cover image Babies by Design: The Ethics of Genetic Choice

Babies by Design: The Ethics of Genetic Choice

Ronald M. Green. Yale University Press, $26 (279pp) ISBN 978-0-300-12546-7

In his latest, Dartmouth College bioethicist Green (The Human Embryo Research Debates) embraces a vision of future parenthood bound to stir controversy, arguing that parents will, and should, give children the advantage of more ""attractive physical features."" Starting with the assumption that ""we are entering the era of directed human evolution,"" he suggests that coming methods of in vitro fertilization will allow parents to genetically pre-select babies, not only to eliminate diseases like cystic fibrosis, but to promote what he calls ""cosmetico-genomics."" Scenario in place, Green explores a number of racially-charged hypotheticals: ""Will dark-skinned African American parents choose to have lighter-skinned children?"" Will Jewish parents use genetic rhinoplasty to change a ""Jewish nose""? Will Asian-Americans ""westernize"" their children's eyes? Green answers that parents are right to reduce the unfair but very real social burdens facing their offspring, and dismisses objections as ""status quo bias."" Although he's peppered his argument with disclaimers that his vision would not reopen the door to the eugenics movements (the kind that underpinned Nazi Germany's genocidal master plan), readers may come away unconvinced; either way, this provoking book provides a rare, cogent look at the ""plusses"" of genetically enhanced offspring.