Designer Children

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Not long ago, the term -test tube baby- sent shock waves through much of the medical ethics world. Today, the term is thrown out in casual dinner conversation, and we've moved on to -designer babies,- programming a pregnancy to produce the choice of a boy or a girl. It won-t be long until we can custom-design other features, too. In fact, it-s already happening and some experts fear we-re moving from the medical intentions of genetic engineering in the name of health to the vanity of designing all the characteristics of our future children. Guest host Diana Nyad discusses the highly controversial issue with reproductive experts, medical ethicists, attorneys, political philosophers and secular humanists. Making News: Blast at US Base in Mosul Kills More than Twenty Following Sunday-s car bombings in Najaf and Karbala, which killed 61 people, a brutal attack on military base near the northern city of Mosul today claimed another 20 lives. Violence in Iraq continues to escalate with the approach of democratic elections, planned for January 30. Edmund Sanders, who reports from Baghdad for the Los Angeles Times, says today's attack struck the military at its most vulnerable spot. Reporter's Notebook: Painkillers and Heartbreak, et tu Aleve? First is was Vioxx, then Celebrex, and now we're being warned that the over-the-counter pain killer Aleve can also increase risks to the heart--and federal drug officials say Advil may be next. Why this rash of discoveries about these painkillers? Are there alternatives for those who really need them? Gardiner Harris, who writes on health for the New York Times, says these reports all suggest a troubling indication of Americans' love affair with self-medication.
Not long ago, the term -test tube baby- sent shock waves through much of the medical ethics world. Today, the term is thrown out in casual dinner conversation, and we've moved on to -designer babies,- programming a pregnancy to produce the choice of a boy or a girl. It won-t be long until we can custom-design other features, too. In fact, it-s already happening and some experts fear we-re moving from the medical intentions of genetic engineering in the name of health to the vanity of designing all the characteristics of our future children. Guest host Diana Nyad discusses the highly controversial issue with reproductive experts, medical ethicists, attorneys, political philosophers and secular humanists.
  • Making News: Blast at US Base in Mosul Kills More than Twenty
    Following Sunday-s car bombings in Najaf and Karbala, which killed 61 people, a brutal attack on military base near the northern city of Mosul today claimed another 20 lives. Violence in Iraq continues to escalate with the approach of democratic elections, planned for January 30. Edmund Sanders, who reports from Baghdad for the Los Angeles Times, says today's attack struck the military at its most vulnerable spot.
  • Reporter's Notebook: Painkillers and Heartbreak, et tu Aleve?
    First is was Vioxx, then Celebrex, and now we're being warned that the over-the-counter pain killer Aleve can also increase risks to the heart--and federal drug officials say Advil may be next. Why this rash of discoveries about these painkillers? Are there alternatives for those who really need them? Gardiner Harris, who writes on health for the New York Times, says these reports all suggest a troubling indication of Americans' love affair with self-medication.
Guest host Diana Nyad holds the world record for the longest swim without the aid of a cage -- from Bimini to Florida, 102.5 miles! She was inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2002. She's a business sports columnist for Marketplace, and has served as senior sports correspondent for Fox News, and hosted her own show on CNBC. She's written three books, Other Shores, Basic Training and The Keyshawn Johnson Story.

Sanders' article on Shiite politicians eyeing Iraqi race for Prime Minster

Enough: Staying Human in an Engineered Age

Bayer on safety of Aleve

Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Naproxen

Harris' article on Aleve reportedly being tied to heart risk

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney