Unit 8 / Listening 1B

On their way to Canada by plane

Tom: The more I read through this file the more I'm astounded by this whole scenario. It's incredible to think that people will actually pay to have designer babies. What is the world coming to? How do people come up with these crazy ideas anyway?

Gina: It's sad to say but I'm sure it's just a money-making scheme. People will pay anything to have perfect beautiful bodies, so why not babies?

Tom: But what about the moral and ethical side to having a baby! Not to mention what genetic engineering might lead to in the long term.

Gina: These people aren't like you and me, they're obsessive and rich and used to getting what they want, when they want it. And the latest trend is ‘designer' babies.

Tom: I'm afraid it may be more than just a trend. Parents have always sought to give their children a good start to life, which is only natural, or course. Look at education, for example. Even when the system tries to make sure everyone gets a fair chance, there are always advantages to be had if you've got enough money. And unless some very firm action is taken to prevent it, the same thing will happen with genetic engineering.

Gina: The question is where to draw the line, though, isn't it? Should all intervention be banned? If medical progress allows us to eliminate defects or diseases, surely that's reasonable. But from there it's a small step to deciding on the gender of your baby or the colour of its eyes. And that should never be legitimate in my view.

Tom: Nor should the sort of research that was undertaken in the hospital in Nairobi .

Gina: And what will happen if the parents aren't satisfied? Will they ask for a refund?

Tom: Or even worse, an exchange? Will there be Internet sites where people advertise their babies for sale? Or put them up for auction like on Ebay?

Gina: Brave New World, here we come. What a nightmare! Having said that, looking at the file, this Canadian couple don't strike me as being the average rich clientele the clinic would normally attract. I wonder what their story is?

Tom: Well that's what we need to find out, because we may be on the point of uncovering a terrible scandal, but we're still no closer to Ben. His work as “Roger Fleck” has wound up getting him into a lot of trouble. More trouble than he's used to.

Gina: What do you think might have happened to him?

Tom: I'm not sure. Ben's been playing a tricky game for a long time, juggling celebrity gossip columns with investigative journalism. Although his job isn't usually dangerous, when you are potentially upsetting very rich and influential people, it's only a matter of time before you get out of your depth.

Gina: Well, aren't we headed in the same direction?

Tom: I suppose we are, yes. Which is why we're going to have to act increasingly carefully from now on.