What would happen if we started to change babies DNA with biological engineering?

Specifically, what would happen if everyone started constructing babies with the same features? Such as tall, blue eyes, blonde hair etc. Could the genetic pool become so homogenous that children could start getting defects, like when two family members have a child? Or is DNA too expansive and complex for genetic engineering to make such an impact? 🤔

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SwarmSona · F

Well the hard part is getting into the baby's before they've developed enough. Without killing them. CRISPR helps but spreading it efficiently isn't that easy iirc. Even something like changing abit of DNA so that they don't have a certain birth defect isn't easy. So a full designer baby is quite a ways off.

It's not that it's too expansive it's that we don't know enough yet and don't have our process perfected

CountScrofula · 41-45, M

What she said.

hartfire

Most people would want to use their own genome to have babies who are genetically related to themselves - they would most likely only want to delete specific genetic defects.

Some narcissists might select for beauty and/or "superior" traits, but that would backfire in each generation because narcissists make appallingly damaging parents. The adult children tend to reject their parents' values and choose a different way of living.

The process will always be expensive, so only life-threatening or disabling conditions would ever get assistance from the public purse.
Other than that, only people with Kardashian wealth would ever be able to afford it.

Thus there would be zero risk of loss of genetic diversity.

Chaoshead · 22-25, M

@hartfire What if the process was cheap and accessible? (I realize this is impossible, but as a thought-experiment) and everyone used it to create "superior" traits.

Would it still have no impact?

hartfire

@Chaoshead Each set of parents would have different ideas about what "superior" traits they wanted.

For instance, footy fans would select for large size, excellent coordination, team spirit, and physical strength and agility; scientists and artists would select for intelligence, open-mindedness, objective clarity, and creativity; and psychologists would select for empathy.

If continued over several generations, this might lead to greater diversification and extremes of types.

But too much specialization could create dangers, because humans often need to be able to adapt to multiple big changes within one lifetime

ScrewThisImDone · 26-30, F

I have a feeling it could come to that if the practice were to become too widespread. Which is probably will, should it ever become available, since so many people are just that shallow.

whippersnapper

I think we first need to detect defective chromosomes and eliminate the reproduction of hereditary diseases.

Or put our finances into research for Parkinson's, Alzheimer disease etc

MrBrownstone · 46-50, M

There is a claim that 8 countries have been making plastic people since 1938.

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