​Build-A-Baby

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Morgan A. (Oxford, OH)

The Perfect Catastrophe

To those who are concerned about the devestating effects that this technology may have for our future, I share your fear. My name is Morgan Amigo and I am currently an undergraudate student at Miami University in Oxford, OH. As someone who considers themself to be a genetic enthusiast, I feel it is my civic duty to provide the counter argument to companies like Build-A-Baby. An important factor in the process of "designing babies" is the actual science and technology involved. Have you ever wondered why Build-A-Baby is the only company offering this luxury? The answer to that question lies deep within a file in the U.S. Patent Office. Build-A-Baby currently owns the exclusive rights to several patents regarding the human genome. Any experimentation, manipulation, or reproduction of these genetic sequences is illegal unless carried out by Build-A-Baby because they have a monopoly over the technology that allows parents to browse, choose, and implement "desirable" characteristics in their unborn children. If you still do not see anything wrong with this situation, let me develop my argument further. 

 

In the summer of 2013, Myriad Genetics, a strong competitor to Build-A-Baby, became the defendant in the case Molecular Pathology v. Myriad Genetics. Doctors, patients, and ethicists sued Myriad Genetics for use of seven of their genomic-related patents. Myriad Genetics held the exclsuive right to the BRCA1 and BRCA 2 mutations (THE mutations that cause hereditary breast cancer) since 2007. This means that any who had suffered from, was currently suffering, or would someday suffer would have to go through Myriad Genetics, and only Myriad Genetics, to get answers. Oh, and I forgot to mention that each test went for a couple thousand a pop. The problem with a  monopoly like Myriad Genetics' is that it allows one affluent company the ability to charge unreasonable amounts of money for their diagnostic tests. David Magnus, author of Who Owns Life?, says that these monopolizations cause "concerns about human life becoming a commercial product or sanctity." I believe he is right. Myriad Genetics did not patent their technologies to help people, rather for profit--pure, unregulated, profit. The human genome, the very basis of human life, became a means of monetary gain for the company. For this reason, the U.S. Supreme Court eradicated all seven patents pertaining to the BRCA mutations and opened the free market for other companies to research the genes. 

 

Research--another vital aspect to my argument. Currently, Build-A-Baby is the only company in the world who can design, contrive, and provide genetically corrected babies. They are also the only group of people who can experiment with the technologies that allow them to do so. Other scientists, geneticists, doctors, and students are unable to research anything that falls within the company's patents. Monopolies like these inhibit scientific advancement and hault the ability of scientists to correct and progress with data. No single research lab, institute, or company can even come close to Build-A-Baby's "designer baby" technology because they own the rights to all experimentation and trial. People need to see the dangers of such exclusion, for not only the scientific community for but the future of society as well. 

 

Lastly, let us consider the ethics of the situation. As someone who was raised under the Christian faith, I share some of the beliefs and morals as other Christians. However, my argument for the ethics of "designer babies" comes from a concern that I believe all of us should consider. Whether or not God is responsible for the way children turn out, it has ultimately been left to fate since the beginning of time. Suddenly the world has encountered a new technology that allows parents to choose, manipulate, and design their children, instead of leaving it to nature. The implications of such technology need to be considered. What will happen to the world if so many of its children are designed in test tubes? How will "perfect genes" affect the variation in our gene pool? What will happen to the workplace if certain individuals seem more fit for the job because of their altered genes? Not to mention, where do scientists and lawmakers draw to the line when it comes to designing human beings? With any new technology, there are bound to be cases of misuse. With this technology, I see a future of many, many misuses. 

 

So please, consider what I have written. If you are interested, read my full essay linked to the button above. It gives a more detailed description of genomic patenting and monopolization. While it does not mention Build-A-Baby, the principles are the same. It is important that everyone is informed about the dangers of patenting genes, not just scientists. Society has a role and a voice! Pass my information along and next time you hear someone talk about genomic pantenting or designer babies, remember this post.