The baby of your dreams

Since the first test-tube baby was born, people have been fascinated by the idea of designer babies. Now, the reality – and the threat – of genetically modified humans is closer than ever before.

WORDS by GENEVIEVE GANNON

Imagine yourself on a hot summer day in the not-too-distant future. You’ve brought your three-year-old daughter to the playground because she loves the swings. A natural athlete, she is using her strong little body to propel herself ever higher, her blonde pigtails trailing behind her like streamers. She’s soaring, and your breath catches as she reaches the top of the swing’s arc and her tiny hands let go of the chains. You rush towards her as she crashes to the ground. She is dazed, but not injured. It is just as the doctor promised: her bones are unbreakable. You hug her and remind yourself of the insurance policy you put in place before she was born. She has a vanishingly small risk of cancer, and no risk of diabetes. She…

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The Australian Women's Weekly (Digital) - 1 Issue, June 2021

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