Designer Baby Project

 Update: My Biology class focused more on Bioethics than Designer babies.  Look for the Bioethics post for excerpts.

When I teach Biology, I include a unit on Bioethics. Recently, the Wall Street Journal posted an article,  More than a Million Embryos are in Frozen —hard to imagine.  One good  resource is The National Catholic Bioethics Center. One topic is Designer Babies.  Should couples design their own baby?  Our local  Co-op is Roman Catholic.  (We welcome every family; our perspective, though, is Roman Catholic.). What are the implications of designing your baby?  We look at IVF and embryo selection. But, we consult the Catholic Bishops for Church teachings.  One publication we use is Begotten, Not Made.  This publication explains Catholic teachings especially regarding IVF, which the Church opposes.  The kids will examine IVF, gene-based embryo selection, cloning, preimplantation genetic testing, polygenic risk scores,  CRISPR gene-editing, savior siblings, egg donation, and three parent techniques.  Every time we explore the topic of Designer Babies there are new developments with new ethical challenges, complete with sensational headlines.  My kids are going to work on the project in January and discuss the topic with their families in light of the teachings of the Catholic Church.  I’ll post good samples.  BTW, I send out a letter to the families about the project in advance.  Let’s tackle thorny issues in science!