to discard the embryo or implant it in the mother’s womb This genetic selection of embryos is called pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). There are a number of reasons parents may choose to select an embryo in this way: • To screen for diseases such as Huntingdon’s disease and cystic fibrosis or genetic conditions such as Down’s syndrome • To create a healthy baby to treat a sick sibling • To select the sex of a future child (this is illegal in the UK) –> Case study In 2002, a British couple, Michelle and Jayson Whitaker, sought permission from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to genetically select an embryo which would be a near perfect match to their four year old son Charlie who had a life threatening blood disorder. The HFEA refused permission (although th
