• Quick note - the problem with Youtube videos not embedding on the forum appears to have been fixed, thanks to ZiprHead. If you do still see problems let me know.

Genetic modification

AWPrime

Master Poster
A
Joined
Sep 26, 2004
Messages
2,926
Would you geneticly modify your offspring to give them an edge?


I would, if it was safe. What do you think?
 
I haven't looked into this issue in any depth, but my gut instinct is to say 'no' simply due to human error. The genetic code looks a little delicate to me, and if the wrong a, c, t, or g is stuck in the sequence, you could end up with something other than what you paid for. The lawsuit would probably go for years.

And anyway, I think it's pretty well established that genetically-modified humans eventually become superhuman monsters that try to conquer the Earth.
 
And anyway, I think it's pretty well established that genetically-modified humans eventually become superhuman monsters that try to conquer the Earth.
Click to expand...


Using movies to predict the future.:roll: :rolleyes:
 
AWPrime said:



Using movies to predict the future.:roll: :rolleyes:
Click to expand...


Excuse me! I don't just rely on movies to predict the future!

There's comic books, too. And sci-fi pulps.

I'd appreciate an apology.
 
Re: Re: Genetic modification

El Greco said:
We've been watching "Gattaca", eh ?
Click to expand...

Only a long time ago. But I don't think it would be used as massive as in that movie and people would have different opinions on what kind of edge to give.
 
Mr Manifesto said:
And anyway, I think it's pretty well established that genetically-modified humans eventually become superhuman monsters that try to conquer the Earth.
Click to expand...
That's not true, some of them realise they're aborminations, and nobly sacrifice their life in the proces of destroying the laboratory where they're created.
 
AWPrime said:
Would you geneticly modify your offspring to give them an edge?


I would, if it was safe. What do you think?
Click to expand...

If it were safe to do so, then I'd be in favor of limited genetic tweaking--just enough to correct medical problems. If I ever have children, they're going to have vision problems. If that could be prevented, why not?

And there are more serious genetic problems in the world. What about hemophilia? If it were possible to fix that before birth, wouldn't it be unethical not to?

I wouldn't be in favor of frivolous tweaking, though, for cosmetic things ("wouldn't it be nice to have each child a different hair color?") or nutty things ("I think Little Suzy will be better able to cope with life if she has retractable claws").

Although I'm in favor of adding retractable claws later in life, when Suzy is old enough to make the decision on her own.
 
Of course. Why not design out diease if you have the ability to do so? Plus you could do cool suff like adding chromatophores so we can change colour and glow in the dark like cuttle fish.
 
I agree with Tragic Monkey about preventing genetic diseases and ailments but it would clearly go farther than.

If you had a chance to make your child immune to AIDS, cancer and malaria, would you? If you could let him eat all the chocolate in the world and not have a heart problem, would you? If you could prevent her from ever getting fat, would you?

Most people would answer yes to all the above (assuming it were safe.) Once you have done that, could you resist some important tweaking? Would you add a few points to their IQ? Would you make them stronger and more tolerant to pain? Would you keep them from getting addicted to alcohol and other drugs? Would you stop them from going bald? Would you keep them from having acne? Would you stop them from having frizzy hair?

I am sure that I would go down the list at least to a higher IQ. I might well go further.

CBL
 
CBL4 said:
I agree with Tragic Monkey about preventing genetic diseases and ailments but it would clearly go farther than.

If you had a chance to make your child immune to AIDS, cancer and malaria, would you? If you could let him eat all the chocolate in the world and not have a heart problem, would you? If you could prevent her from ever getting fat, would you?

Most people would answer yes to all the above (assuming it were safe.) Once you have done that, could you resist some important tweaking? Would you add a few points to their IQ? Would you make them stronger and more tolerant to pain? Would you keep them from getting addicted to alcohol and other drugs? Would you stop them from going bald? Would you keep them from having acne? Would you stop them from having frizzy hair?

I am sure that I would go down the list at least to a higher IQ. I might well go further.

CBL
Click to expand...

Well, apart from the fact that I dont think IQ has a basis in genetics (normally). I would answer yes to all. Bring it on! Happy days!
 
CBL4 said:
Once you have done that, could you resist some important tweaking? Would you add a few points to their IQ? Would you make them stronger and more tolerant to pain? Would you keep them from getting addicted to alcohol and other drugs? Would you stop them from going bald? Would you keep them from having acne? Would you stop them from having frizzy hair?
Click to expand...

I'd do all of the above except frizzy hair, which is frivolous to mess with and would hurt the hair product industry; acne, which is nature's vengeance on smart-alecky teenagers; and the increased tolerance to pain--I wouldn't want to deny future generations the ability to enjoy sadomasochism.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top Bottom