Designer babies of the future

[Darren]

But there's exactly the point: What is 'fundamentally'? What is really the main reason of your behaviour? Nature or nurture? I think we need to do a lot more research before we can actually make bold statements such as saying we change how someone fundamentally is by switching some genes on/off.

Fundamentally changing someone = Making irreparable changes

Behavioral patterns can be influenced, genes as I am sure you'll know are a hell of a lot harder.

I'm not immediately saying this is the way to go, but compare it to our current way of life:
Some of us get all kinds of plastic surgery to look better, since we're simply living in a day and age where looks matter. Others don't because they feel like that's not who they are. And I respect that, and sort of would feel like that too, but what if you're already born that way anyway? Then the good looks is already a part of who you are, so it's not an issue!

This is a choice made by the individual concerned in an informed manner, gene changes made by parents are not the decision of the recipient having to face those changes.

Some of us are depressed, or have constant headaches, or are severely aggressive by nature. So we take a load of pills against this. But what if we can save people the trouble of taking these pills by solving the problem in the genes before the child even gets born? Just saves a lot of hassle. Granted, the pharmaceutical industry will hate you for it, but who cares.

This is an area I see a possible benefit in (helping medical science), I do however urge caution & I must add again, if you can't foresee the possible consequences, don't take the actions.

Now I'm not in favour of meddling with the complete collection of a genes a child has, because that would probably cause complete generations of almost identical children. Like you said, beauty is subjective, and when I talk to friends about the looks of a girl I always get reminded of that. I can think of a girl as absolutely gorgeous, a friend of mine can think of her as so-so. But taking the best of what the mother and the father have to offer...* Hmm, doesn't sound that bad. You see, in the belly of the mother it's more or less a matter of chance which sperm cell ends up in the egg anyway. So in that way, you'd still have original children, but without the issues on the inside or outside that almost anyone finds annoying/problematic (and denying that there are certain features in your looks or behaviour that nobody finds appealing might be very idealistic, but also quite ignorant of reality).

It's all just a way of looking at things...

*for clarification, read post #2

What needs to be clarified is the difference between medical issues affecting health, and physical appearance changes for purely cosmetic preferences. I am favour in changing the former but not the latter.

I strongly believe that parents shouldn't be granted the power to make changes on matters of taste or preference.