Designer Babies

Al Mohler has a very interesting post titled Is Your Baby Gay? What If You Could Know? What If You Could Do Something About It?. Here is the thrust of his post.

The most interesting research along these lines relates to the study of sheep. Scientists at the U.S. Sheep Experiment Station are conducting research into the sexual orientation of sheep through “sexual partner preference testing.” As William Saletan at Slate.com explains:

A bare majority of rams turn out to be heterosexual. One in five swings both ways. About 15 percent are asexual, and 7 percent to 10 percent are gay.

Why so many gay rams? Is it too much socializing with ewes? Same-sex play with other lambs? Domestication? Nope. Those theories have been debunked. Gay rams don’t act girly. They’re just as gay in the wild. And a crucial part of their brains–the “sexually dimorphic nucleus”–looks more like a ewe’s than like a straight ram’s. Gay men have a similar brain resemblance to women. Charles Roselli, the project’s lead scientist, says such research “strongly suggests that sexual preference is biologically determined in animals, and possibly in humans.”

It’s a fascinating post as Dr. Mohler unpacks many dilemma raising questions.

There is however one facet of this report that was not brought up, and that’s the role of the medical insurance industry. Dr. Mohler says,

The development of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis [PDG] is one of the greatest threats to human dignity in our times. These tests are already leading to the abortion of fetuses identified as carrying unwanted genetic markers. The tests can now check for more than 1,300 different chromosomal abnormalities or patterns. With DNA analysis, the genetic factors could be identified right down to hair and eye color and other traits. The logic is all too simple. If you don’t like what you see on the PDG report . . . just abort and start over. Soon, genetic treatments may allow for changing the profile. Welcome to the world of designer babies.

I have little doubt that our perverse and fallen natures will cause those with the financial means to become as enamored as Dr. Frankenstein with their ability to play god. And as horrific as that may become there is an even greater horror that I believe awaits all of us, and that’s when the insurance industry starts using PDG testing as a means to regulate the coverage of their policies.

• We’re sorry to tell you but it’s been determined that your fetus has an extra chromosome. I’m afraid that your policy doesn’t cover for the care of an infant with Down Syndrome. You’ll have to terminate the fetus.
  Oh, you refuse? Yes, I understand that’s your prerogative. We certainly can’t “order” you to abort your child.
  Please understand that you will have to pay for and and all medical expenses – out of pocket.
• We’re sorry to tell you but it’s been determined that your child has atrioventricular valve dysplasia.
  While this defect can be repaired, it has been determined by our board that your fetus presents an undue financial burden on the rest of our policy holders and so we are asking you to terminate your pregnancy or we will be forced to drop your policy.

In regards to the idea that medical science will not only be able to determine the sexual orientation of an unborn child but will also be able to provide the means to change/correct this orientation, Dr. Mohler says that Christians should think carefully about – and then lists 10 points. As a Christian I cannot agree with point 8.

8. If a biological basis is found, and if a prenatal test is then developed, and if a successful treatment to reverse the sexual orientation to heterosexual is ever developed, we would support its use as we should unapologetically support the use of any appropriate means to avoid sexual temptation and the inevitable effects of sin.

I find what is suggested here to be an incredibly slippery slope. I do believe that as Christians we need to keep ourselves educated in this area and be prepared to give an answer to the world. But we must make sure to do so in light of God’s Sovereignty in ALL things.