Professor Julian Savulescu said that creating so-called designer babies could be considered a ‘moral obligation’ as it makes them grow up into ‘ethically better children’.

The expert in practical ethics said that we should actively give parents the choice to screen out personality flaws in their children as it meant they were then less likely to ‘harm themselves and others’.

The academic, who is also editor-in-chief of the Journal of Medical Ethics, made his comments in an article in the latest edition of Reader’s Digest.

He explained that we are now in the middle of a genetic revolution and that although screening, for all but a few conditions, remained illegal it should be welcomed.

He said that science is increasingly discovering that genes have a significant influence on personality – with certain genetic markers in embryo suggesting future characteristics.

By screening in and screening out certain genes in the embryos, it should be possible to influence how a child turns out.

In the end, he said that ‘rational design’ would help lead to a better, more intelligent and less violent society in the future.

‘Surely trying to ensure that your children have the best, or a good enough, opportunity for a great life is responsible parenting?’ wrote […]