Designer babies.
- Date:
- 1999
- Videos
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Documentary looking at whether genetically created superhumans will become a reality in the future. At an IVF clinic in the United States, couples can already pay $2,500 to choose the sex of their child. The basics of research into DNA structure and the Human Genome Project are explained. The process involved in Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) is shown, when checking for healthy embryos. Some scientists believe that health research may end up being used for cosmetic genetic choices. The programme looks at genetic engineering on animals, with the cloning of Dolly the sheep, and Polly, the first designer sheep. The risk of tampering with nature in this way is illustrated by disturbing footage of a pig with added growth hormone which went haywire. There is also a brief look at Eugenics, with the inference that 'designer babies' are a step towards creating a 'super rac'. The existence of identical twins seems to show that there can be no sure predictions of guarantees even with identical genes. The programme ends with the idea that if genetic engineering spreads to humans, we could eventually end up splitting into two breeds - designer/disease-free and 'normal'.
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