Genetic Engineering: Yay Or Nay?

[Redingold]

Soon... Soon you will make babies the same way that you make characters in The Sims. It's depressing and horrible, so I'm very much against it.

At least I know that I wouldn't want to be what someone else made me into.

--Xvito, keeping it excellent.

Why? A child has no choice in the genes they receive regardless of what happens. You are what someone else made you into.

My parents didn't pick me from a list.

That's just what they wanted you to believe, you're actually adopted.

NOOOOOOOOOO!

Soon... Soon you will make babies the same way that you make characters in The Sims. It's depressing and horrible, so I'm very much against it.

At least I know that I wouldn't want to be what someone else made me into.

--Xvito, keeping it excellent.

Why? A child has no choice in the genes they receive regardless of what happens. You are what someone else made you into.

My parents didn't pick me from a list.

--Xvito, keeping it excellent.

But they made you into the person you are today. Do you not think that if you had been born to two poor African people, your life would have been different?

What does that have to do with my genes...? I would probably have been different, but my choices would still have been left up to me.

Anyways, to answer your previous question a bit more elaborately. I don't have any control over my genes, true. But, neither does anyone else!

--Xvito, keeping it excellent.

Nothing to do with your genes. It's to do with who you are. You would not make the same choices in life if you'd had a different upbringing. You can't deny that.

What would be wrong with people having control over your genes? A gene is a gene, regardless of how it got there. If you'd been naturally born being incredibly handsome and smart (like me), it wouldn't be different to you being selected to be handsome and smart.

 

[Mr Companion]

What are my fellow escapists thoughts on Genetic Engineering?
I reckon that what's not natural evolution is not right. It seems wrong to rush something that would happen naturally and can upset the balance of nature.
Yes, I believe in evolution; please needle me about that if you wish.

I think it is worth a try in order to cure some of the more stubborn ailments. I am not so sure about genetically engineering people with strong abilities, because it would likely not work and if it did then it would be too far in the immoral direction.

 

[lostclause]

Nothing to do with your genes. It's to do with who you are. You would not make the same choices in life if you'd had a different upbringing. You can't deny that.

This is beginning to come back to nature vs nurture. Your genetics influences your personality [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/health/news/article.cfm?c_id=204&objectid=10566320] but so does your environment. Still the idea that you'd been chosne, not just adopted but down to your very personality, is quite upsetting.

 

[traceur_]

Abso-fucking-lutely. The sooner we speed up human evolution, the better. Natural selection of humans is already severely limited.

 

[Jaythulhu]

Fuck yeah for genetic modification! I could get my eye repaired and finally have a full field of vision!

L'il Kevvie Rudd has promised fully functional cybernetic eye replacements within 5 years though, and my state does lead the world in cyber- and biotechnology, so I'd say that might be the winner, for me at least. Especially if the science geeks get their act together and make ones that look like Terminator eyes.

 

[Malkavian]

Yay. Genetically engineering food in the developing countries, could stop famine, diseases and increase equality.

Yup. I'm all for it.

Fiddling with the human genes, on the other hand, would probably end up in some enormous changes in the world.
Gene enchanted super people, who are either hyper intelligent/strong, could fly, had psychic powers.... would tear the human race into bits and pieces. Pretty fast.

And you have what proof for this? If anything, if we actually made people more intelligent wouldn't they not tear the earth into pieces? That seems pretty intelligent to me. If people are smart enough to not fuck anything up, then what does it matter that they cut cheese with the beams from their eyes?

Doesn't mean I agree with human modification through genes. Well. I do. But we have to consider two things:
Who will be the testpersons? To actually be able to do anythin, we have to try it out on humans, before we have a solid idea of how and what to do. Sucks being the child that was born as a labexperiment, that went wrong.

Another thing is that we'll have to consider the damages we do to the genepool. If we start choosing our childrens genes, we stop evolution, as mutations do not occur. That means that the rest of the biological world, becomes much more dangerous. New diseases will wreak much more havoc.

 

[Lord Mountbatten Reborn]

It depends in what way it is used. If it is bought by the highest bidder to make them "look pretty", then no way.

If it is of actual benefit to members of the human race's survival, then full steam ahead.

"No, you will be changing God's template", cries the inherently religious in my ear.
I say back: "If God doesn't like it, he will stop it won't he?"

 

[daywalker1776]

Yay. Genetically engineering food in the developing countries, could stop famine, diseases and increase equality.

Yup. I'm all for it.

Fiddling with the human genes, on the other hand, would probably end up in some enormous changes in the world.
Gene enchanted super people, who are either hyper intelligent/strong, could fly, had psychic powers.... would tear the human race into bits and pieces. Pretty fast.

And you have what proof for this? If anything, if we actually made people more intelligent wouldn't they not tear the earth into pieces? That seems pretty intelligent to me. If people are smart enough to not fuck anything up, then what does it matter that they cut cheese with the beams from their eyes?

Doesn't mean I agree with human modification through genes. Well. I do. But we have to consider two things:
Who will be the testpersons? To actually be able to do anythin, we have to try it out on humans, before we have a solid idea of how and what to do. Sucks being the child that was born as a labexperiment, that went wrong.

Another thing is that we'll have to consider the damages we do to the genepool. If we start choosing our childrens genes, we stop evolution, as mutations do not occur. That means that the rest of the biological world, becomes much more dangerous. New diseases will wreak much more havoc.

I would have to agree to a certain extent
I mean, the parents should be allowed to decide whether their child is smart, strong, or anything else natural in the human evolutionary change
And if they don't want to decide, they can do it the fun way
but to produce food and what not that would make this world a better place for humans, I support it
Also, I know someone's been asking this in their mind. If a species of bird or something went extinct because of human intervention, than not only should said humans responsible for it be punished, but said animals and their environment should be be recreated if we had that opportunity.
But, if a species of animal was destroyed by natural means, it should not be recreated, or only recreated on a small level in an isolated area so as not to disrupt the natural order.
As a wise man once said. "God creates dinosaur. God destroys dinosaur. God creates man. Man destroys god. Man creates dinosaur..... Dinosaur eats man. Woman inherits the Earth"

 

[Cargando]

If it ends up with me with wings, hell yeah!

Seriously though, why not? Just so long as it doesn't extend to designer babies.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

If it's for the betterment of humanity, why not? Maybe I'm just selfish, but I could care less about balance if it means that we can better ourselves.

 

[Neosage]

I'm all for it, I think it can give the human race some huge benefits, as long as it doesn't result in zombies (which, you can't deny, would be really fun.)

 

[The Blue Mongoose]

I agree with it. I want my Griffons damn it!

 

[Spaceman_Spiff]

I'm all for it but designer babies is where I draw the line.

 

[Lazy Kitty]

I'm all for it, BTW a few days ago I saw some documentary on NGC, it seems they've already successfully altered worms so they don't age anymore and live 5 or 6 times longer by disabling or removing the gene which causes aging, this would also be possible on humans, it would make us grow about 500 years old, also it would be permanent, it would still be in effect on the generations which come after.

 

[similar.squirrel]

Just because we're aware of it doesn't mean it's not proper evolution.
And I think we've upset the balance of nature a long, long time ago.
In fact, I can think of many ways in which genetic engineering could help the environment.
We just need to be very careful with things like GM crops.

And I like the idea of designer babies.
I feel very screwed over because I look sub-par. Had my parents been able to choose some kind of Adonis-like model, a lot of grief would have been saved.

Transhumanism 'ftw'

 

[Kollega]

Definetly yay,but just because there's no other way.

Of course,i mean flora and fauna engineering,not changing humans. Without genetically modified foods and materials we'll end up in nowhere. So modifying plants and farm animals for better efficency is a nessecary step in ecological revolution,along with clean energy and stopping littering everywhere.

But genetic modification of humans will inevitably end up as racist and cyberpunk-ish.

 

[Internet Kraken]

This topic is to broad. There are many things genetic engineering could be used for, some of which I am against and some of which I support.

 

[Sonicron]

We might have to use it to grow enough food to feed a growing world population so, if it can be used to help us, why the hell not?

Of course human Genetic Engineering is a big no no. But genetically engineering a new kind of wheat that produces a crop every 2 weeks? Sure!

This. Exactly this. You, sir, deserve a cookie... just as soon as that wheat is harvested and processed. ^^

 

[manic_depressive13]

Yay, and to whatever extent they wish - I've never been a big one for the sanctity of human life.

Also, I don't care because I'll probably be dead long before the technology is advanced enough for anything intersting to happen. The future doesn't really interest me. Whether genetic mutation saves or destroys mankind, we won't even know.

So full steam ahead.