Trekkie With a Phaser

Are you saying that human beings should have no rights in regard to their own bodies or to their offspring if it may in some way effect humanity? What if a baby is going to be born with severe retardation or will be born blind and deaf? The human race as a whole is not going to give a damn about this one kid, but the parents will and they will have to take care of the child for the rest of its life. In your opinion they don't have the right to choose to correct the child's problems because its genome belongs to humanity? Does that mean that the suffering that both the parents and the child will suffer is okay?

(If I misunderstood your position on this subject, feel free to correct me. )

John Page

We already practice genetic engineering, but only on the same kind of subconscious level as wombats, dinosaurs and Malibu Barbie.

Isn't the debate about whether conscious genetic engineering will produce benefits (against the criteria we consciously use) as against subconscious genetic engineering?

Cheers, John

Edited to include this reference to the Cane Toads and Koy's carp. ROFLMAO.

[ July 19, 2002: Message edited by: John Page ]</p>

RogerLeeCooke

As many have no doubt already said, the word "wrong" doesn't have any objective meaning. All anyone can really do is tell you why he/she wants or doesn't want genetic engineering. I want it to proceed, but *very* cautiously. We are far from knowing enough to avoid unexpected consequences if we go tinkering with people's genes. On the other hand, there are some genetic defects so bad that snipping out the offending gene is worth the risk, that is, I would take it.

RogerLeeCooke

Malibu Barbie isn't my worry. I'm afraid we'll wind up with Klaus Barbie.

tronvillain

Well, if we assume that the process works, then as long as all we're doing is shuffling known human alleles around, there shouldn't be much of a problem. There's always the possibility that unique and unusual combinations could have negative side effects, but those are probably rare.

ishalon

I definitely don't agree with genetic beauty engineering, because we'll eventually end up with everyone looking average again in the end.

tronvillain

Yes, but "average" will be spectacular, so I fail to see exactly what you are worried about.

ChrisJGQ

Just playing the Devil's Advocate (Ignore the irony...), but if everyone was beautiful/handsome, would they actually be considered as such, as there would be no point of reference?

Miss Scarlett

&lt;pauses to take a breath to clear laughter from image indestructible poisonous frog performing amphibious coitus with Malibu Barbie&gt;

....thought...if a poisonous frog mates with a non-toxic Barbie do they cancel each other out and implode?

Sorry...on to other matters.

I have two distinct (and annoyingly contradictory) thoughts on this issue. First, I work in health care and some of the things that you see people living with - things that have nothing to do with lifestyle choices (i.e., smoking, poor diet, reckless behavior) - or dying from can break your heart with their brutality and it's hard to not put hope in something that might decrease the risk that others would suffer.

The other thought is that as a species we don't seem to be inclined to pursue the routes that would "naturally" enhance our species so how ready are we for those that would allow us to pick them off a menu? I don't see a lot of couples saying honestly, "You know honey, neither of us is really very bright, maybe we shouldn't breed."

Ok, that was a bit glib. But there are screenings now that can be done for various diseases and risk factors yet we don't seem to want to know that information, even when that choice might affect (is that the right one? I can never sort out affect/effect ) our children. Huntington's disease has a 50% inheritance rate, yet I've met people who won't let a family history of the disease influence their decision about having children. Some do, some don't. But if we don't make wise choices about those things that are already within our scope, are we entitled to an even broader range of things to waffle about?

And, along the lines of some others in the post, I have to admit to being a firm believer in the sage words of Mr. Murphy.

So put me down as a firm undecided.

tronvillain

Captain Violence:
Why should a point of reference be required?