Credits: Yahoo.com
In a hidden laboratory in San Francisco, some of the most famous names and powerful corporations in Silicon Valley are privately experimenting to create “perfect” babies. Supported by Sam Altman (CEO of OpenAI) and Brian Armstrong (founder of Coinbase), a startup called Preventive is investigating the use of gene editing technology to cure diseases and potentially improve aspects like intelligence or physical characteristics.
The lab is employing a wide range of sophisticated techniques including CRISPR-Cas9 technology to edit embryos before they are born, and selecting the “best” genes to produce babies that are healthier, smarter, and perhaps taller or stronger. While there’s an argument to be made for preventing suffering (at least that’s what they say), the truth is that the startup is working to create perfect human beings before they ever have the chance to live. According to the WSJ, a couple would have already requested informations to "buy" their perfect baby.
While it sounds like a plot from a science fiction movie, this is happening now. Tech elites (and their families) are using these gene editing technologies to “perfect” modern babies and children. However, where do we draw line? Can we be sure this is about health considerations or are we getting into the territory of design, as in how we would design a particular product? And, who gets to decided what is a “perfect” and "worthy" person?
Genetic engineering is already here, and it’s going to be a lot more nuanced than this.
References :
https://www.wsj.com/tech/biotech/genetically-engineered-babies-tech-billionaires-6779efc8?ut
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The technology is not there yet. Yes, you can edit genes with CRISPR/cas, but there are still massive side effects to be expected. Those babies won´t be "healthier" until years of research and follow up observations have been done. A couple who orders now, pays a lot to raise guinea pigs later. Those new money elite people in silicon valley have the mindset that they can pay all with money, but it is not that easy.
You are right, but the people involved in this probably can't care less of the "collateral" effects and the "discarded" persons that will come out from their experiments, until they have reached their final goal