"Designer babies are babies whose genetic makeup has been selected in order to eradicate a particular defect, or to ensure that a particular gene is present." (Oxford Dictionaries)
Gene therapy and gene manipulation has had an uproar in the past 15 years and has finally found ways to customize genetics of babies to make them athletic, handsome or free of disease before they are even born. Modification of the human genome has became such a huge topic that the Food & Drug Administration have been testing genetic manipulation techniques to "prevent mitochondrial disease from occuring in an offspring."
Inheritable Gene Modification:
"Inheritable genetic modification (IGM, also called germline engineering) means changing the genes passed on to future generations." (Center of Genetics and Society, Inheritable Gene Modification)
The benefits of letting parents genetically modify their child's genome would possibly lower risk of disease, leading to a healthier society and longer lifespan of the offsprings. It could also help reduce the number of mental and physical disabilities from birth. Although the pros are very convincing, there are also an equal number of disadvantages. A large issue that could arise from parents choosing their unborn babies to be free from disease or choosing them to be fertile would result in a quick change in population and could cause overpopulation in most areas without proper cleanliness or space such as some third world countries. It could also cause loss of balance in genders, such as some parents choosing genders of their babies to be male or female more than each other.
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