Should humans be allowed to modify genes of offspring?

[Wulfman]

do you know what corn or wheat looked like, lets say, 10 000 years ago, or even 500 years? Or tomatoes?

you would be surprised, I think...



what would happen if you only knew the "old" grain and somebody shows you the one on the right - what would you say?

as it was already said, we have always manipulated plants and animals around us - take a close look at your pet, your dog or cat...

why is the human different?

I don't want to think about what could be if we compare these plants and think of humans, but I fear it will happen.
And I don't think it can be stopped by prohibiting it.
To cure diseases we have to find out what the different genes are responsible for - and nobody can limit that to the illness causing ones. Growth, hair colour - whatever, we might find it - and use it.

mfg
wulfman

edit: found a pic

[Wombat]

Wulf, things evolve, naturally. Things breed (naturally or forced), and offspring are chosen.
Why are humans different? Go ahead and breed humans. I'm fine with that ( from a scientific point, not a social one). But GA is just bad news. Whether it's plant or animal. One of the biggest problems I have is that I don't trust the operator. Those megacorps are out to make every last dollar. They'll rush things to market without understanding exactly what they've created. They'll hide any bad information, just like they do now. I shudder at trusting my life to the likes of Monsanto.

One thing about the genetics/twins thing: I'm a believer in the "activator" concept. Genes control your development only to the extent that they are turned on. Also, other things affect the body. Among many effects of marijuana is stunted growth. I knew a pair of identical twins where one started smoking up heavily about a year or more before her sister. The one who started smoking first was 3 or 4 inches shorter.


"Dolly" was just in the news. She's developed rheumatoid arthritis, at 5 years old. I don't know how common that is for her age. On a side note, I don't consider Dolly a full clone. Not until we copy the mitochondria too.

[dZeus]

for those interested and capable of receiving BBC, there's a program which is about genetical engineering, on BBC2, sunday evening at 9pm GMT.

[RedRed]

ohhhh.... scary the votes are exactly split at the moment....

I cast a 'no'

reason....

While cross breeding is fine, modification of genes is not.

1

[RedRed]

ohhhh.... scary the votes are exactly split at the moment....

I cast a 'no'

reason....

While cross breeding is fine, modification of genes is not.

1 we dont know the full ramifications of the change
2 Even if we did, we would be adversly aggecting the 'biodiversity' of humans
3 Who is to define a 'disease'.. 100 years after the process is perfected, we could see left handed-ness as a genetic disease
4 The earlier discussions on the Bethoven being deaf, Stephen Hawkins etc..... sometimes greatness can spring from adversity....

With regards to Genetic modification of plants & animals.... I am with Greebe and Einstien on this, 'God doesnt play dice'. There is a purpose behind the genetic malfunctions/twists you could eliminate.


Take me.... I have NO relative on my fathers sde (of 9 kids) who has lived past 65! Heart attacks (almost) all. I would not wist to be 'fixed' I would not be ME!


Regards
John J

[Dr Mordrid]

Fortunately my family is the exact opposite. Nearly everyone has lived past 85. All but one of my grandparents, and both of my parents, lived past that age and one grandfather made it to 101. He died mowing the lawn and was active and sharp as hell up to that day.

My sole grandparent who "didn't make it" was due to a train wreck. Can't do much about that.

Seems a lot of this is due to hyperactive liver enzymes. When we compared notes most of us were running run VERY low serum cholesterols. Mine is typically 80-100 with a very good ratio between HDL and LDL. My Dr. is PO'ed that my levels are lower than his, even though he's a vegetarian and I'm far from it

While it would be nice to make that part of the family genome available to others, something I'd gladly do if possible, I feel that without very strong (even rigidly uncomprimising) regulation this technique would be horribly abused.

Dr. Mordrid

[hippie91]

i said yes and here are me reasons:

stop a kid from bein born with 2 heads and 8 arms or something

reasons for no:

-army would make super soldiers or something
-all the KKK folk would make arian (sp?) kids
-badass hot girls would lose all meaning if everyone's kids were super hot
-we're overcrouding the earth as is... do we really need to find a way to make the life expectancy 50 years more?



i'm sure i could thing o more stuff to write but it's 5 am and i've been really sick as of late so i dunno if i'm even typing in the right box and all