General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Meerkat on December 25, 2010, 06:38:00 PM
Title: bio-ethics?
Post by: Meerkat on December 25, 2010, 06:38:00 PM
whats everyones position on genetic engineering of humans? what types of genetic engineering are acceptable? how should it be regulated?
I think that its good as long as nothing is done to an existing human without his/her consent. the state should also ensure that there is enough genetic diversity so that we can't be wiped out too easily (this does not mean deliberately give people illnesses). there would also need to be a way to make sure there is no genetic underclass like in GATTACCA
Title: Re: bio-ethics?
Post by: Rubystars on December 25, 2010, 07:20:03 PM
This whole topic makes me want to run away screaming. Gene therapies are good to treat illnesses but genetically engineering humans in the sense of designer embryos, seems like a horrible, horrible idea that can only be evil.
Title: Re: bio-ethics?
Post by: Meerkat on December 25, 2010, 07:23:55 PM
i understand the potential for such technology to be abused, but is it inherently evil?
Title: Re: bio-ethics?
Post by: Lewinsky Stinks, Dr. Brennan Rocks on December 25, 2010, 07:29:20 PM
Have to agree with Rubystars on this, just the thought alone is hideous beyond words.
Title: Re: bio-ethics?
Post by: Raulmarrio2000 on December 26, 2010, 12:16:27 AM
Genetic engineering on humans, if it's practical and not just theoretical investigation, is really evil. I aslo disgree with it on plants or animals if the transgenic species are delivered to Nature. But I agree with it if it's done on animals, plants or microbes in the lab under safety messures to make medicines and vaccines.
Title: Re: bio-ethics?
Post by: Ari Ben-Canaan on December 26, 2010, 02:55:31 AM
Title: Re: bio-ethics?
Post by: Rubystars on December 26, 2010, 05:48:02 AM
Human life is precious and needs to be respected. If people design embryos to order, and the embryos don't form into the perfect baby that they wanted, it's quite possible those "failed" babies could be aborted, killed through infanticide, or if they're born, told through life that they are a failure and inferior to the ones who turned out "right". That's just the private sector.
Military applications open up a whole other huge can of worms. There always have been and always will be people with zero ethical limitations. They may decide to design humans with animal features.
They will engineer people to have all kinds of traits it's hard to even imagine right now regardless of the quality of life (or the lack thereof) that this would lead to.