Imagine having the chance to change the way your future child looks before it's born, or how intelligent he/she could be? In the last few years, humans have been able to achieve this goal. A designer baby is a baby that has been genetically manipulated to have specific traits and made prone to different types of diseases. It is a process of genetic engineering or can be achieved through CRISPR (a segment of DNA containing short repetitions of base sequences, involved in the defense mechanisms of prokaryotic organisms to viruses).

Adam Nash is the first child to be created as a designer baby. Adam was conceived to donate cord blood to his sister, Molly, who was born with Fanconi Anaemia (a rare disease passed down through families (inherited) that mainly affects the bone marrow. It results in decreased production of all types of blood cells) and be free of the disease himself. After birth, he was able to donate cord blood and live. Today he is known as “the world's savior sibling” along with the first designer baby.

The creation and use of designer babies are still very controversial topics. Many experts agree with the use and many do not. Therefore many pros and cons.

One pro is a decreased chance of diseases. Genetic modification can also modify/reduce the chances of having diseases. With the modification, the immune system would have a higher chance to defend itself from the disease. Similarly, diseases running through a family is very common. The genetic could be modified so that the baby does not do not get the disease. If the baby does not get the disease then the next generation is saved from this disease.

Did you know that about 20 people die every day on average while waiting for their transplant? Over 100,000 people are currently waiting on a kidney, followed by 14,000 for a liver, and then about 4,000 for a heart. Designer babies could help us create a similar genetic profile in humanity which would make it easier to find matches should something go wrong with a person’s health.

 However, some people may argue that the technology is very new and complicated to use. Most of the genetic modification is done through the use of CRISPR. CRISPR itself is a new technology. In 2018, twins Lulu and Nana were modified as a fetus. According to MIT Technology, " "The answer is likely yes, it did affect their brains,” says Alcino J. Silva, a neurobiologist at the University of California, Los Angeles, whose lab uncovered a major new role for the CCR5 gene in memory and the brain’s ability to form new connections." Probability is that maybe complication may occur later during the twin's life.

Designer babies can have both positive and negative effects. It all depends on the opinion of parents and people. It still is a controversial topic but one day it might be accepted by the whole world.