In today's headlines we have this article "Scientists Seek Ban on Method of Editing the Human Genome
By NICHOLAS WADE
A group of biologists, including the scientist who developed the technique, has called for a worldwide moratorium on using the method to change human DNA.
[This headline was lifted from today's NY Times.]
This is what I mean by 'big questions'...which is to opine that we don't need to leave the planet to wipe ourselves out. [or to create a class of 'super-beings' that feel it is their perrogative to 'wipe out' us 'lesser creatures.']
Ironic that cautionary tales like Frankenstien have made us turn a blind eye to what researchers are tinkering with and how a single 'oops' could spell the doom of our species, if not all life on the planet.
As the article goes on to explain
Some of you are peeing your pants worried over how the conflict in the Crimea will play out but I'm more concerned with what's happening behind closed doors in the secret laboratories of the one percent (our self-appointed 'betters')
Now that the method has been developed it's only a matter of time (and patience) before our internal 'self-destruct' mechanism is defeated.
Then our entire species will be faced with the very real question of whether or not an entire planet is big enough for an immortal?
By NICHOLAS WADE
A group of biologists, including the scientist who developed the technique, has called for a worldwide moratorium on using the method to change human DNA.
[This headline was lifted from today's NY Times.]
This is what I mean by 'big questions'...which is to opine that we don't need to leave the planet to wipe ourselves out. [or to create a class of 'super-beings' that feel it is their perrogative to 'wipe out' us 'lesser creatures.']
Ironic that cautionary tales like Frankenstien have made us turn a blind eye to what researchers are tinkering with and how a single 'oops' could spell the doom of our species, if not all life on the planet.
As the article goes on to explain
A group of leading biologists on Thursday called for a worldwide moratorium on use of a new genome-editing technique that would alter human DNA in a way that can be inherited.
The biologists fear that the new technique is so effective and easy to use that some physicians may push ahead before its safety can be assessed. They also want the public to understand the ethical issues surrounding the technique, which could be used to cure genetic diseases, but also to enhance qualities like beauty or intelligence. The latter is a path that many ethicists believe should never be taken.
“You could exert control over human heredity with this technique, and that is why we are raising the issue,” said David Baltimore, a former president of the California Institute of Technology and a member of the group whose paper on the topic was published in the journal Science.
Some of you are peeing your pants worried over how the conflict in the Crimea will play out but I'm more concerned with what's happening behind closed doors in the secret laboratories of the one percent (our self-appointed 'betters')
Now that the method has been developed it's only a matter of time (and patience) before our internal 'self-destruct' mechanism is defeated.
Then our entire species will be faced with the very real question of whether or not an entire planet is big enough for an immortal?
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