Generic Engineering

Anyone interested in debating the pros an cons of generic engineering or gene splicing? CNN put on a short segment on protecting a fetus from its mothers significant diseases. When I first did a college paper (a long time ago) to cover my science requirement, the hot topic was, “do you want to determine your child’s eyesight or hair color with gene splicing”. I was against it at the time - don’t want to try and create the perfect baby. However, now the advancements are slanting toward preventing inheriting a mother’s problems and it seems if this can be sorted out it would appear to be positive. Still, I imagine problems might occur like they did with initial birth control pills.
What do you support?

 

I should be supporting the idea, but common sense dictates otherwise. If the vast majority of the world population used their brains instead of showing they have the IQ of an amoebe, if they had an inkling about responsibility, and understood the meaning of ethics, I presume it might be possible. However, since mankind in general has not shown signs of any development / improvement in these areas since they appeared here on earth (with some exeptions luckily, to prove it is possible), I am very much against it. We only have to go back in time less than 100 years to stumble on some nitwit that decided to create a superrace... Prevent illnesses fine, but the possibilities go so much further, and that's where the problem lies.
Vicmico

 

I think what we all want to know is, since the babies are generic, are they cheaper?



Larry

 

Good one "Pat", a very dangerous and at the same time a very promising area, I read three books over the last six months, dealing with this very topic. What I have learned is, that we are capable of detecting defect genes since about 20 years and we are able to clone for the same time. In this 20 years there were many debates on the morality of the research being done, it's always been presented in a consumer friendly way, that means that the public mostly nows about the positive possibilities, like "Vicmico" writes, there are much more sinister ones that are possible. The way genetic information can be collected is not difficult anymore, the amount of material is microscopic and can be got with out one noticing, if, for example you want a life insurance, the company accepting you, would be very happy if they could know ahead what kind of problems you might develop, even more so with health insurance.
Theoretically, nobody outside of this science knows what is really possible, but one can be assured that the elite is looking for ways to get longer lives and healthier lives for them selfs...

 

Good points simple mind. I could see as many disadvantages as advantages, at this point. For example, Bill Gates reengineering himself and living to be 200 yrs. old is not appealing to me. However, if there becomes a method to prevent Down Syndrome or a baby to being born with AIDS then that would be positive. The thing is you can not stop progress so hopefully there will be a manageable process as this moves forward.

 

Gene cloning has been studied for over 40 years. Given no internet at that time, I did most of my research looking at Scientific Atlantic and like magazines. Following shows a 1973 article. Of course there is much more available online today.

 

Not sure about pricing but seem to be concept of discounts for large quantities here

I am not sure if they are cheaper if there are generic here, but it does seem like someone is preaching discounts/lower costs for larger quantities per family.

 

The book I am reading right now deals with another side of genetic engineering, Biological Warfare, that's the stuff for nightmares...

A History Of US Secret Human Experimentation | The Diary of my Insomnia

 

Bio warfare is nothing new. It's been around for thousands of years. When the Phoenicians (1500-300 BC) were retreating from a superior army, they would contaminate the water holes by leaving their dead in them, making them unusable to the advancing victors.

 

Thats the kind of Bio warfare that should be easy enough to see and smell and give you warning not to drink the water... the new stuff is just "f*cking" scary...