Designer Babies?

The New York Daily News ran a story yesterday that certainly is going to get people talking. A fertility doctor that has already been giving couples the ability to choose the gender of their child is now claiming that, within six months, he will be able to offer couples the ability to choose much more, including hair, eye and even skin color.

Dr. Jeff Steinberg was among those to create the first test-tube baby back in 1977 (she was born in '78). He admits that this new technology won't be 100% accurate but says that "genetic health is the wave of the future", which causes us to ask the question, how is hair, eye or skin color related to genetic health? Sounds more like going to the mall and visiting Build-A-Bear. "I'll take the girl with blond hair and blue eyes and naturally tan skin, please, with the cheerleader outfit and the pocket dog." The whole notion just seems a little odd to me. Isn't part of the joy of having a child in having one that is wholly unique?

USC professor Professor Alexander Capron probably said it best. When responding to Steinberg's claims, he said, "The notion of unconditional love and support - which is assumed to be what parents owe their children - is totally undermined here." As a parent to three beautiful, but physically very different, children, I would have to agree. While every pregnancy is unique and precious just as it is, so should every child be.