“Designer babies” refers to children who are genetically modified to select specific traits or eliminate the risk of genetic diseases. Despite it’s potential gains, biologically engineered babies raises many ethical concerns.

• The current state of technology or knowledge to modify genes is not advanced enough to ensure that the changes made to an organism’s DNA are safe and precise. This can result in unintended consequences, such as mutations or alterations to other genes, which may have harmful effects on their physical and psychological health in the long run.

• It raises the question of social inequality as such futuristic technology is most likely to be available to the wealthy creating a new genetic divide between the rich and poor.

• Genetic engineering could give rise to commodification of human life, where children are seen as products to be designed and purchased.

• From a philosophical standpoint, it can raise fundamental questions about human dignity and identity regarding what it means to human.

• Moreover, genetic engineering can create controversial debate regarding autonomy and consent, similar to those surrounding abortion rights. Further, the legalisation of designer babies in some countries and its ban in others could lead to legal implications and conflicts as well as implications in the global health care, research and human rights.

• They raises the possibility of eugenic practices if certain characteristics or traits starts to be deemed as undesirable or failure, leading to discrimination as well as lack of diversity.

It is crucial that scientists, government and the people alike engane in debates and discussions surrounding genetic engineering as they continue to evolve and become more accessible.