Build-A-Baby: Scientists Stress that 'Designer Baby' Discussion Should Happen

Genetics studies are moving forward by leaps and bounds and now, we may just be entering the age of "designer babies." Tony Perry, a pioneer in cloning, has announced that he's managed precise DNA editing at the moment of conception in mice.

Designer babies are a concept, but one that could very well be possible in the near future. These are children that have been genetically modified for beauty, intelligence or to be free of disease. While this idea has long been a concept in science fiction, it may just become reality, according to BBC News.

Already, researchers have managed to edit the genome of mice at the point DNA from the sperm and egg came together. They used a pair of "molecular scissors" and a molecular sat-nav that told the scissors where to cut. This allowed them to essentially alter the baby mice's DNA. In this case, the researchers caused a double strand break that closely mimics the kinds of mutations that occur naturally, according to The Daily Mail.

"Designer babies" aren't necessarily a bad thing, either. This technology could be used to potentially "cure" diseases before they're even expressed in a child's genetic material. That said, Perry stresses that it's up to society, and not just scientists, to decide whether the technology is worth the risk.

If a disease can be cured, there's also the potential for modifying other traits. For example, in theory you could change your baby's eyes from blue to brown or vice versa, or give them red hair instead of blond. In this case, Perry stresses the need for debate and discussion about this topic as technology improves.

The mouse study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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