People should be able to choose the sex of their baby, argues Professor Lord Robert Winston (Ross, 2006). The story of the Masterton family was brought to the fore by the media as a result of their wish to ensure that their next child was female, having lost their only female child in a bonfire accident.

A sperm-sorting machine called ‘Microsort’ has led to the birth of some 300 babies whose parents selected their gender. Some organizations sell the use of this technology, while others—such as the Human Fertilization and Embryology Authority (HFEA)—try to regulate its use.

Can engineered gender selection be natural, or is this eugenics? Is it ethically acceptable? What do you think of the value judgement that is being made on the basis of gender?