Ejercicio 5.c - Opinion writing · Inglés PAU Murcia Extraordinaria 2023

5. c) Opinion writing. Parents should be able to choose their babies’ traits (i.e., physical and personality-related characteristics) before they are born. Do you agree?

Solución: Sample response: In my opinion, parents should definitely not be allowed to choose their unborn babies’ physical or personality traits. While genetic engineering holds great promise for eliminating severe hereditary diseases, selecting aesthetic or behavioral characteristics crosses serious ethical boundaries. First and foremost, designing babies would exacerbate social inequality. If trait selection becomes a market commodity, only affluent families will afford desirable features, creating a genetically stratified society where natural human diversity is diminished. Furthermore, personality is shaped by upbringing, experiences, and environment rather than predetermined genetic codes. Expecting a child to fulfill predetermined parental expectations would place immense psychological pressure on them. Finally, unconditional love is the cornerstone of parenting. Accepting children as they are fosters empathy and tolerance in society. Allowing prospective parents to treat human beings like customizable products undermines human dignity. To sum up, while medical gene therapy is a blessing, genetic modification for cosmetic or behavioral traits should remain strictly prohibited to preserve equality, natural diversity, and the true essence of family life.