[iliketofish]

If technology advances and the ban on human genetic engineering is lifted, would you consider picking and choosing genes for your offspring?

From wiki:

"Human genetic engineering means that some part of the genes or DNA of a person are changed. It is possible that through engineering, people could be given more arms, bigger brains or other structural alterations if desired. A more common type of change would be finding the genes of extraordinary people, such as those for intelligence, stamina, longevity, and incorporating those in embryos. Human genetic engineering holds the promise of being able to cure diseases and increasing the immunity of people to viruses. An example of such a disease is cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects lungs and other organs.

Researchers are currently trying to map out and assign genes to different body functions or disease. When the genes or DNA sequence responsible for a disease is found, theoretically gene therapy should be able to fix the disease and eliminate it permanently. However, with the complexity of interaction between genes and gene triggers, gene research is currently in its infancy. Computer modeling and expression technology could be used in the future to create people from scratch. This would work by taking existing DNA knowledge and inserting DNA of "superior" body expressions from people, such as a bigger heart, stronger muscles, etc and implanting this within an egg to be inserted into a female womb.

The possibilities of physical changes are endless. Strength, speed, endurance and so on can be enhanced. The baby can be made taller, more beautiful, the changes possible are really up to the imagination, and the ability of the techniques employed by future gene manipulators. Certain people have been identified with extraordinary physical abilities, (such as athletes, geniuses, physical and mental event record holders) and their genes could be identified and replaced into the target embryo. There is also the possibility that science will advance so much that people will create genes not identified in nature or people and implant those in the human body."

[LEGALEAGLE]

You mean like *gasp* Gattaca...

[salmanjafri]

Originally Posted by iliketofish

would you consider picking and choosing genes for your offspring?

I'd consider it if certain genetic disease could be prevented.

[the_only_one]

...decent looking parents will produce decent looking offspring inshaAllah, so there's no need in that department. However if there's any scientific evidence that proves personality traits like procrastination has genetical roots to it, then i'll def. consider GE. i don't want the kids to inherit this personality trait at any cost.

Allah Knows best.