![](http://i.imgur.com/IUehbdg.jpg)
<br>

### Soon, we will be able to *genetically modify* our children and eventually even ourselves.
I've already written several posts about **CRISPR** Cas9, the gene editing method that will allow us to change parts of our DNA, therefore changing specific features about our body our personality as well. 

#### With the innovation of CRIPSR came many ethical questions - are we going to have genetically modified "designer babies" in the future, who are  all good-looking and talented in every way?!

We don't know if that will happen anytime soon, but still it's an interesting **thought experiment.** 
1,000 participants (500 from the US, 500 from Europe) participated in an Online Survey to answer questions about exactly this scenario: 
#### <center>What would you change about your baby if anything was possible?</center>

## <center>Here are the answers!</center>

<center>![img](https://buzzworthy.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/62611_original-640x400.jpg)</center>

<br>

## <center>Differences between Europeans and US-Americans</center>
### <center>- Personality Traits -</center>
First, let's look at how **Europeans** and **Americans** would design their perfect baby's ***personality traits.***
For both, ***Intelligence*** is the most important factor (half of the votes!), closely followed by ***creativity***. It's interesting to note how highly creativity is ranked compared to the other traits!
Next, Americans would want their kids to be ***kind*** and then ***charismatic***, while Europeans are tied between ***courage*** and ***kindness***. Courage isn't even considered by Americans. 
On 5th place, we have ***charismatic*** on the European side and ***independent*** on the American side. Again, interesting to note how "*independent*" isn't even on the list for Europeans, but seems to be quite important for Americans. 
This is a strong signal for the US' ***individual culture***, which (contrary to Asian cultures for example) focuses on the individual and achieving things by yourself. 

<center>![img](http://i.picresize.com/images/2017/07/04/IaHDL.png)</center>
<br>

### <center>- Physical Traits -</center>

When regarding ***physical traits***, both nations voted in quite a similar way.
They both prioritized ***health*** with about half of the total votes. 
Next is a tie between ***weight*** and ***attractiveness*** - 13% of both Europeans and Americans voted for that.
***Athletic ability*** is preferred by Americans (9% compared to 6%), and the last factor is ***height***, which was also more important for Americans.

As for the **physical appearance**, *Europeans* were voting for a blonde, blue-eyed girl that's slightly taller than average.
*US-Americans* preferred black hair and blue eyes in a boy, and also slightly taller than average height. 

<center>![img](http://i.picresize.com/images/2017/07/04/nEJB.png)</center>

<br>
#### Now we know how the different people in *Europe* or the *US* would genetically engineer their baby. 
#### *But what about the different choices amongst men and women?* Does a certain gender prefer certain attributes?

<br>


## <center>Differences between men's and women's choices</center>

### <center>- Personality Traits -</center>
The ***top 3 most voted personality traits*** were the same for both men and women: ***intelligence***, ***creativity*** and ***kindness***.
Around half of the total votes were regarding ***intelligence***, followed by ***creativity*** with 15-16% and kindness with 9-11%.
9% of men voted for ***courage*** as a personality trait, and 6% for ***charisma***.
The women's votes were tied between charisma and independence, both with 7%.
It's interesting to note that "independence" was only voted by women, and wasn't even mentioned in the men'S voting ranking!
"Courage" on the other hand is an attribute that only men voted for! 

<center>![img](http://i.picresize.com/images/2017/07/04/JAyMR.png)</center>
<br>

### <center>- Physical Traits -</center>

When looking at men's and women's votes for **physical traits**, almost half of all the votes were once again for ***health***. But there's a 9% difference between men's (46%) and women's votes (55%).
Both men and women are almost tied for the next 2 physical traits, 14% of women and 15% of men voted for ***weight***, and 11% of women and 12% of men voted for ***attractiveness***. *(Surprising, 1% more male votes for attractiveness!)*
1 in 10 men voted for ***athletic ability*** - **and NO woman did!** 0% ! That's such an interesting fact which tells us so much about gender roles and stereotypes.
While 5% of women and 8% of men voted for height, only 5% of women and 0% of men were interested in changing their kids' eye colour. 

Women would ideally give their daughters black hair and blue eyes, with an above average height. 
Men were in favor of a blond-haired, blue-eyed son, with only 50% of votes for an above average height. 

<center>![img](http://i.picresize.com/images/2017/07/04/yV3Y4.png)</center>

<br>


## <center>Conclusion</center>
In conclusion, intelligence and health were the most desired by all participants - Americans, Europeans, Women and Men.
When looking at physical traits, it's interesting to note that men and women from *both* Europe and the US voted in quite a similar way.
#### The differences were according to the participant's gender, rather than his culture. 
*Male* voters were slightly *more* concerned with attractiveness and weight than women, and women on the other hand were not interested in athletic ability ***at all.***

As for the character traits, **creativity** is ranked very highly after **intelligence**. 
While Europeans and men in general consider courage to be important, Americans and women didn't vote for it at all. 
"*Independence*" on the other hand was only voted for by Americans, not Europeans. 

### <center>These statistics can tell us so much about the different cultures and different genders - and it shows how beauty standards and stereotypes influence us!</center>


<br>
<br>

<center>*Images: [1](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAhjPd4uNFY), [2, 3, 4, 5](https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/designing-the-perfect-baby/index.html), Sources: [1](https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/designing-the-perfect-baby/index.html), [2](http://www.medicaldaily.com/genetically-modified-babies-heres-what-people-would-change-if-they-could-418934), [3](
https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/designing-the-perfect-baby/index.html), [4](
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/535661/engineering-the-perfect-baby/?ictd[master]=vid~a0f07560-d013-44ee-8f2a-7c6e5bcfd949&ictd[il2249]=rlt~1497661476~land~2_14135_direct_4f3587e206db59bd509b51859dc65e9d)*</center>






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