People aspire to have babies with blue eyes and blonde hair. Such a design does not require cutting edge technology. Sperm banks promise such babies, with a declaration attested by desirous parents. An LA clinic promised through IVF a chosen complexion, hair and eye colors of babies. The embryos were examined for the desired traits. Chinese scientist Hi Jiankui employed gene editing to make designer babies in 2018, and was sentenced to a three-year prison. He is liberated how and is more than welcome by US investors. Such designer babies are not real-world — they resemble architecture that is Goethic or Mughal in modern times. Bernard Shaw came across a model who wanted their baby to have the intellect of Shaw and her looks, but Shaw reminded her that the baby may her brains and his looks.
However, these days such tinkering can be used for a better objective. Eight babies in UK have three parents each — Papa, Mom-I and Mom II. Mom II will remain anonymous, and a baby would not look like her. She carries 0.1 per cent of genetic DNA, i.e. 1 in 1000 parts. However, this small genetic material is essential for baby’s survival. In fact, it is called ‘mitochondrial replacement’ that prevents mitochondrial disease that affects 1 in 5000 babies.
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