A startup in genetic modification has sparked a heated debate with a bizarre advertising campaign in New York, promoting a «genetic enhancement» service for future children. The ads, which appeared on digital billboards and building facades, featured images of people with perfect features and slogans like «Get a sweet baby with perfect genetically modified features for $10,000». Many considered this shocking and an insult to humanity, turning children into products. The company's announcement claimed it offers a «DNA improvement service» through advanced genetic analysis and predictions of inherited traits. One commenter wrote: «When a company in a sensitive field like genetic engineering uses such provocative advertising, it's likely a sign of a scam». Others found the idea to cross ethical boundaries, with one stating: «Why do we treat God's greatest gift as a product for sale? Every child is created with love and meaning… and cannot be redesigned to specific specifications». The campaign has reignited the debate over «designer babies» and the social and ethical threats they pose, from the fear of creating «modified» human classes to reducing a child to a product chosen from a catalog. Bioethics experts believe such campaigns may pave the way for the dangerous societal acceptance of genetic intervention for cosmetic or elitist purposes, which is scientifically and ethically unacceptable and requires strict regulation before any commercial discussion.
