Serious Play Lab Wiki - User contributions [en]

Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers

2024-04-09T01:57:58Z

Jennifertran:

[[File:Doc poster.jpg|thumb|Film poster for ''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers'' 

'''Director''' Gracie Whitecloud 
'''Producer''' Gracie Whitecloud 

'''Released''' September, 9th, 2102 (TIFF) 
'''Runtime''' 115 minutes 
'''Country''' Canada 
'''Language''' English |

right
]]

''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers'' is a 2102 documentary film directed by Gracie Whitecloud. The film follows Marissa Lambe and Linh Ng, a same-sex interracial couple from Toronova, as they begin their fertility treatment to grow their family. The film explores the barriers that same-sex couples encounter on their fertility journey and the social, economic and political issues around access to fertility treatments. The film also examines the topic of genetically modified embryos and the problems that have persisted as a result of the growing interest in the process.

The film premiered at the 2102 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it won the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award for Documentaries.

== Synopsis ==
The film begins with an introduction from Marissa and Linh, where they introduce themselves and their family. Marissa is an Inuit-Jamaican woman, and Linh is a transgender Vietnamese Chinese woman. The couple have three children, a six-year-old son named Elliot and two-year-old twin daughters named Harper and Willow. The children were conceived using Marissa’s eggs and Linh’s sperm, which were collected and preserved prior to her gender confirmation surgery (GCS). Marissa and Linh discuss their experiences growing up as queer racialized individuals in Toronova. They recount the racism, homophobia and transphobia that they have experienced from their peers in schools and the workplace and their families. Additionally, they speak on the systemic barriers they have faced on their journey to motherhood.

The couple are in the process of expanding their family. They receive a phone call from their doctor that their Intrauterine insemination (IUI) was unsuccessful. As a result, they begin their In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) journey. Marissa prepares for the frozen embryo transfer (FET) by taking various oral medications and injections over the course of a few weeks. They transfer one embryo, and a week later, they receive the news that the transfer is a success, and they have an active pregnancy.

In preparation for the new addition to their family, they begin to create a budget and calculate their expenses. The process revealed they have spent over $500,000 on their fertility journey since their first child. Expenses include but are not limited to medication, storage of frozen eggs, sperm and embryos, and the various procedures (i.e. IUI, IVF, FET). In addition to the $500,000, they also have medical bills costing over $100,000 that they are still paying off since the birth of their twins, who were born prematurely and stayed in the NICU for two months before coming home. The couple speaks on the lack of medical assistance programs for fertility treatments, which disproportionately impacts 2SLGBTQ+ individuals looking to start families, as fertility treatments and procedures are their only way to do so. Moreover, the couple discusses how their intersectional experiences have impacted their access to fertility treatments.

Marissa and Linh are both content creators active on the social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Marissa’s platform focuses on educating others on Inuit heritage and speaking out on racial issues, as well as 2SLGBTQ+ issues. Linh’s platform, on the other hand, focuses on educating others on 2SLGBTQ+ topics and advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. The couple also have a family account where they document their lifestyle and family. Like their last pregnancies, they announce their news and document the pregnancy on their social media platforms. In the following weeks, they receive brand partnerships and gifts from some of these partners.

While Linh makes cookies with the twins for an upcoming YouTube video, Marissa helps Elliot with his homework. In their conversation, Elliot reveals that his classmates made negative comments during their class activity, which required them to draw their families. However, due to the “Don’t Say Gay” policy that was passed by the *school board* which banned all 2SLGBTQ+ discussion and representation from the curriculum, Elliot was not allowed to participate in the activity. After becoming aware of the incident, the family started the Rainbow Inclusion Network, a community of same-sex families advocating to eradicate the policy.

In an interview with Elliot and his moms, Elliot reveals that his classmates are also bullying him for his race. Elliot is gifted in STEM subjects and attends a school with specialized STEM programs. However, he is one of the few racialized students in the school and the only student from a family of two moms. Marissa and Linh share that bullying and exclusion have been a problem since he started schooling. Numerous students at his school were born from genetically modified embryos. There is a growing interest in learning more about these children, and thus, multiple studies and interviews are conducted on these students. They receive special treatment, go on exclusive field trips, and receive funds and scholarships to support their schooling. The couple revealed that they considered going through the process of genetically modified embryos, however, they could not afford to do so, with their other fertility expenses. Marissa and Linh expressed that they do not regret their decision despite the barrier they encountered. They take pride in the culture and history and do their best to instill that in their children.

Marissa goes into labour at 37 weeks and gives birth to a baby boy named August. Two weeks later, August gets his first photoshoot.

The film ends with updates, including the Rainbow Inclusion Network’s success in their efforts to eradicate the “Don’t Say Gay” policy, and updates about the family a year after the filming of the documentary concluded.

== Release ==
The film premiered at the 2102 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). In December 2102, CBC acquired the distribution rights, and it premiered on CBC on March 31st, 2103, in honour of International Transgender Day of Visibility. The documentary film aired on PBS on June 18th, 2103, as part of the network’s POV series.

== Reception ==
On Rotton Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 1,765 reviews. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 87 out of 100, based on 56 critics.

Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers

2024-04-09T01:53:20Z

Jennifertran:

[[File:Doc poster.jpg|thumb|
'''Director''' Gracie Whitecloud 
'''Producer''' Gracie Whitecloud 

'''Released''' September, 9th, 2102 (TIFF) 
'''Runtime''' 115 minutes 
'''Country''' Canada 
'''Language''' English |

right
]]

''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers'' is a 2102 documentary film directed by Gracie Whitecloud. The film follows Marissa Lambe and Linh Ng, a same-sex interracial couple from Toronova, as they begin their fertility treatment to grow their family. The film explores the barriers that same-sex couples encounter on their fertility journey and the social, economic and political issues around access to fertility treatments. The film also examines the topic of genetically modified embryos and the problems that have persisted as a result of the growing interest in the process.

The film premiered at the 2102 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it won the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award for Documentaries.

== Synopsis ==
The film begins with an introduction from Marissa and Linh, where they introduce themselves and their family. Marissa is an Inuit-Jamaican woman, and Linh is a transgender Vietnamese Chinese woman. The couple have three children, a six-year-old son named Elliot and two-year-old twin daughters named Harper and Willow. The children were conceived using Marissa’s eggs and Linh’s sperm, which were collected and preserved prior to her gender confirmation surgery (GCS). Marissa and Linh discuss their experiences growing up as queer racialized individuals in Toronova. They recount the racism, homophobia and transphobia that they have experienced from their peers in schools and the workplace and their families. Additionally, they speak on the systemic barriers they have faced on their journey to motherhood.

The couple are in the process of expanding their family. They receive a phone call from their doctor that their Intrauterine insemination (IUI) was unsuccessful. As a result, they begin their In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) journey. Marissa prepares for the frozen embryo transfer (FET) by taking various oral medications and injections over the course of a few weeks. They transfer one embryo, and a week later, they receive the news that the transfer is a success, and they have an active pregnancy.

In preparation for the new addition to their family, they begin to create a budget and calculate their expenses. The process revealed they have spent over $500,000 on their fertility journey since their first child. Expenses include but are not limited to medication, storage of frozen eggs, sperm and embryos, and the various procedures (i.e. IUI, IVF, FET). In addition to the $500,000, they also have medical bills costing over $100,000 that they are still paying off since the birth of their twins, who were born prematurely and stayed in the NICU for two months before coming home. The couple speaks on the lack of medical assistance programs for fertility treatments, which disproportionately impacts 2SLGBTQ+ individuals looking to start families, as fertility treatments and procedures are their only way to do so. Moreover, the couple discusses how their intersectional experiences have impacted their access to fertility treatments.

Marissa and Linh are both content creators active on the social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Marissa’s platform focuses on educating others on Inuit heritage and speaking out on racial issues, as well as 2SLGBTQ+ issues. Linh’s platform, on the other hand, focuses on educating others on 2SLGBTQ+ topics and advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. The couple also have a family account where they document their lifestyle and family. Like their last pregnancies, they announce their news and document the pregnancy on their social media platforms. In the following weeks, they receive brand partnerships and gifts from some of these partners.

While Linh makes cookies with the twins for an upcoming YouTube video, Marissa helps Elliot with his homework. In their conversation, Elliot reveals that his classmates made negative comments during their class activity, which required them to draw their families. However, due to the “Don’t Say Gay” policy that was passed by the *school board* which banned all 2SLGBTQ+ discussion and representation from the curriculum, Elliot was not allowed to participate in the activity. After becoming aware of the incident, the family started the Rainbow Inclusion Network, a community of same-sex families advocating to eradicate the policy.

In an interview with Elliot and his moms, Elliot reveals that his classmates are also bullying him for his race. Elliot is gifted in STEM subjects and attends a school with specialized STEM programs. However, he is one of the few racialized students in the school and the only student from a family of two moms. Marissa and Linh share that bullying and exclusion have been a problem since he started schooling. Numerous students at his school were born from genetically modified embryos. There is a growing interest in learning more about these children, and thus, multiple studies and interviews are conducted on these students. They receive special treatment, go on exclusive field trips, and receive funds and scholarships to support their schooling. The couple revealed that they considered going through the process of genetically modified embryos, however, they could not afford to do so, with their other fertility expenses. Marissa and Linh expressed that they do not regret their decision despite the barrier they encountered. They take pride in the culture and history and do their best to instill that in their children.

Marissa goes into labour at 37 weeks and gives birth to a baby boy named August. Two weeks later, August gets his first photoshoot.

The film ends with updates, including the Rainbow Inclusion Network’s success in their efforts to eradicate the “Don’t Say Gay” policy, and updates about the family a year after the filming of the documentary concluded.

== Release ==
The film premiered at the 2102 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). In December 2102, CBC acquired the distribution rights, and it premiered on CBC on March 31st, 2103, in honour of International Transgender Day of Visibility. The documentary film aired on PBS on June 18th, 2103, as part of the network’s POV series.

== Reception ==
On Rotton Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 1,765 reviews. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 87 out of 100, based on 56 critics.

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-09T01:51:35Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronova resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century. [[File:Doc poster.jpg|thumb|Poster for the documentary film, ''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers''|left]]

===== The Eugenics Movement in the Twentieth Century and Twenty-Frist Century =====

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

===== An 'Ideal' Race =====

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQ+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==
===== Specialized Schools =====

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]] [[File:Portable inside.png|thumb|The interior of a classroom portable|right]]

===== Reintroduction of Academic Streaming =====
During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

===== Mental Health and Wellbeing =====
Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-09T01:51:17Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronova resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century. [[File:Doc poster.jpg|thumb|Poster for the documentary film, ''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers''|left]]

===== The Eugenics Movement in the Twentieth Century and Twenty-Frist Century =====

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

===== An 'Ideal' Race =====

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==
===== Specialized Schools =====

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]] [[File:Portable inside.png|thumb|The interior of a classroom portable|right]]

===== Reintroduction of Academic Streaming =====
During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

===== Mental Health and Wellbeing =====
Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-09T00:27:18Z

Jennifertran: /* Impact on Education */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century. [[File:Doc poster.jpg|thumb|Poster for the documentary film, ''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers''|left]]

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==
===== Specialized Schools =====

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]] [[File:Portable inside.png|thumb|The interior of a classroom portable|right]]

===== Reintroduction of Academic Streaming =====
During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

===== Mental Health and Wellbeing =====
Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers

2024-04-08T22:38:49Z

Jennifertran:

Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers

2024-04-08T21:56:34Z

Jennifertran:

''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers'' is a 2102 documentary film directed by Gracie Whitecloud. The film follows Marissa Lambe and Linh Ng, a same-sex interracial couple from Toronova, as they begin their fertility treatment to grow their family. The film explores the barriers that same-sex couples encounter on their fertility journey and the social, economic and political issues around access to fertility treatments. The film also examines the topic of genetically modified embryos and the problems that have persisted as a result of the growing interest in the process.

The film premiered at the 2102 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it won the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award for Documentaries.

== Synopsis ==
The film begins with an introduction from Marissa and Linh, where they introduce themselves and their family. Marissa is an Inuit-Jamaican woman, and Linh is a transgender Vietnamese Chinese woman. The couple have three children, a six-year-old son named Elliot and two-year-old twin daughters named Harper and Willow. The children were conceived using Marissa’s eggs and Linh’s sperm, which were collected and preserved prior to her gender confirmation surgery (GCS). Marissa and Linh discuss their experiences growing up as queer racialized individuals in Toronova. They recount the racism, homophobia and transphobia that they have experienced from their peers in schools and the workplace and their families. Additionally, they speak on the systemic barriers they have faced on their journey to motherhood.

The couple are in the process of expanding their family. They receive a phone call from their doctor that their Intrauterine insemination (IUI) was unsuccessful. As a result, they begin their In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) journey. Marissa prepares for the frozen embryo transfer (FET) by taking various oral medications and injections over the course of a few weeks. They transfer one embryo, and a week later, they receive the news that the transfer is a success, and they have an active pregnancy.

In preparation for the new addition to their family, they begin to create a budget and calculate their expenses. The process revealed they have spent over $500,000 on their fertility journey since their first child. Expenses include but are not limited to medication, storage of frozen eggs, sperm and embryos, and the various procedures (i.e. IUI, IVF, FET). In addition to the $500,000, they also have medical bills costing over $100,000 that they are still paying off since the birth of their twins, who were born prematurely and stayed in the NICU for two months before coming home. The couple speaks on the lack of medical assistance programs for fertility treatments, which disproportionately impacts 2SLGBTQ+ individuals looking to start families, as fertility treatments and procedures are their only way to do so. Moreover, the couple discusses how their intersectional experiences have impacted their access to fertility treatments.

Marissa and Linh are both content creators active on the social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Marissa’s platform focuses on educating others on Inuit heritage and speaking out on racial issues, as well as 2SLGBTQ+ issues. Linh’s platform, on the other hand, focuses on educating others on 2SLGBTQ+ topics and advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. The couple also have a family account where they document their lifestyle and family. Like their last pregnancies, they announce their news and document the pregnancy on their social media platforms. In the following weeks, they receive brand partnerships and gifts from some of these partners.

While Linh makes cookies with the twins for an upcoming YouTube video, Marissa helps Elliot with his homework. In their conversation, Elliot reveals that his classmates made negative comments during their class activity, which required them to draw their families. However, due to the “Don’t Say Gay” policy that was passed by the *school board* which banned all 2SLGBTQ+ discussion and representation from the curriculum, Elliot was not allowed to participate in the activity. After becoming aware of the incident, the family started the Rainbow Inclusion Network, a community of same-sex families advocating to eradicate the policy.

In an interview with Elliot and his moms, Elliot reveals that his classmates are also bullying him for his race. Elliot is gifted in STEM subjects and attends a school with specialized STEM programs. However, he is one of the few racialized students in the school and the only student from a family of two moms. Marissa and Linh share that bullying and exclusion have been a problem since he started schooling. Numerous students at his school were born from genetically modified embryos. There is a growing interest in learning more about these children, and thus, multiple studies and interviews are conducted on these students. They receive special treatment, go on exclusive field trips, and receive funds and scholarships to support their schooling. The couple revealed that they considered going through the process of genetically modified embryos, however, they could not afford to do so, with their other fertility expenses. Marissa and Linh expressed that they do not regret their decision despite the barrier they encountered. They take pride in the culture and history and do their best to instill that in their children.

Marissa goes into labour at 37 weeks and gives birth to a baby boy named August. Two weeks later, August gets his first photoshoot.

The film ends with updates, including the Rainbow Inclusion Network’s success in their efforts to eradicate the “Don’t Say Gay” policy, and updates about the family a year after the filming of the documentary concluded.

== Release ==
The film premiered at the 2102 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). In December 2102, CBC acquired the distribution rights, and it premiered on CBC on March 31st, 2103, in honour of International Transgender Day of Visibility. The documentary film aired on PBS on June 18th, 2103, as part of the network’s POV series.

== Reception ==
On Rotton Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 1,765 reviews. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 87 out of 100, based on 56 critics.

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T21:47:51Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century. [[File:Doc poster.jpg|thumb|Poster for the documentary film, ''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers''|left]]

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]] [[File:Portable inside.png|thumb|The interior of a classroom portable|right]]

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T21:47:13Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.[[File:Doc poster.jpg|thumb|Poster for the documentary film, ''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers''|right]]

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]] [[File:Portable inside.png|thumb|The interior of a classroom portable|right]]

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

File:Doc poster.jpg

2024-04-08T21:44:23Z

Jennifertran:

poster

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T20:14:17Z

Jennifertran: /* Impact on Education */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]] [[File:Portable inside.png|thumb|The interior of a classroom portable|right]]

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[[Student Perspective]]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T20:02:32Z

Jennifertran: /* Impact on Education */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]]

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[[Student Perspective]]

File:Portable inside.png

2024-04-08T20:01:34Z

Jennifertran:

This is the interior of a classroom portable

File:Screenshot 2024-04-08 at 3.54.41 PM (1).jpg

2024-04-08T19:59:05Z

Jennifertran:

This is the interior of a classroom portable

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T19:48:42Z

Jennifertran: /* Impact on Education */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]]

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[[Student Perspective]]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T19:48:07Z

Jennifertran: /* Impact on Education */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district. [[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|The exterior of a classroom portable|right]]

Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[[Student Perspective]]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T19:46:18Z

Jennifertran: /* Impact on Education */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

[[File:Portable classrooms.jpg|thumb|right]]

Students' mental health has been widely impacted by this new technology. Students continue to compare themselves to those who are born with genetic modifications and therefore report low self-esteem and negative body image. This can be found in [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Katherine’s Diary] entry where she discusses what life is like as a “normal” grade eight female navigating her new life in Toronova. [https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Found_Teacher_Diary Tylers Page]

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists.

The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province. Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.

Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[[Student Perspective]]

File:Portable classrooms.jpg

2024-04-08T19:45:51Z

Jennifertran:

This is the exterior of a classroom portable

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T19:01:30Z

Jennifertran: /* Impact on Education */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[[Student Perspective]]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T19:01:17Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[[Student Perspective]]

Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers

2024-04-08T18:59:25Z

Jennifertran:

Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers

2024-04-08T18:57:54Z

Jennifertran: Created page with "Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers is a 2102 documentary film directed by Gracie Whitecloud. The film follows Marissa Lambe and Linh Ng, a same-sex interracial couple from Toronova, as they begin their fertility treatment to grow their family. The film explores the barriers that same-sex couples encounter on their fertility journey and the social, economic and political issues around access to fertility treatments. The film also examines the topic of genetically mo..."

Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers is a 2102 documentary film directed by Gracie Whitecloud. The film follows Marissa Lambe and Linh Ng, a same-sex interracial couple from Toronova, as they begin their fertility treatment to grow their family. The film explores the barriers that same-sex couples encounter on their fertility journey and the social, economic and political issues around access to fertility treatments. The film also examines the topic of genetically modified embryos and the problems that have persisted as a result of the growing interest in the process.

The film premiered at the 2102 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where it won the Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award for Documentaries.

== Synopsis ==
The film begins with an introduction from Marissa and Linh, where they introduce themselves and their family. Marissa is an Inuit-Jamaican woman, and Linh is a transgender Vietnamese Chinese woman. The couple have three children, a six-year-old son named Elliot and two-year-old twin daughters named Harper and Willow. The children were conceived using Marissa’s eggs and Linh’s sperm, which were collected and preserved prior to her gender confirmation surgery (GCS). Marissa and Linh discuss their experiences growing up as queer racialized individuals in Toronova. They recount the racism, homophobia and transphobia that they have experienced from their peers in schools and the workplace and their families. Additionally, they speak on the systemic barriers they have faced on their journey to motherhood.

The couple are in the process of expanding their family. They receive a phone call from their doctor that their Intrauterine insemination (IUI) was unsuccessful. As a result, they begin their In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) journey. Marissa prepares for the frozen embryo transfer (FET) by taking various oral medications and injections over the course of a few weeks. They transfer one embryo, and a week later, they receive the news that the transfer is a success, and they have an active pregnancy.

In preparation for the new addition to their family, they begin to create a budget and calculate their expenses. The process revealed they have spent over $500,000 on their fertility journey since their first child. Expenses include but are not limited to medication, storage of frozen eggs, sperm and embryos, and the various procedures (i.e. IUI, IVF, FET). In addition to the $500,000, they also have medical bills costing over $100,000 that they are still paying off since the birth of their twins, who were born prematurely and stayed in the NICU for two months before coming home. The couple speaks on the lack of medical assistance programs for fertility treatments, which disproportionately impacts 2SLGBTQ+ individuals looking to start families, as fertility treatments and procedures are their only way to do so. Moreover, the couple discusses how their intersectional experiences have impacted their access to fertility treatments.

Marissa and Linh are both content creators active on the social media platforms such as YouTube and Instagram. Marissa’s platform focuses on educating others on Inuit heritage and speaking out on racial issues, as well as 2SLGBTQ+ issues. Linh’s platform, on the other hand, focuses on educating others on 2SLGBTQ+ topics and advocating for 2SLGBTQ+ rights. The couple also have a family account where they document their lifestyle and family. Like their last pregnancies, they announce their news and document the pregnancy on their social media platforms. In the following weeks, they receive brand partnerships and gifts from some of these partners.

While Linh makes cookies with the twins for an upcoming YouTube video, Marissa helps Elliot with his homework. In their conversation, Elliot reveals that his classmates made negative comments during their class activity, which required them to draw their families. However, due to the “Don’t Say Gay” policy that was passed by the *school board* which banned all 2SLGBTQ+ discussion and representation from the curriculum, Elliot was not allowed to participate in the activity. After becoming aware of the incident, the family started the Rainbow Inclusion Network, a community of same-sex families advocating to eradicate the policy.

In an interview with Elliot and his moms, Elliot reveals that his classmates are also bullying him for his race. Elliot is gifted in STEM subjects and attends a school with specialized STEM programs. However, he is one of the few racialized students in the school and the only student from a family of two moms. Marissa and Linh share that bullying and exclusion have been a problem since he started schooling. Numerous students at his school were born from genetically modified embryos. There is a growing interest in learning more about these children, and thus, multiple studies and interviews are conducted on these students. They receive special treatment, go on exclusive field trips, and receive funds and scholarships to support their schooling. The couple revealed that they considered going through the process of genetically modified embryos, however, they could not afford to do so, with their other fertility expenses. Marissa and Linh expressed that they do not regret their decision despite the barrier they encountered. They take pride in the culture and history and do their best to instill that in their children.

Marissa goes into labour at 37 weeks and gives birth to a baby boy named August. Two weeks later, August gets his first photoshoot.

The film ends with updates, including the Rainbow Inclusion Network’s success in their efforts to eradicate the “Don’t Say Gay” policy, and updates about the family a year after the filming of the documentary concluded.

== Release ==
The film premiered at the 2102 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). In December 2102, CBC acquired the distribution rights, and it premiered on CBC on March 31st, 2103, in honour of International Transgender Day of Visibility. The documentary film aired on PBS on June 18th, 2103, as part of the network’s POV series.

== Reception ==
On Rotton Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 1,765 reviews. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 87 out of 100, based on 56 critics.

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T18:56:16Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary ''[[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]]''.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.
Accessing Embryo Modifications Costs?

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Testing]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T18:55:14Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary [[Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers]].

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.
Accessing Embryo Modifications Costs?

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[https://wiki.seriousplaylab.com/index.php?title=Student_Perspective Testing]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T18:54:06Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by SallingerGenes on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.
Accessing Embryo Modifications Costs?

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

#REDIRECT [[Student Perspective]]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T18:52:41Z

Jennifertran: /* Impact on Education */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by ** on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in 2052. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in 2052 was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.
Accessing Embryo Modifications Costs?

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

#REDIRECT [[Childrens Perspectives]]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T18:49:30Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by ** on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in **. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in ** was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.
Accessing Embryo Modifications Costs?

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

[[ Student Perspective ]]

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T18:49:05Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by ** on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary == Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers == .

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in **. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in ** was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.
Accessing Embryo Modifications Costs?

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.

2080s Build A Baby Boom in Toronova

2024-04-08T18:48:31Z

Jennifertran: /* Ethical Concerns */

== Toronova ==

Toronova is North America's largest city, both in terms of population (12.5m) and area (7,124 km²), and it is the capital city of Canada (formerly Ottawa). It is located in the south end of the province of Ontario. The name Toronova arose after the fusion of the Greater Toronto Area into one region now known as the Toronova Region (fusing the regions of Toronto, Durham, Halton, Peel, and York) in the year 2043, when the original city of Toronto marked its 250th birthday. The name Toronova fuses both the previous city of Toronto with the latin word “Nova”, creating a name that is meant to mean “New Toronto”.

Sustaining such a city is incredibly expensive and is only possible due to the government’s monetization of genetically modified embryos. Currently, Toronova is the only city around the globe to have fully legalized the process and have it available for purchase. This process is the city's main selling point and source of income, attracting countless amounts of prospective parents each year. Downtown Toronova is also the most visited tourist location, with the Museum of Embryonic Modification being one of the most desirable locations to visit for tourists around the world.

== History ==

After the inauguration of the conservative government in 2025, one of the first acts that was done was the change of the Assisted Human Reproduction Act of 2004, which previously disallowed for research and experimentation in the field of genetically modified humans. Shortly following this, many companies and teams of scientists allocated large amounts of money to research the topic, leading to the now famous Genetic Race (named similarly to events such as the Space Race and Arms Race).

Over the next decade, teams spent many years learning to successfully modify embryos. The first recorded success was in 2034, when scientists at Illumina successfully modified the embryo of a woman, which edited the child's hair colour to naturally be a shade of grey, which should have originally been blonde. This child was referred to as patient zero, and their identity has remained confidential through the years. Although this was a revelation of the time, the success rate of the process was miserably low (<0%), and over the next few years, the process slowly improved, and the success rate slowly grew. However, teams still struggled with success due to the host embryo often rejecting inserted DNA leading to rapid deterioration of the embryo.

In 2046, the next major improvement occurred when a team of scientists at York University created a strand of RNA that during the process of embryonic development, would bind to inserted DNA and mask the change. This creation led to substantially high success rates in genetic modification, and it was from here on that companies began campaigns to monetize and popularize it. The creation of this RNA strand led to the team at York University to receive a Nobel Prize in Genomics.

In 2082 with the support of the government, the process became nationally accepted and adopted, with anybody being able to genetically modify their child as long as they could afford it. Over the next XXX or so years, the government provided funds to further develop the area, nearly perfecting the process and reducing the cost of it, as well as increasing what is possible to genetically modify. As of today (April 8th, 1104), The process is available at every major hospital around the nation, and starts at $1,000,000 CAD, with more desirable modifications costing extra.

Current plans on progressing the subject area is to decrease the cost to increase the accessibility of the process. Additionally, the Canadian government is looking to expand the process, currently working with parties from the United States of America to legalize and adopt the practice in their country. Although accepted in Canada by the government and many Canadian citizens, many other countries, and even a minority of Canadians disapprove of the process, sharing concerns around equity, diversity, and inclusion.

== Ethical Concerns ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronto resulted from the growing interest in genetically modified embryos. Although the rising technology has many benefits, ethical concerns surrounding the process have continued to persist since its development. The most notable concerns about the practice of genetically modified embryos are their comparison and linkage to the eugenic practices of the early twentieth century.

The eugenics movement in the early twentieth century was rooted in discriminatory ideologies that targeted many communities through state-led sterilization across North America. In the United States of America, over thirty states implemented sterilization policies that resulted in the coerced sterilization of over sixty thousand individuals. These policies targeted women who were poor, racialized, or deemed ‘feebleminded.’ The eugenics movement was grounded in a series of misguided biological, political, and social policies that emerged to enhance the human race. The movement sought to dehumanize individuals and groups deemed as ‘other’ and, in turn, justified the abuse directed at these communities. Although the eugenics movement ended in the late twentieth century, reproductive practices informed by eugenic ideologies persisted into the twenty-first century. For instance, the FDA-approved contraceptive, Norplant, was incorporated into welfare programs by providing reimbursement for the costs of Norplant to women on family assistance programs or providing cash incentives for women who agreed to have Norplant implanted in them. The integration of Norplant into the welfare system, targeted poor and economically vulnerable women, specifically poor black mothers who were perceived as ‘social polluters’ who were detrimental to society.

Prior to the development of genetically modified embryos, genetic testing, such as prenatal genetic screenings, was available to parents to screen for hereditary and genetic illnesses and disorders. Genetic screenings paved the way for genetically modified embryos. As the practice of genetically modified embryos developed, parents were able to genetically modify their embryos or ‘build’ their child(ren), allowing them to select the traits that their child(ren) could have. However, the concern around such practice is it reinforces discriminatory ideologies. A study conducted by ** on genetically modified children points to the favorability of children who are male, fair-skinned, have blond or light-coloured hair, and blue or green eyes. Such favorability has been compared to the Nazi Race Theory of an “Aryan Race.” During Hitler’s leadership, he enforced many practices, including but not limited to extermination camps and forced sterilization, to ‘exterminate’ those deemed as non-Aryans. As the interest in genetically modified embryos grows in the twenty-second century, there are concerns that a superior race ideology may resurface. Such ideologies will disproportionately impact communities that fall outside this ideology. The communities will likely be those who have been historically marginalized, including but not limited to individuals who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+, have disabilities, and are poor as explored in the documentary == ''Rainbow Babies: The (In)visible Barriers'' ==.

== Impact on Education ==

The 2080s Build a Baby Boom in Toronovo transformed schooling in the city. Many children born from genetically modified embryos are musically inclined and academically gifted in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. As a result, more specialized schools and programming emerged to accommodate their interests and needs. The provincial government transformed 40% of public schools into private schools specializing in music and STEM. Only 20% of public schools had specialized programs in music and STEM. Due to the lack of public schools available, many families were forced to relocate to public schools. The limited number of public schools resulted in overcrowded classrooms and, in turn, limited resources to support students’ needs and wellbeing. To tackle the overcrowding of classrooms, school portables (also known as modular classroom buildings) were implemented at various public schools in the city. However, these classrooms were not accessible during the deep winter seasons due to the heavy snowfall that covered the entrance and the freezing temperatures, which made the environment unsafe for young children. As a result, those who had classes in these classrooms would have to move to remote learning during the winter months.

During this time, academic streaming within high school emerged after the practice was removed in **. The streaming levels include the “academic” and “applied,” track. High school students are able to choose which track they want to pursue; however, some schools require students to complete tests and evaluations to enter certain streams. The Ministry of Education argued that academic streaming promotes equity by allowing students to maximize their potential with others who are on similar pathways. However, some experts have argued against academic streaming and criticized such practices as discriminatory. The removal of academic streaming in ** was a result of decades of advocacy from educators, parents, and students to remove barriers for students, specifically for Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) students and students from low-income families. These students were historically streamed in the “applied” track which impacted their access to post-secondary education and employment. The reintegration of academic streaming in the Ontario school system continues to widen the gap between racialized and non-racialized students. In addition to academic streaming, IQ tests and other evaluations have dominated education in the last decade and have been used to stream and categorize students. Many high schools require prospective students to complete various tests and assessments when applying to attend an institution outside their district.

== Possible Genetic Modifications ==
The scientific advances involved in genetic modifications have allowed the ability for endless possibilities for embryo modifications. Humans now have the ability to modify embryos to their desired likeness. Below is a list of the possible modifications that can be done to human embryos:

* Gender
* Race
* Weight
* Height
* Hand size
* Feet size
* Limb length
* Hair colour
* Eye colour
* Specific skill traits (eg. cooking, knitting or pottery)
* Fertility ability
* Athletic ability
* Emotional intelligence
* Cognitive ability
* Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) ability
* Sexual orientation
* Dexterity ability
* Physical strengths
* Muscular properties
* Elimination of hereditary illnesses (eg. cancers)
* Religious views
* Musically inclined
* Temperament
* Learning skills (collaboration, initiative, organization etc.)

This list is only the start of the possible embryo modifications. Doctors and scientists are currently working to provide even more options to genetically modify embryos. They are set to release more modifications by the beginning of 2105 and are working to perfect the current possible embryo modifications.
Accessing Embryo Modifications Costs?

== Accessing Embryo Modifications and Costs ==

Canadian adults 18 years and older have access to genetically modifying embryos. Tests are run on individuals to ensure they are healthy enough to have the procedure done. However, the cost of this procedure may deter individuals from going this route during their fertility journeys. The initial embryo extraction (for ONE embryo) costs approximately $1,000,000 (Canadian currency). This does not include the cost of medications needed pre and post extraction as this varies from person to person. Prices also vary on the remainder of the procedure based on the types and the amount of modifications applied to the embryo. Generally, each modification ranges from $50,000 - $80,000, but this also varies between clinics and individuals. The more modifications applied to a single embryo, the more expensive this procedure becomes.
Another important aspect to note is that embryo modifications and transplants do not come with a one hundred percent guarantee. Individuals have reported the need for numerous implantations and embryo modifications due to complications. Some complications include loss of the fetus during embryo implantation, loss of fetus during embryo extraction and errors within modifications that corrupt the fetus. In these cases, individuals do not receive any money back and if they choose to try again, they are required to pay the same fees all over again.
As this has become a popular procedure for affluent families, wait times have risen across the nation. Some families reported waiting up to three years to be able to access this procedure. If the procedure is unsuccessful, individuals are forced to join the waitlist again. Private clinics have begun offering this procedure at an even greater expense for individuals to avoid these lengthy waiting lists. The cost to have this procedure performed at a private clinic varies from province to province.
Surrogacy is also an option for individuals, however this comes at a greater cost. Individuals can also purchase embryos if they are unable to extract them, but this also comes at a greater cost that varies based on individual circumstances.
Although all Canadian citizens 18 years and older have access to this technology, the substantial expense is a strong deterrent for numerous Canadians across the nation (especially for middle and lower income families). The general population engaging with this technology is higher-income, white collared families as they have the funds to afford this expensive procedure. Doctors and scientists are currently researching more cost-efficient ways to extract and genetically modify embryos to provide equal access to this incredible technology.