(August 5, 2017 at 5:14 am)Aoi Magi Wrote: At work today, the topic of gene editing to alter fetuses came up, and most of my colleagues seemed to be strictly against that, but I really don't understand why. Sure if an error goes out into the population unchecked, it can lead to totally unpredictable consequences, but if I am not mistaken, evolution does that all the time already, at least if we take control of the process ourselves we might have a chance of fixing things before things get out of hand. Also, evolution is damn slow and unpredictable and hence unreliable for our survival. I mean, let's say our blue planet is hit by another large space rock, can we really say we will be able to evolve and adapt in time to survive the planet-wide changes? On the other hand, if we by then have properly mastered our genetics, we can easily engineer our offsprings to survive the disaster. Moreover, if we can engineer ourselves to survive in space, then I don't see any reason not to try it, we will be able to colonize other planets easily and ensure our survival. Also, I know that those kinds of engineering capabilities are decades, if not centuries away, but if we don't take some tiny risks and start studying now, how can we ever expect to get there?
Under the right conditions, yes, this would be an ideal thing to do (one of said right conditions being, it's available to EVERYONE who wants it for their offspring so there's no discrimination based on income, intelligence, race, etc.)
Why would it be a bad thing to, say, engineer people immune to a great number of very unpleasant diseases and conditions? 98% resistance against all cancers? Sign me up. Immune system rejects HIV/AIDS before it can take root? Yes, please. Vaccinations no longer required due to effectiveness of immune response? Oh, hell, yeah. Malaria and other parasitic maladies no longer needing sickle cell anemia to resist? Fuckin' A.
Or how about cognitive ability increased? We might be rid of faith in a generation with that, so obviously that's a huge selling point just on its own. Shrink that reptilian part of the brain, increase memory capacity, it would be criminal to DENY someone that if the opportunity to give it was presented.
I'm not saying go full GATTACA, where only those who've been modified would occupy positions of power or whatever, but if when it came down to competition between natural-birth and enhanced-birth folks for education and jobs, it just seems like a foregone conclusion who would come out on top. One would simply hope that those possessing enhanced intelligence would not segregate society like that, develop enough automation that menial jobs no longer have to be performed so nobody is relegated to them if they don't want to, and other careers are available to those who don't occupy the top strata.
Apart from that kind of thing, I'm not really seeing any other enhancements that might really be practical, other than a metabolic stimulation boost that would decrease the tendency to become obese in spite of the largely sedentary nature of most careers. Possibly temper that with a higher efficiency digestive system so that one hungers less and wouldn't be inclined to overeat or if they ate a really crappy diet, it wouldn't be too negative.
Religions were invented to impress and dupe illiterate, superstitious stone-age peasants. So in this modern, enlightened age of information, what's your excuse? Or are you saying with all your advantages, you were still tricked as easily as those early humans?
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There is no better way to convey the least amount of information in the greatest amount of words than to try explaining your religious views.
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There is no better way to convey the least amount of information in the greatest amount of words than to try explaining your religious views.
