Human Cloning Beckons : American Scientist creates the First set of Genetic modified babies
Genetic modified babies are also known as "designer babies".They are designer babies indeed because their genetic make up has been artificially selected through a combination of both genetic engineering and in-vitro fertilization, to ensure the presence or absence of particular genes and characteristics. The technical capacity to carry out this have been available since 1980, but it has never been carried out until recently when controversial American Embryologist, Jacques Cohen took the entire world of science by suprise,He recently lead a team of scientist that created 30 healthy babies after a series of experiments in the United states. So far, two of the babies have been tested and have been found to contain genes from three 'parents'. Fifteen of the children were born in the past three years as a result of one experimental programme at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science of St Barnabas in New Jersey. The babies were born to women who had problems conceiving. Extra genes from a female donor were inserted into their eggs before they were fertilised in an attempt to enable them to conceive. Genetic fingerprint tests on two one-year- old children confirm that they have inherited DNA from three adults --two women and one man. The fact that the children have inherited the extra genes and incorporated them into their 'germline' means that they will, in turn, be able to pass them on to their own offspring.controversy.Genetic modification has been a subject of furious controversies over the past decades.Libertarians, liberal technophiles and transhumanist believes that it is imperative to improve the society by improving the health, Intelligence and physical capabilities of individuals.Opponents of the experiment oppose experimenting with human embryo because of the risk of abortion which is an inevitable consequence of such experiments, some opponents also believe it could lead to the creation of Super Humans that would look down on other humans without genetic enhancement.Those were the various contrasting school of thoughts. What is however important to us now is that "the world has now welcomed the latest form of humans and they were rolled out from the baby factory of Professor Jacques Cohen". Science enthusiast must also be aware that this great feat may as well usher us to the most incredible broadway of biological sciences, which is the creation of human clones. This was hinted by Jacques, when he said last year that his expertise will allow him clone children. " It will be an afternoon work for one of my students, he said. Adding that he had been approached by 3 individuals wishing to clone children but turned down their requests". .....It might just be a matter of time before we have super humans descending on our planet earth! !! courtesy of far reaching scientific exploits.
