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Gene drives are we playing god?

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Gene drives are we playing god?
vorlon13 Offline
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#11
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 5:11 pm
. . . we are on the actual brink of the biggest mass extinction event earth has ever experienced. Not sure I'd be worried about mosquitos right now.
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Fireball Offline
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#12
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 6:06 pm
I'll be waiting to see what bug ends up taking up the gap in the "getting eaten" category. Lots of animals above the little buggers, in the food chain.
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Minimalist Offline Donators
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#13
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 6:26 pm
(April 3, 2018 at 1:27 pm)Coveny Wrote:
(April 3, 2018 at 1:20 pm)Chad32 Wrote: We've been playing god ever since we started using electricity to power our homes, if not even earlier than that. I don't see anything unethical about it, as long as we aren't murdering people or stealing parts from them.

Of course part of this is stem cell research, and some people think killing a zygote/fetus should count as murder, but that's a debate I don't feel like getting into.

It's about using genetic engineering to killing off an entire species of animals (in this case mosquitoes), don't you think that's a bit different than using a tool like electricity?

I can't get too worked up over mosquitoes.
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chimp3 Offline Donators
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#14
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 8:55 pm
Uhhm! Some things need killin!
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The Grand Nudger Offline
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#15
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 9:00 pm
IIRC (from the last time this issue was brought up) there's no shortage of other bugs to fill whatever gap would be left..including other skeeters..since the idea is to target the species of skeeters that present a public health risk.
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Huggy Bear Offline
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#16
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 10:49 pm
Mosquitoes are pollinators, so killing them off are sure to have unforeseen consequences.
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The Valkyrie Offline
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#17
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 10:59 pm
(April 3, 2018 at 8:55 pm)chimp3 Wrote: Uhhm! Some things need killin!

That's what I said to the cops!

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Shell B Offline
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#18
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 11:36 pm (This post was last modified: April 3, 2018 at 11:37 pm by Shell B.)
I don't know. My hesitation isn't so much ethical as intellectual. I don't think humans, as intelligent as we are, always see the far-reaching effects of an act until it's too late. Sure, mosquitoes seem useless and are certainly dangerous, but are we sure there won't be unforeseen consequences? Is it worth the risk?
(April 3, 2018 at 10:49 pm)Huggy74 Wrote: Mosquitoes are pollinators, so killing them off are sure to have unforeseen consequences.

Are they?
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The Grand Nudger Offline
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#19
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 3, 2018 at 11:39 pm
They are, not in any sense useful to humans..but, you know.
I am the Infantry. I am my country’s strength in war, her deterrent in peace. I am the heart of the fight… wherever, whenever. I carry America’s faith and honor against her enemies. I am the Queen of Battle. I am what my country expects me to be, the best trained Soldier in the world. In the race for victory, I am swift, determined, and courageous, armed with a fierce will to win. Never will I fail my country’s trust. Always I fight on…through the foe, to the objective, to triumph overall. If necessary, I will fight to my death. By my steadfast courage, I have won more than 200 years of freedom. I yield not to weakness, to hunger, to cowardice, to fatigue, to superior odds, For I am mentally tough, physically strong, and morally straight. I forsake not, my country, my mission, my comrades, my sacred duty. I am relentless. I am always there, now and forever. I AM THE INFANTRY! FOLLOW ME!
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Shell B Offline
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#20
RE: Gene drives are we playing god?
April 4, 2018 at 9:57 am
Interesting. Still, pollinators are pollinators, and I bet a lot shit eats mosquitoes. It's hard to tell what the result would be. We're known for our limited thinking.
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Gene drives are we playing god?

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