CBS Sunday Morning Season 30 Episode 8 Build A Better Baby

CBS Sunday Morning season 30 episode 8, titled "Build a Better Baby," explores the ethics and possibilities of genetic engineering. The episode features interviews with scientists, bioethicists, and parents who have utilized genetic testing and engineering for medical purposes.

The episode begins with a report on how medical professionals have used genetic testing to identify and attempt to treat genetic diseases in fetuses. Correspondent Mark Strassmann sits down with a couple who discovered through prenatal testing that their unborn child had a rare and serious genetic condition. The couple faced a difficult decision - whether to terminate the pregnancy or pursue experimental fetal surgery while the baby was still in the womb. Strassmann explores the ethical questions raised by these types of decisions, including the potential for genetic testing to lead to eugenics.

Later in the episode, correspondent Lesley Stahl talks to scientists who are developing techniques to edit genes in embryos. This technology allows for the possibility of "building a better baby" by selecting for desirable traits such as intelligence, athleticism, and physical appearance. However, Stahl raises concerns about the potential misuse of this technology and the ethical implications of allowing parents to make these types of choices for their children.

The show also examines the use of genetic testing and engineering for medical purposes beyond preventing genetic diseases. Correspondent Susan Spencer speaks to a couple who used gene editing to conceive a child who could provide life-saving stem cells for their older child with sickle cell anemia. The episode also explores the use of genetic testing to personalize cancer treatments and to identify potential health risks before they become serious.

In addition to the scientific and ethical questions raised by genetic testing and engineering, the episode also delves into the cultural implications of these advances. Correspondent David Pogue examines the portrayal of genetics in popular culture, from the utopian visions of genetically-engineered humans portrayed in films such as Gattaca to the cautionary tales of genetic engineering gone wrong in Jurassic Park and other media.

Overall, CBS Sunday Morning season 30 episode 8 provides a thought-provoking examination of the possibilities and ethical questions raised by genetic testing and engineering, as well as the cultural implications of these advances. The episode presents a balanced and informative look at a complex and rapidly-evolving scientific field.