Gmo Sapiens: The Life-Changing Science Of Designer Babies

Contents
Preface
Chapter 1 An Introduction to Playing God
	Genetically modified (GM) human embryos
	You’re only human … but your kids could be more
	On the menu: IVF meets GMO
	Cutting edge technology: CRISPR-Cas9
	Your better baby
	GMO genesis
	The stem cell and cloning connections
	References
Chapter 2 The Birth and Explosive Growth of GMOs
	GM plants sprout
	Where did GMOs come from?
	The race for GM crops
	Democratizing creation
	GM pets and novelties
	GM mosquitoes as good “weapons” to fight disease
	Defining human genetic modification
	Gene therapy
	References
Chapter 3 Human Cloning
	A student and the first clone
	Cloning culture
	The birth of cloning
	The two kinds of cloning
	Phony cloning
	Cloning myths
	The politics of cloning
	De-extinction: resurrecting the extinct
	Cloning meets GMOs?
	Cloners and friends
	Who will be the first human clones?
	References
Chapter 4 Messing with Mother Nature: The First GMO Sapiens
	The birth of IVF and a devilish dilemma
	The “cowboys of medicine” make first GM babies
	Would it be legal to make a GMO sapiens?
	Monkeying around with primate eggs and genomes
	The future of three-person IVF
	References
Chapter 5 Build-a-Baby Better via Genetics
	The genesis of commercial human genetic testing
	Genetics dating and mating service: I prefera child with
	Changing the genetic equation via designer babies?
	Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD)
	CRISPR versus PGD
	Sex selection
	Savior siblings
	Human GMO economics
	OvaScience
	Mitogenome therapeutics
	Genetics and human choices
	Genetic tourism
	Are designer babies the next step on the GM timeline?
	References
Chapter 6 DIY Guide to Creating GMO Sapiens
	Why make a GMO sapiens and what is your target?
	The CRISPR connection
	CRISPR as a laboratory tool
	In the laboratory, begin at the beginning
	A la carte genetic modifications
	A potential role for stem cells
	Build a better mouse and they will come:t he experience of making a GMO
	What if you make a mistake?
	What could go wrong
	Could we correct a mistake?
	Practical challenges to making a GMO sapiens
	References
Chapter 7 Eugenics and Transhumanism
	Eugenics takes root in California
	“Better babies” through eugenics
	IVF and eugenics
	What is a “better” or “perfect” person?
	Should we try to make “better babies” via genetic modification?
	Transhumanism: Getting from point ACGT to H+
	George Church, genetics pioneer and transhumanist
	Forced genetic change: gene drive, and weapons
	References
Chapter 8 Cultural Views on Human Genetic Modification
	Public perceptions of human modification
	American views on creating GM humans
	Global views on human genetic modification
	Frankenstein revisited
	The Brothers Huxley
	GATTACA
	DNA Dreams and reality
	Orphan Black
	An artist’s view of human cloning
	Genetic discrimination or celebrity
	Gender issues in human modification
	Letting your GMO imagination run wild
	How will culture view real GMO sapiens?
	References
Chapter 9 GMO Sapiens Today and Tomorrow
	Creation of the first gene-edited human embryos
	“Don’t edit the human germline”
	“Prudent path forward”
	ABCD plan
	Stanford Law meeting on human genetic modification
	George Church on human genetic modification
	Oxford ethicists: don’t worry, just do it!
	The human genome as ever-changing mashup?
	The future of human genetic modification
	References
Glossary
Index