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DeltaV
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Post by DeltaV »

Windows user?

MSimon
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Post by MSimon »

DeltaV wrote:Mucking about with DNA is bad news. Sheer arrogance.

If no human alive can predict exactly what will happen with the man-made, binary logic algorithms of Windows, how much less predictable is the long-term, multi-generational behavior of the poorly-understood yet far, far more sophisticated DNA system. What they've been calling "junk" DNA is now seen to be important.
Don't mess with my junk.
Yes. Sexual mating ought to be outlawed at once. Only recreational sex should be allowed. Because you never know what might happen. Humans from time to time pick up stray bits of genetic material from the environment. Who knows where it could lead?
Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.

GIThruster
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Post by GIThruster »

bennmann wrote:I believe there are science fiction stories about races using genetic engineering so much that eventually they find a long term side effect hidden within themselves that was significantly bad.

Everything in moderation. And it's not like at this point we couldn't have an FDA of genetics so to speak, regulating and requiring some sort of long term testing of specific modifications - 10 generations of modified pigs or something, thousands of flies?
The Asgard in the first 2 Stargate series run into troubles with their clones and eventually go extinct because they for some reason find there is nothing they can do to fix the trouble they have.

Both sides of the bio-engineering debate are wrong in their extreme. Obviously we have done great good by modifying foods to make them more resilient against disease. Just as obviously, because life spreads the way it does, a potentially harmful life form could do great destruction. Someone needs to be minding the shop to see this doesn't happen. If any emotionally disturbed college kid can modify a camel spider to make it poisonous, we'll eventually have a huge problem. Someone needs to be sure that can't happen as genetic modification grows easier and easier.
"Courage is not just a virtue, but the form of every virtue at the testing point." C. S. Lewis

Skipjack
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Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:29 pm

Post by Skipjack »

All the while millions of lives are saved by HUMAN insuline produced by genetically modified e- coli bacteria... Just as one example.
Of course the same people that are against cloning, stem cells and genetic engineering are then praying for somebody else to die, so they can get their (inferior) replacement organs from them.
But that is OK, I guess because then it is "gods will". It makes me sick!

Skipjack
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Post by Skipjack »

The Asgard in the first 2 Stargate series run into troubles with their clones and eventually go extinct because they for some reason find there is nothing they can do to fix the trouble they have.
Yeah, it is a SCIENCE FICTION series. There are no Asgard in real life, mind you. It is a virtual problem created by the media to discredit genetic engineering in the eyes of the public, purely for ideological or religious reasons.
You never see anyone getting saved by it, which is much closer to reality.
That said, loved Star Gate, loved "ol' buddy" Thor and the rest of the Asgard. They were cool.

MSimon
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Post by MSimon »

Someone needs to be sure that can't happen as genetic modification grows easier and easier.
I say we put the drug police on it given their effectiveness in stopping the flow of drugs.

BTW what will you do when yeast gets modified to produce opiates? There are rumors

http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/threads/4936 ... cing-yeast
Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.

choff
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Post by choff »

The problem isn't so much the technology as the motivations of the people using it. If you get governments or corporations trying to create human drone workers or a super elite ruling class, or just trying to kill off the wasteful eaters as they call most of humanity it's bad.
CHoff

Skipjack
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Post by Skipjack »

The problem isn't so much the technology as the motivations of the people using it.
Well the same could be said about guns and they are much more effective at doing harm than genetic engineering is.
If you get governments or corporations trying to create human drone workers or a super elite ruling class, or just trying to kill off the wasteful eaters as they call most of humanity it's bad.
Ohhh, the "super elite ruling class", pleeeeeaaaase. This is so silly.
Right now, I think people would just be happy to get rid of some (expensive) genetic defects and illnesses. That wont create a society of super humans, it will (at most) barely counteract the degeneration our society is suffering from.

MSimon
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Post by MSimon »

Skipjack wrote:
The problem isn't so much the technology as the motivations of the people using it.
Well the same could be said about guns and they are much more effective at doing harm than genetic engineering is.
If you get governments or corporations trying to create human drone workers or a super elite ruling class, or just trying to kill off the wasteful eaters as they call most of humanity it's bad.
Ohhh, the "super elite ruling class", pleeeeeaaaase. This is so silly.
Right now, I think people would just be happy to get rid of some (expensive) genetic defects and illnesses. That wont create a society of super humans, it will (at most) barely counteract the degeneration our society is suffering from.
Well, it may be silly but a LOT of people who think they have power are holding that attitude. And the power holds - until it doesn't. Which usually leads to a boat load of trouble.
Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.

Skipjack
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Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:29 pm

Post by Skipjack »

Well, it may be silly but a LOT of people who think they have power are holding that attitude. And the power holds - until it doesn't. Which usually leads to a boat load of trouble.
Well most of the ruling class that I have seen is pretty far from elite...

MSimon
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Post by MSimon »

Skipjack wrote:
Well, it may be silly but a LOT of people who think they have power are holding that attitude. And the power holds - until it doesn't. Which usually leads to a boat load of trouble.
Well most of the ruling class that I have seen is pretty far from elite...
True. But you will recall Germany of another had (for a while) a ruling class made up primarily of street thugs with some rather peculiar ideas. It happens.
Engineering is the art of making what you want from what you can get at a profit.

choff
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Location: Vancouver, Canada

Post by choff »

Skipjack wrote:
Well, it may be silly but a LOT of people who think they have power are holding that attitude. And the power holds - until it doesn't. Which usually leads to a boat load of trouble.
Well most of the ruling class that I have seen is pretty far from elite...
I've had to do business with ruling class types who were so dumb the only skill they had was wearing a three piece suit and acting the part. They'd throw money and talent at problems randomly and say things like 'I don't think, I pay other people to do that for me.'

One local case really stood out, a blond haired blue eyed guy with a widespread rep as the hardest working man in town was denied entry to a local sports club, because he was of Slavic background, only blue bloods need apply! Just wait till these morons get their hands on the technology, god help us all.
CHoff

DeltaV
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Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:05 am

Post by DeltaV »

MSimon wrote:
DeltaV wrote:Mucking about with DNA is bad news. Sheer arrogance.

If no human alive can predict exactly what will happen with the man-made, binary logic algorithms of Windows, how much less predictable is the long-term, multi-generational behavior of the poorly-understood yet far, far more sophisticated DNA system. What they've been calling "junk" DNA is now seen to be important.
Don't mess with my junk.
Yes. Sexual mating ought to be outlawed at once. Only recreational sex should be allowed. Because you never know what might happen. Humans from time to time pick up stray bits of genetic material from the environment. Who knows where it could lead?
You need to distinguish between simply running the "program" and modifying the "OS kernel".

DeltaV
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Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 5:05 am

Post by DeltaV »

GIThruster wrote:Obviously we have done great good by modifying foods to make them more resilient against disease.
First Peer Reviewed Lifetime Feeding Trial Finds "Safe" Levels Of GM Maize And Roundup Can Cause Tumors And Multiple Organ Damage

Obviously, if our goal is to reduce humanity to under 500 million. Annoying 'cattle'... leaving their beer cans lying around all over our estates. Takes all the pleasure out of fox hunts.

Skipjack
Posts: 6898
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2008 2:29 pm

Post by Skipjack »

Just wait till these morons get their hands on the technology, god help us all.
Well, if they are just smart enough to use genetics to increase their brain mass, then there is hope for humanity.
I fear however that they might just use it to increase the size of boobs and other body parts ;)

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