Genetic Engineering: Yay Or Nay?

[Dusty Donuts]

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.

 

[L4hlborg]

Depends on what you do and to what. If it is done in a concealed enviroment, where the test subjects cannot reproduce, it wouldn't harm nature. Ofcource holding humans and animals like that is unnatural, I'm talking mainly plants.

 

[FightThePower]

To stop diseases, yes. For vanity, no.

 

[LongAndShort]

If television, movies, games and books are to be believed, nothing good will come of it...

 

[Ezzay]

Screw nature.

If we can improve on something, then by all means we should.

Tell me right now, if human kind one day figured out how to make humans grow wings and fly, would you say "I don't want them"?

 

[mdk31]

Yes. I feel that when the technology is advanced enough, it should be used to improve people. Make them smarter especially. Also, should cure all genetic diseases, improve the immune system... Just improve on what nature has already made.

 

[Xvito]

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.

 

[Lazier Than Thou]

I'm against most forms of eugenics on the grounds that even if it isn't started by racist principles(as it was by the Nazis) it will inevitably end up racist. Well, I suppose the term would probably be "geneticsist" or something like that, since your worth as a human being will be seen based upon your genes.

Playing long term, it doesn't end well.

 

[Archaeology Hat]

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!

 

[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.

 

[Chris M.]

If we genetically modify plants for food purposes then it's all well and good but for Humans then We should see what we can do and if the modifactions make the subjects horribly insane then I will vote for installing bulleproof glass int the labs. Don't want real mutants all over the place if most of the population isn't. But as for stem-cells which are the more "Short-term" version of genetic modification I'll be danged if someone doesn't take it too far.

 

[The_Healer]

It is certainly a very complex issue.

On one hand, the ability to engineer people to be smarter, stronger, taller, to live longer and be free of disease.

On the other, the widening of the gap between the rich and the poor: those who can afford genetic engineering become better and therefore find it easier to make even more money. The poor are just stuck in an endless cycle.

Overall, I believe it would be good BUT would require strict regulation.

The advance of technology is always controversial but nearly always has positive side effects.
Eg. The atom bomb spawned nuclear reactors.

 

[lostclause]

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.

We've already overcome nature, selective breeding in animals and plants means that what exists now hardly resembles what we domesticated originally. Compare a pomeranian to a wolf and you'll see what we've done.
On topic: Genetic engineering is fine for increased productivity but it has to be carefully tested for side effects first. In humans, I'm a bit more hesitant except in medical cases.

 

[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.

--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?

 

[bodyklok]

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.

 

[Knight Templar]

Not people or animals, but plants, food and medication? Yes.

I don't want to live in a sims world.

 

[Xvito]

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.

 

[Lazier Than Thou]

I reckon that what's not natural evolution is not right.

Clothes aren't natural.
Nor are houses, computers...internet...

I personally am all for fucking around with genetics for fun and profit - I would appreciate it more if I could have chosen my genes, though.

Sure, hypnotizing a Big Daddy and forcing it to wreck havoc on your enemy sounds fun, but I don't think it's very practical in day to day life.

 

[Supraliminal]

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

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.