Genetic selection, or Genetic Lottery?

In the next 10 years, we will have genetic tests to determine whether a child will be born naturally optimistic, energetic, extroverted, resilient, and able to defer gratification, or not. Parents could choose which of their potential children would then be borne. This would reduce the number of late-term abortions, which modern society should be moving away from in any case.

A typical couple, call them Phil and Rose, has the potential to bear many different children. Assume, for this example, that they decide to fertilize eight eggs, although the real number could be in the thousands. Let's call the fertilized eggs (i.e. the potential children) "Tom," "Sue," "Betty," "Bill," "Joe," "Sam," "Jill" and "Molly." Using genetic tests on the "Tom" egg, we see that he would be born naturally inquisitive and somewhat ill-at-ease in modern society. (He may be more at home in a primitive environment, but this no longer exists.) "Sue" would be born prone to severe depression, and would be unable to study or work. "Betty" would be born highly energetic and sociable, with a good mind for facts. "Bill" would be born with obsessive-compulsive disorder. "Joe" would be born with a low threshold for violent behavior, and a tendency toward alcoholism. "Sam" would be born with an analytical nature, being comfortable with people, but also somewhat withdrawn. "Jill" would be born with a need to please people in authority, and would tend to fall into abusive relationships. "Molly" would be born highly driven, somewhat uneasy, but highly motivated to succeed. After a genetic screening, knowing that genes are only loosely correlated with certain behaviors in the environment they could provide, the parents of these potential children decide to bear only Sam and Molly, and leave the rest unborn.

Is this futuristic form of genetic selection moral or immoral? Indeed, we endorse other, less humane means of breeding across society, although we rarely acknowledge it. Men in prison--or sentenced to death for their crimes--cannot help a woman conceive. Thus we keep people with violent or criminal tendencies from having children. Is that a better alternative?

Comments

[Ikran]

This is another way parents choose to control their offspring. This also a form of GM, which is totally unethical and very impulse for parents that are sterile