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26 Hastings Const. L.Q. 913 (1998-1999)
The Outer Limits of Human Genetic Engineering: A Constitutional Examination of Parents' Procreative Liberty to Genetically Enchance Their Offspring

handle is hein.journals/hascq26 and id is 931 raw text is: NOTES The Outer Limits of Human Genetic Engineering: A Constitutional Examination of Parents' Procreative Liberty to Genetically Enhance Their Offspring By THOMAS STUART PATIERSON [Iff any one age really attains by eugenics and scientific manipu- lation, the power to make the descendants what it pleases, all men who live after it are patients of that power. They are weaker not stronger. -C.S. Lewis, 19621 I. Introduction Imagine a world where parents have the ability to genetically de- termine the characteristics of their children. Before the conception of their child, they sit down with a genetic specialist and discuss the height, strength, and physique they desire for their child. They then decide what color eyes, hair, and skin the child will have. Depending upon the financial resources of the prospective parents, they may con- sider the amount of raw musical talent or academic potential they de- sire for their child, or even decide on particular personality traits. Once these and other preliminary decisions are made, the specialist goes to work by combining sperm and eggs donated by the parents to create a selection of desirable embryos. Finally, after selecting the embryo that proves the closest match to the parents' desires, the spe- cialist performs genetic surgery on the developing embryo to guaran- tee that the couple's child will be born with the exact characteristics that they chose. Does this sound too much like science fiction to be true? Actu- 1. CLIVE S. LEwis, THE ABOLITION OF MAN; OR REFLECTIONS ON EDUCATION WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE TEACHING OF ENGLISH IN THE UPPER FoRms OF SCHOOL 44 (1962). [913]