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iplant iplant
 
M$3 January 09, 2009 03:49 PM

When and where will genetic engineering of children first become widely available?

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albanian albanian
 
 January 09, 2009 07:31 PM
If you mean genetic engineering for good health, I would bet on Israel. They have advanced science and medicine and the Jewish religion places health above other considerations. The predominately Christian and Islamic countries will be delayed by religious lobbies and leaders that insist prayer and religious doctrine are more important. Japan or Singapore might be runners up. I don't think there will be a particular when, rather different techniques will be introduced as they are developed to solve particular health problems. When it amounts to genetic engineering of children will be a subjective call by future historians.
If you mean genetic engineering for appearance, then I'd bet on the Japanese or Koreans, perhaps a generation later.
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nativenerd nativenerd
 
January 09, 2009 04:47 PM
I would argue that this is already there, or at least it's precursors(http://oba.od.nih.gov/rdna/rdna.html). They are already using gene therapy to treat many auto-immune diseases, with more being developed all the time.
Blindness: http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL016653620070501?pageNumber=1
Lung Cancer: http://www.newswise.com/p/articles/view/526526/
Cancer: http://www.cancer.gov/newscenter/pressreleases/MelanomaGeneTherapy
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/about/news/release/2006/3-gene-therapy.htm
Deafness: http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn7003

There is more coming with Parkinson's disease on the horizon: http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99993520

The big thing is that the FDA hasn't approved any for "sale" yet. There have been several setbacks, as in any science. A boy died, another pair developed a separate disease. But, the research continues, and the potential does outweigh many of the problems.

Even further than this, look at reproduction clinics. While they are far from the "Designer Baby" stage, they are able to filter out many genetic anomolies from the parents to ensure their new baby isn't born with down's syndrome for instance.

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offthedome offthedome
 
January 09, 2009 07:07 PM
Personally, I hope never.

But I think it will eventually become widely available. I predict it will happen in Latin America first, about 30 years from now, due to lack of regulation and some random leader thinking it is a good, moral alternative to eugenics.

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