New gene-editing method called CRISPR could easily be used on humans in the next few decades

The New York based journalist speaks with two potential parents who have opted to choose the sex of their child as part of the IVF

Couples in the US can already use preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to choose their unborn child's sex and eye color

From the growing advancements that allow parents to choose their child's gender and eye color for a price, a new documentary is lifting the lid on the already growing world of 'designer babies' as gene editing moves to become the next big ethical dilemma for future generations.

On Friday night's season premiere of HBO series Vice, correspondent Isobel Yeung explores the scientific advancements in human gene editing and the future potential for parents to select the baby's genetic makeup. And while complete human genetic modification may not be available for a few decades, the New York-based journalist believes that there needs to be a national and international debate about whether or not people should be allowed to edit their own genes before science makes the decision for them.

'It is actually crazy considering the amount of time the whole abortion debate gets, and at the same time, we're actually able to choose the sex and eye color of our children,' Isobel told Daily Mail Online about the advancements in in vitro fertilization. 'It's insane that that doesn't get more airtime.

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Unnatural selection: : Vice correspondent Isobel Yeung (left) speaks with Deborah (right), a woman who has chosen the sex of her unborn child using reproductive technology on Friday night's premiere of the HBO series

Advanced science: Deborah and her husband Jonathan are one of thousands of couples across the country who have chosen to use preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), which is used to identify genetic defects

'I spoke to several biologists and experts who predict in the next five decades we are going to completely change the way we procreate, so having sex for procreation reasons is going to feel a bit old fashioned.'

Isobel explained that as scientists learn more and more about human DNA and how to actually choose more traits or even edit traits, it will eventually become 'the next biggest ethical dilemma that parents have to face'.

As part of her three-month research, Isobel met with Dr. Jeffrey Steinberg, founder of The Fertility Institutes, who specializes in preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD). PGD is a reproductive technology that is used to identify genetic defects within embryos created through IVF before implantation to prevent certain disorders and diseases to be passed on to the patient's child.

In addition to offering PGD services, Dr. Steinberg also allows his patients to choose their future child's gender and even eye color for additional costs. According to The Fertility Institutes' website, sex selection with a 99.9 per cent guarantee of chosen gender and genetic evaluation of all 46 chromosomes has a starting cost of $16,390 - not including the fee for IVF.

And while the cost of gender selection is exorbitant, Isobel explained that patients are paying for information that doctors already have access to through the IVF process.

'It is funny because once you do the PGD, that process, the doctor already knows what sex the embryos are,' she said. 'In China it is illegal to tell the parent what sex the embryos are because obviously otherwise there would be an even bigger gender imbalance. But the doctor already knows that [information].'

Big decision: Isobel told Daily Mail Online that the Los-Angeles based couple were struggling to get pregnant, and chose to have a girl because they both has strong women in their lives and wanted to emulate that

Drawing the line: Although Deborah and Jonathan chose the sex of their unborn child, they opted not to pick her eye color, which they weren't even aware was an option at first

On tonight's episode of the documentary series, Isobel speaks with Dr. Steinberg's clients Deborah and Jonathan, one of thousands of couples across the country who have chosen to use PGD.

'It sounds like a no-brainer you know if you want to be able to test for more diseases and have the healthiest child that you can,' Deborah tells the cameras. The Los Angeles couple reveal that they also chose to have sex selection.

Isobel told Daily Mail Online that Deborah and Jonathan were having trouble getting pregnant, and they felt like this was their only chance to have a child.

'They felt quite strongly that they both wanted a girl,' she added. 'They wanted to bring a girl up to be a strong feminist. They both felt like they had strong women in their lives and they wanted to emulate that by having their own daughter.'

However, the couple were surprised to learn that they could choose their baby's eye color, but ultimately decided against it.

'There are not that many people choosing eye color,' Isobel noted. 'It is kind of that extra line to cross, and I think they were shocked by it.'

Game changer: Isobel is pictured with Chief Technology Officer Cunxiang Ju at the National Resource Center for Mutant Mice in Nanjing, China, where they use CRISPR technology to edit the genes of mice

Changing the future: Isobel said that the lab is testing mice for everything from the jet lag gene, which regulates sleep and wake rhythms, to obesity and diabetes

The journalist explained that the couple already received a lot of judgement from people after they revealed that they were choosing the sex of their baby.

'I imagine telling them that they were choosing the eye color would be an added cause of judgement and push back,' she said. Meanwhile, Dr. Steinberg predicts that in five years parents will also be able to choose their child's height if they please.

And these types of choices may be only the beginning for parents as the new gene-editing method called CRISPR has made it amazingly simple to change the genetic traits of plants and animals - and it could easily be used on humans in the next few decades.

Isobel noted that the process is fairly inexpensive, costing only about $150 for the CRISPR Cas-9m protein, which uses molecular blades to make cuts in host DNA, and getting a syringe.

HOW DOES CRISPR WORK? CRISPR technology precisely changes target parts of genetic code. Unlike other gene-silencing tools, the CRISPR system targets the genome's source material and permanently turns off genes at the DNA level. The DNA cut – known as a double strand break – closely mimics the kinds of mutations that occur naturally, for instance after chronic sun exposure. But unlike UV rays that can result in genetic alterations, the CRISPR system causes a mutation at a precise location in the genome. When cellular machinery repairs the DNA break, it removes a small snip of DNA. In this way, researchers can precisely turn off specific genes in the genome. Advertisement

As part of its 2011 plan, China has devoted more than $350 billion to biotechnology. At the National Research Center for Mutant Mice in Nanjing, China, CRISPR technology is now being used to edit the genes of mice in an effort to isolate desired traits, and the facility can hold up to 450,000 mice.

Isobel said that the lab is testing mice for everything from the jet lag gene, which regulates sleep and wake rhythms, to obesity and diabetes. The correspondent noted that there is even a 'boy genius' in China who is trying to find a gene to that correlates to intelligence. She added that the research has huge potential to cure diseases and help humans evolve.

However, there is the question of how far humans will be willing to go when it comes to genetic modification. There are concerns that the growing advancements will create genetic haves and have nots, but Isobel doesn't believe that should be people's biggest concern.

'We already live in a world where it is so unequal, and countries and people who are wealthier obviously have way bigger advantages, and this is just kind of the next step of that,' she said.

Isobel went on to agree with the suggestion that the bigger ethical concern from the bioethicists she and her team spoke to is that countries are going enter extreme competition over advancements in genome editing, similar to the US's space race with the Soviet Union in the 20th century.

There are also concerns that medical resources are going to be taken away from where they are needed and put towards this 'frenzy for editing our children', and of course the fear that there will be a loss of genetic diversity.

Shockingly easy: This graphic shows how the CRISPR technique works by 'cutting open' a DNA's double helix in order to delete a certain section of DNA, or add a new section, fundamentally 'editing' it

Next step in evolution? The UK has been given permission earlier this week to genetically modify human embryos for the first time (artwork of in vitro fertilization)

'The whole eugenics debate came up a lot, and that is scary because given history and given the fact that there will be people who choose blue-eyed, blonde-haired dolls,' Isobel said. 'But at the same time I think that is firstly, a quite a long way off, and secondly I don't think it is our priority.'

Isobel said she believes that in the following decades the technology will be used to first cure hereditary diseases and then borderline diseases like autism.

While it is illegal in the US and UK to alter the genomes of embryos used to conceive a child, scientists in the UK have been given permission earlier this week to genetically modify human embryos for the first time to understand why some women suffer repeated miscarriages.

Although the footage didn't make it into the documentary, Isobel had her genomes sequenced and analyzed by a geneticist and learned that she is a carrier for a rare pancreas disease. If her partner is to also carry the disease, their children would have a high chance of inheriting it.

'When you think of it on a micro level, on a personal level, it is pretty exciting that in the future there is that possibility to just snip out that gene, which could mean that your kids wouldn't be having this terrible disease,' she said.

However, Isobel noted that all of the scientists she spoke with were in agreement that this isn't something that is going to happen in the next few years as there is still much to learn about human DNA.