''The advance of genetic engineering makes it quite conceivable that we will begin to design our own evolutionary progress''-Isaac Asimov,The Beginning and the End.

Genetic engineering, recombinant DNA technology, genetic modification/manipulation (GM) and gene splicing are terms that apply to the direct manipulation of an organism's genes. Genetic engineering is different from traditional breeding, where the organism's genes are manipulated indirectly. Genetic engineering uses the techniques of molecular cloning and transformation to alter the structure and characteristics of genes directly. Genetic engineering techniques have found some successes in numerous applications. Some examples are in improving crop technology, the manufacture of synthetic human insulin through the use of modified bacteria, the manufacture of erythropoietin in hamster ovary cells, and the production of new types of experimental mice such as the oncomouse (cancer mouse) for research.(wikipedia.org)

We can't stop scientific advancement simply because we think something bad might happen in the future.


So guys...are you for it or against it??

This post has been edited by vivienne85: Aug 3 2009, 01:11 PM

My stand on genetic engineering: Don't do it unless it is a matter of life and death. I try as much as possible not to eat Genetically Engineered/Modified food.

The reason why I take a conservative stand in this matter is the frequent use of bacteria and viruses in genetic engineering, e.g. when making insulin etc. The modified bacteria/virus might swap DNA/RNA with other bacteria/virus because swapping of genetic material does occur in nature.

In the event that the swapping occurs, it would be hard to control the spread of this gene in the new host virus. And once it is released, it would be very hard to track down and stop.

This post has been edited by Thinkingfox: Aug 5 2009, 04:18 PM

Sime Darby recently sucessfully modify the gene for oil palm.

As far as my stupidity allows it, genetic engineering is something made to "undo" the "flaws" that was perceived as society as somewhat detrimental.

Abstract concepts like existentialism will begin to lose its meaning.

This post has been edited by Deadlocks: Aug 9 2009, 08:11 AM

Genetic engineering can aid in medical therapy... correcting any genetically inherited diseases. I would say it is strongly dependant on how you utilise it.

It's just like human. We are gifted with the ability to think in a higher level. Depends on whether how we want to use our brain. Right?

With genetic engineering, it aids me in my current research, helping me to understand the nature of cancer cells.

for me,

dont use it unless its absolutely necessary.
if some guy is gonna die because his body cant produce certain stuffs, why not modify his genes to save his life?
if we are allowed to genetically enhance our body, then the world in the future will be completely dominated by the rich because its only them who could afford such treatments.

Genetic engineering is just a process, the tool to achieve something,

It is something man has discovered and will continue to use it. If course it can be use for good and bad purposes. In the long run sometimes the things that we do now will have different result than what we expect.

So I'm neither for or against genetic engineering. But I do hope people who use think carefully about the consequences and never let things get out of hand.

genetic engineering is a key to human salvation but may also cause our downfall if we're not careful enough.

GE is recieving bad rep due to popular hollywood francise like resident evil or I am legend.

we as human are to afraid of changes.
GE bring changes
thus human = afraid of GE

imagine 2 kim jong ils.

total damnation for this world if we hv 2 Kim Jong Ils

This post has been edited by vivienne85: Aug 16 2009, 07:49 PM

well imagine 2 bush for world war 3 to start. both accusing each other of hiding chemical or biological weapon muahahaha...bombs away!!!!

haha...

making a clone of each world leader equals to total destruction of this earth..

We hardly know anything about genes and now we want to toy with them?

Do human minds really have more foresight than a billion years of evolution and survival of the fittest? I think that this is a fallacy and a conceit.

The thing about genetic engineering is that there are absolutely no standards or oversights to oversee the safety and long term consequences of gene engineering.

All advances in this field are made with the SOLE objective of making large amounts of money, by corporations and their conglomerates.

humans muck about with genetic engineering before resulting with some wonky stuff to teh enviro. GE Grain for example was quite popular in the 90's. but the problem is not the GE Grain. Its the cross pollenation that will happen. it causes mutation that is quite irreversible

super salmon that grew faster and bigger once escaped its enclosure. these GE salmon quickly kill the natural salmon. they also use up the food source killing other species.

so while GE is all good in improving "god's deficiency", what happen when they came in contact with what nature created is the main problem

more often than not its bloody detrimental.

Very true, even were it to be called a breakthrough in the field of genetics with all the benefits and none the cons, in the end it all boils down to money. Then what? Aside from all the unforseeable consequences that MIGHT arise from toying with things outside of our knowledge, this will certainly and absolutely turn itself into a money game. Its how the world runs.

But then again, if scientists didn't tinker around, we wouldn't be where we are now. So how to judge?

if scientist didnt tinker around anthrax, mustard gas, VX and other funky nerve agent would not be invented. same goes to CFC and other dangerous industrial chemicals.

science is unfortunately a double edge sword. as for genetics, for every positive there must be a negative side effect. its just not there to be seen yet. DDT was sparayed on humans once. scientist claim it is not dangerous to humans. we all know what happened decades later!

so i will err on the side of caution when scientist claim "this is safe for humans".

Because there is always something new to discover!

Like mentioned, genetics MAY be beneftial now, but we cannot forsee what will occur in the long run.

This post has been edited by ZeratoS: Aug 19 2009, 01:43 PM

i just hope we dont have a future like GATTACA. that would be scary. since people are engineered to be perfect those who cant afford it might end up losing in life. lets say they have heriditory heart failure and the employers refuse to give them jobs since it might be costly to pay the medical bills.

i am being paranoid again.

I'm rather more scared of things along the line of Resident Evil happening. Zombie phobia D:

All the same, its a possible byproduct of genetic science. If you play with fire, be prepared for the outcome.

Imo its inevitable for humanity to turn to genetic engineering to better our species. I believe we are already reaching a point where our current physical and mental capacities are already losing touch with what we can achieve.