[Mogar]

what is the Boiler Room's opinions of human enhancement/genetic engineering? I believe it's the future of our species, because we can simply adapt ourselves to the planets, instead of Terra forming (obviously I mean in hundreds of years when we actually start caring a bit more about space travel and colonization) and I believe it can also lead to a better future for the children of the engineering(no cancer, no defects) however there are some issues (some of them found in the wiki link below, which is also there for those who wish to learn more about wtf I'm talking about)
http://en.wikipedia....i/Transhumanism
I have more thoughts but I'm curious to see where others stand, also one question to everyone who responds to this, if you had the chance to make sure your child would be genetically "perfect" (never get cancer, no birth defects, higher than average intelligence, etc) would you?

[Delta1212]

Don't use the word perfect. I almost just went off on a long tirade about the imperfection of the perfect and only just managed to contain myself. This is the Boiler Room. Be more precise.

[mythicknight]

It is the highway to the future, I just wish we find that road sooner than later. And maybe.

[Flame Darkfire]

I'd love to see it, but unfortunately, try convincing anyone else of it.

[Mogar]

Delta1212, on Mar 24 2008, 09:17 PM, said:

Don't use the word perfect. I almost just went off on a long tirade about the imperfection of the perfect and only just managed to contain myself. This is the Boiler Room. Be more precise.

thats why i put it in quotes, i'm saying the closest thing to a perfect human possible, while keeping our DNA close enough to human DNA to consider it part of the same species.

[Opethian]

You can argue that our ability to genetically alter a baby for better survival rates and "preferred" traits is simply an extension of our adaptability. And since I'm not a member of any religion, I don't get all worked up with a "playing God" complex.

[Kenadian_2006]

Opethian, on Mar 24 2008, 09:36 PM, said:

You can argue that our ability to genetically alter a baby for better survival rates and "preferred" traits is simply an extension of our adaptability. And since I'm not a member of any religion, I don't get all worked up with a "playing God" complex.

I would be more worried about the eventual eugenics to follow.

And then there is the fact that if it is largely private and capitalistic, you can expect to see socio-economic divisions ingrained in people, literally. That one movie with Leonardo Dicaprio (I think it was him) is a pretty good demonstration of said happening. So yeah, this concept is extremely dangerous.

This post has been edited by Kenadian_2006: 24 March 2008 - 07:40 PM

[Opethian]

Kenadian_2006, on Mar 25 2008, 01:38 AM, said:

I would be more worried about the eventual eugenics to follow.

That requires an intermediating force of legal changes that I don't see happening.

[lardlad]

I say it isn't good. As a Christian, I don't think we should screw with God's Creation. If someone's heart is failing, give 'em an artificial heart, but don't genetically modify us.

[Opethian]

lardlad, on Mar 25 2008, 01:40 AM, said:

I say it isn't good. As a Christian, I don't think we should screw with God's Creation. If someone's heart is failing, give 'em an artificial heart, but don't genetically modify us.

What's the difference? Either way you are "altering God's creation".

[Mogar]

I would assume the use of such a service would eventually bring the cost down enough that the majority of the population would be able to afford it, and those that could might be able to get assistance.

[Galaisa]

I dont know enough about it to have an informed opinion. But i'll offer one anyways. No to actually engineering the child before its born and yes to gene therapy afterwards? or does it really make a difference?

[lardlad]

Opethian, it is one thing to heal a disease, and a very different thing to make it impossible to get by altering DNA. When you alter the DNA, you change what you are, not change your health

[Opethian]

Mogar, on Mar 25 2008, 01:41 AM, said:

I would assume the use of such a service would eventually bring the cost down enough that the majority of the population would be able to afford it, and those that could might be able to get assistance.

This is also true. Not only this, but at BEST you would see a eugenic "attitude" pervasive amongst the upper class who could afford such things, though no genuine eugenic laws or rules in society.

Since the rich ALREADY look down on the poor for services and medical treatments unattainable to them (see: the attitude towards a poor African with AIDS versus a rich American with AIDS) this really wouldn't be a whole lot different.

[Galaisa]

lardlad, on Mar 24 2008, 10:43 PM, said:

Opethian, it is one thing to heal a disease, and a very different thing to make it impossible to get by altering DNA. When you alter the DNA, you change what you are, not change your health

Well then what do you think of gene therapy that heals diseases by altering DNA?

[Opethian]

lardlad, on Mar 25 2008, 01:43 AM, said:

Opethian, it is one thing to heal a disease, and a very different thing to make it impossible to get by altering DNA. When you alter the DNA, you change what you are, not change your health

Well I'm not satisfied with letting people die when they don't have to simply because you believe your God wants it that way.

[Delta1212]

lardlad, on Mar 24 2008, 09:43 PM, said:

Opethian, it is one thing to heal a disease, and a very different thing to make it impossible to get by altering DNA. When you alter the DNA, you change what you are, not change your health

So you'd have no problem with us turning brain stems in robotic shells, but I can't give someone red eyes?

Edit: Incidentally, vaccines alter your DNA to make you immune to viruses.

This post has been edited by Delta1212: 24 March 2008 - 07:47 PM

[lardlad]

Galaisa: What is gene therapy exactly?
Opethian: Huh? You confuse me.

[Opethian]

lardlad, on Mar 25 2008, 01:48 AM, said:

Galaisa: What is gene therapy exactly?
Opethian: Huh? You confuse me.

In what way?

[LeVentNoir]

Quote

, higher than average intelligence

If every one is above average then the average moves to increase.

Besides 1 marvel is marvelous, many is banal

This post has been edited by LeVentNoir: 24 March 2008 - 07:53 PM