Genetically manipulating genes to create certain traits in a human embryo is impossible at this point. Maybe it will never happen. It is not inevitable in the long term, as some scientists pragmatically point out. (Embgen). It is, however, something that dominates the modern discussion of genetics and therefore needs to be approached with care and consideration. There are many ways in which genetic manipulation could occur. Advances in spermatogenesis and the field of assisted reproductive technology, as seen in in vitro fertilization clinics, point toward methods that could accommodate the systematic alteration of genetic information in reproductive cells. Sperm stem cell transplantation, embryo biopsy, and genetic testing of sperm and eggs also represent paths to future developments. One process that is under observation is called blastomere separation, where an 8-16 cell embryo is divided into four or eight sections of two cells each (Notre Dame). The biggest problem in trying to alter genes is finding a vector to insert the gene into chromatin (Discover, 63). Some procedures that are successfully performed today are selective embryo development in IVF clinics and cytoplasmic transfer, which involves taking the cytoplasm from young eggs and inserting it into an older egg. This can be seen as a kind of germline gene transfer, due to the few short-lived genes that can be found in the cytoplasm (Discover). These are all processes that are intended to produce healthy, normal children. Before discussing anything else, a clear definition of "health" needs to be specified. Health is the absence of disease; but above all, it is the state in which a person thrives, in... middle of paper...Publishers, Inc., 1997).Web Pages:1. Document on ethics and genetics: http://www.med.upenn.edu/~bioethic/genetics/articles/3.mcgee.pragmatism.html2. What is morally wrong with eugenics: http://www.med.upenn.edu/~bioethic/library/papers/art/EugenicsNotreDame.html3. Designer Genes site: http://www.global2000.net/org/cdhs/mtgsept96.html4. Choices and Challenges: http://www.cis.vt.edu/Choices&Challenges/1992/Transcript92.htmlJournal Articles:1. Dickmann, Steven. "Human embryos carrying altered genes". New Scientist July 1997. Found on website: http://matu1.math.auckland.ac.nz/~king/Preprints/book/orsin/fetus/embgen.html2. Henig, Robin M. "Tempting: If you could dictate the contents of your child's genes, wouldn't you? Shouldn't you?" Discover May 1998. Pp. 58-64