Engineering designer babies: Is it finally possible to conceive the perfect child?

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  Quantumrun Foresight
• November 2, 2021

Once considered science fiction, gene editing is now being brought to reality by companies offering unprecedented possibilities in disease prediction and human optimization. However, the growing prevalence of gene editing services raises significant ethical issues, such as access disparities due to high costs and potential risk from unregulated practices. These developments could radically redefine healthcare, worsen socio-economic divides, and introduce new challenges for regulation.

Engineering designer babies context

For generations, the concept of a world without disease, where genetic editing results in ideal human specimens, has been fodder for science fiction narratives. One can easily recall the cinematic universe of "Gattaca," where genetic perfection was a harsh determinant of social status. However, this seemingly futuristic scenario is beginning to find its footing in today's reality. Pioneering this move is a start-up based in California, Orchid Biosciences, which is working to transform what was once imaginative speculation into a tangible possibility.

Orchid Biosciences has claimed to develop an innovative method for predicting the likelihood of a genome carrying certain diseases, such as diabetes and cancer. This method involves the use of polygenic scores, a measure that uses the weighted average of all known gene contributions to provide such forecasts. Not only does this system apply to potential disease predictions, but it can also foresee certain physical traits like height and weight. This feature suggests that the company is venturing beyond just disease prevention and into the realm of potential human optimization.

In what the firm terms as "embryo prioritization," Orchid is offering its services to couples undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF). This process assists these couples in selecting the best possible embryo for implantation, enhancing the chances of a healthy offspring. The implications of this trend could be monumental for society, potentially redefining our understanding of healthcare, reproduction, and human potential.

Disruptive impact

With gene editing services becoming increasingly prevalent, ethical considerations around this technology are inevitably escalating. Among these concerns is the lack of regulations for gene editing practices, a field still considered to be underdeveloped by the World Health Organization (WHO). This lack of regulations leaves room for amateur companies to offer cheap services without proven expertise, potentially putting individuals at unnecessary risk. Furthermore, despite the promising potential of polygenic scoring, some scientists caution that this method is an educated guess at best, presenting the possibility of inaccurate predictions and misinterpretations.

Gene editing also brings up broader societal issues. Among them is the question of access to this new breed of healthcare. If only affluent families can afford gene editing services, it raises a critical ethical dilemma: if a child develops certain diseases that could have been preempted by gene editing, could this be considered negligence on the part of the parents? More pressing is the concern that this might render the child ineligible for certain healthcare or insurance services in the future, leading to greater health disparities.

Moreover, the advent of gene editing could potentially worsen existing wealth gaps. Considering the high costs associated with these services, the technology could initially be exclusive to the wealthy. The concept of "designer babies" could result in a division of society, not just economically but also biologically, where the well-off not only have better resources but also better genetic predispositions.

Implications of engineering designer babies 

Wider implications of engineering designer babies may include:

• Human reproductive services such as IVFs potentially offering gene editing to ensure higher success of producing healthy babies. (Then, later, genetically superhuman babies.)


• Healthcare insurance providers considering expanding their offerings to accommodate gene editing services.


• Pediatricians specializing in or retraining to handle genetically engineered children. 


• New legislation that prevents various forms of discrimination against or in favor of genetically enhanced citizens. 


• The expansion of genetic editing technologies inspiring a greater influx of capital and talent into biotechnology sectors, fostering innovation and creating high-skilled job opportunities.


• Widespread use of gene editing leading to a significant reduction in the prevalence of certain genetic diseases, improving overall societal health and potentially reducing healthcare costs in the long term.


• Personalized medicine that allows for treatments to be tailored to an individual's unique genetic makeup, improving effectiveness and reducing side-effects.


• The commodification of human life, with societal value being placed on 'desirable' genetic traits, leading to a new form of discrimination.


• Unregulated or poorly regulated gene editing leading to unforeseen environmental implications, such as disrupting biodiversity, if this technology extends beyond humans to alter plant, animal, or microbial genomes.

Questions to comment on

• Would you consider having genetically edited or designed children? Why or why not?


• What do you think are the possible challenges of raising genetically engineered children?