The knowledge imparted on humanity provides the ability to use intellect and creativity to invent new technologies, to discover new scientific principles, and to create new forms of art and literature, to better the world by making it a more just and equitable place.
The Advancement of Science and Technology is one call to action, encouraging individuals to use their knowledge and skills to make a positive impact on the world.
Like the evolution of technology in creating babies. One of the earliest technologies used in the creation of babies was the freezing of eggs and sperm. This technology, called cryopreservation, allowed couples who were struggling with infertility to preserve their eggs and sperm for later use. This allowed them to conceive a baby at a later time, even if one of the partners was unable to produce eggs or sperm at the time of treatment.
The next step in the evolution of technology was in vitro fertilization (IVF) a well-established technology that has been used for decades to help couples who are struggling with infertility to have a baby. The process involves fertilizing an egg outside of the body, in a lab, and then transferring the fertilized egg (embryo) back into the woman’s uterus. IVF has been successful in helping many couples to conceive and has become a mainstream treatment option for infertility.
Another development in the technology of creating babies is sex selection. This technology allows parents to choose the sex of their baby before it is conceived. This is typically done using preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which involves testing the genetic material of an embryo before it is implanted into the uterus. This technology has been used by some parents who want to ensure that they have a baby of a certain sex.
Recently, advances in genetic engineering and gene editing technology have opened up new possibilities in creating babies. For example, still in its early stages of development, CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene editing tool that allows scientists to make precise changes to the DNA of cells. This technology could potentially be used to correct genetic disorders or diseases in embryos before they are implanted into the uterus.
Ectogenesis, the term given to pregnancy conducted outside the uterus, has been a big topic in medicine, psychology and ethics since ‘Dolly the sheep’. The concept of “birth in a bag” has been demonstrated by the successful development of lambs in an artificial womb. Similar to a plastic bag, the “biobag” provided a nutrient-rich blood supply and amniotic fluid for the lamb fetuses for four weeks during their 23rd and 27th weeks of development. This technology is seen as a step towards artificial womb technology (AWT) which would substitute a real womb from the start, allowing the fetus to never need to be inside a human. On the other hand, neonatal intensive care (NIC) is a more established application of this technology, that works as a replacement for an incubator and aims to improve survival rates in premature births.
The biotechnology in creating babies has evolved in recent years, from freezing eggs and sperm, to IVF, to selecting the sex of a baby, to genetic editing. So does it really beg the question of “Have you ever wanted to create the perfect baby?” If your answer is yes, then science is on its way to making this a reality.
Last year German molecular biotechnologist, Hashem Al-Ghaili, announced a new concept for giving birth called EctoLife, which is the world’s first artificial womb facility. This groundbreaking technology would allow for the growth of a baby outside of the mother’s body in an artificial womb, a significant departure from traditional IVF methods.
This remarkable achievement is a result of decades of research and development, and it has the potential to revolutionize the way we think about fertility and parenting. In comparison to traditional IVF, EctoLife’s artificial womb facility offers parents far more control over the baby’s physical characteristics and even the ability to ‘fix’ any inherited genetic diseases.
While the EctoLife artificial womb facility may be an improvement over traditional IVF in certain situations, it is important to consider the potential ethical and practical implications of this technology. Additionally, there are many technical challenges that need to be overcome before it can be used to produce healthy babies.
As technology continues to advance at a rapid pace, it’s not hard to imagine a future where parents have the ability to “produce” custom-made babies with the help of artificial wombs. This idea raises a lot of ethical questions, as well as some potential benefits.
First and foremost, let’s talk about the ethical implications of this technology.
- The idea of being able to choose your baby’s level of intelligence, height, hair color, eye color, physical strength, and even skin tone raises some serious concerns about eugenics and creating a society where certain individuals are considered superior to others based on their physical characteristics.
- It also raises questions about the potential for discrimination against those who are not “custom-made” and the impact this could have on society as a whole.
On the other hand, there are some positives of this technology that can potentially revolutionize the way we think about fertility and childbirth.
- Parents who have genetic disorders or diseases that they don’t want to pass on to their children could potentially use artificial wombs to produce a baby that is free of those disorders.
- Increased access to parenthood: parents who are unable to conceive a child naturally. EctoLife could provide a new option for couples who are struggling with infertility to have a baby. This technology could also be used by same-sex couples or single individuals who want to start a family.
- Reducing health risks of pregnancy: Pregnancy can be risky, with health complications such as pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, and placenta previa. EctoLife Artificial Womb Facility could potentially reduce these risks by growing the baby outside of the mother’s body.
- Improving the survival rate of premature babies: Artificial wombs could help premature babies to survive, since they are not yet developed enough to survive outside the womb.
- Potential for medical research: Artificial wombs could be used to study the development of human embryos and to test new treatments for various diseases.
It’s important to note that while this technology is still in the early stages of development, it’s likely a long way off from becoming a reality. Yet, there is no denying that it is a step in the right direction. It could potentially save the lives of premature babies, increase fertility options for couples who are unable to conceive naturally, and give parents the chance to create the perfect baby.
Artificial Intelligence has already contributed some benefits to society, such as being able to help individuals with certain medical conditions or injuries. For instance, an artificial placenta could help premature babies survive, or a bionic eye could help a blind person see again.
It’s clear that there are many potential benefits that could come from customizing a baby with this revolutionary technology. But at the end of the day, it’s up to the individual to decide whether or not this technology is something they would want to take advantage of.
