Fascinating... CRISPR and gene editing. Nova and other documentaries.

[sirhrmechanic]

So I can't post the NOVA documentary because "Public" Television protects the shows we paid for... like a mama bear with its cubs. Royalties you know. And the NOVA episode is suitably woke, with sickle cells, a mixed-race family at the center of it and all their usual political crap.

HOWEVER... the subject is fascinating. And amazing. And scary.

I have not seen this documentary, but it sort of seems to be aimed in the same direction.



The implications are both incredible and scary. Children are already born whose dna has been edited with CRISPR to make them... taller, better musicians, healthier, smarter. All you need is enough money.

Is this a way to end disease like cancer? Can we cure virus diseases? Will the rich just use it to create genetically-modified offspring so we have "Super Romneys" running around?

It's an amazing subject. I love science... I think things like this are amazing. But in the wrong hands... do you create a clone army that doesn't feel pain and can fight 24 x 7? Do you use it like Brave New World to create Alpha's and epsilon-semi-moron's?

Is this controlled by who is the richest? Who is the neediest? What will do the best for our species?

Like many, I knew that genetic engineering is going on in crops and animals and to increase yields and fight off disease. It works. It helps feed billions.

But how far do we take it? Who controls it? Who can afford it? Who dies because they can't? Do the elites get it and the masses get bred into servile stupidity?

Not judging. Just opening an interesting discussion. The NOVA broadcast, despite its woke BS, is brilliant in explaining the technology. The one I posted... not sure. I'll watch it tomorrow.

Ok... talk amongst yourselves...

SIrhr

 

[OldSalty2]

I believe it was Sagan who alluded to something like...summarized in my own words...

Human survival shouldnt rely on finding a suitable home in the stars but should modify humans to suit what can be found.

Makes sense IMO.

 

[sirhrmechanic]

I believe it was Sagan who alluded to something like...summarized in my own words...

Human survival shouldnt rely on finding a suitable home in the stars but should modify humans to suit what can be found.

Makes sense IMO.

An interesting argument is that if humans evolve to the point that they can edit the genome to further help humans evolve... then that is a natural product of evolution...

I am not judging it... I find it fascinating. And scary. It's utopian and dystopian at the same time. There are so many moral questions... but so many amazing scientific frontiers.

That's why I thought it was an amazing video and an amazing area for consideration, contemplation and discussion.

Cheers,

Sirhr

 

[Concrete shooter]

@sirhrmechanic
I only see the dystopian side of it. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". Any man with the power to modify the human genome would hold the ultimate in power! While I would,in theory, love for someone to magic me from 6'4" 300 lbs to 6'4" 225lbs, I'm certain the rest of my "undesirable" traits would soon be addressed!
As a Christian, I don't believe we are to tamper with God's design. Taking religion out of it we still have experienced to much history to think this could turn out well.

 

[isofahunter]

Pandoras Box!

 

[OldSalty2]

Gods design? Free will.

Incredible potential yet also incredible possibilities for evil.

Choice is ours.

My opinion? We will fail and the meek will once again inherit the earth and start the cycle over. As has happened many times over the course of human history...

 

[10ring'r]

You might think science is neat and all that, but, you F around with Gods Creation too much, and I think God will over shoot this marble, right into the sun.
Nothing good will come of "Genetic Engineering". Oh, it all starts out with good intentions, until that nefarious Mad Scientist, figures out that money and no-good, can be had with it. I'm not a Holy Roller, but, I am a believer. Mac

 

[BytorJr]

It's only going to be used for good, not evil...like the Patriot Act and FISA courts.

 

[Concrete shooter]

That is correct! God's design is free will! His desire is for his creation to love him. Love is only possible because there is a choice to reject or hate. The human race has too much love for itself to allow ourselves the possibility to manipulate creation.

I, for one, will oppose this science like an Israeli does an Iranian powerplant!

 

[OldSalty2]

You might think science is neat and all that, but, you F around with Gods Creation too much, and I think God will over shoot this marble, right into the sun.
Nothing good will come of "Genetic Engineering". Oh, it all starts out with good intentions, until that nefarious Mad Scientist, figures out that money and no-good, can be had with it. I'm not a Holy Roller, but, I am a believer. Mac

Lol, money is already the driving factor. No different than drug development, or basically anything at this point.

Muh capitalism after all...

But money isnt the only underlying issue.

And god will not need to shoot our little marble into the sun. The sun will eventually swell into a red giant and swallow the earth. Be at ease though, since of course all life will be baked off the surface long before the earth is actually engulfed. Humans likely long extinct before this happens...just like millions of other species that have came and went.

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

No no no no no no no. And no. And also no.
There were a few Chinese Scientists arrested for this shit not too long ago. You know it's bad when even China has laws against it.

 

[Jscb1b]

How far does humanity tweak humans before we are no longer human?

 

[sirhrmechanic]

No no no no no no no. And no. And also no.
There were a few Chinese Scientists arrested for this shit not too long ago. You know it's bad when even China has laws against it.

Yet according to the NOVA documentary, China has already seen children born with the genes that allow AIDS infections... edited out. Chinesekids, immune from AIDS. Already growing up.

Genies, once released, do not go back into bottles...

Sirhr

 

[sirhrmechanic]

How far does humanity tweak humans before we are no longer human?

Corn started as a grass... tomatoes started as small bitter berries.

The first genetic engineers were called farmers.

Sirhr

 

[OldSalty2]

How far does humanity tweak humans before we are no longer human?

This is the best question. The answer is more obvious than one might imagine though and in my opinion physical form has little to do with it.

 

[OldSalty2]

No no no no no no no. And no. And also no.
There were a few Chinese Scientists arrested for this shit not too long ago. You know it's bad when even China has laws against it.

So you are against eliminating aids?

 

[Pre-64]

Makes me think of the song in the year 2525 by Zagreb an Evans

 

[Jscb1b]

Yea, we are fucked! Some gun grabbing liberal is going to say it is for the children.

 

[TheHorta]

If CRISPR gives you a bigger schlong, I’m all for it.

 

[Concrete shooter]

Corn started as a grass... tomatoes started as small bitter berries.

The first genetic engineers were called farmers.

Sirhr

I agree, but that creates better/ more viable food sources, not a "master race" of humans. Also, like a poodle humping a labrador, it's still within a natural order. Labradoodles aren't created with a microscope, a super computer and a centrifuge.

 

[Jscb1b]

It will become about power and control. Money=super baby.

 

[Concrete shooter]

If CRISPR gives you a bigger schlong, I’m all for it.

I can't believe it took 19 posts to get to the gold!

Be careful though, @TheHorta! Don't get greedy and size yourself out of the species!

 

[TheHorta]

They should make a movie about this. I’d get Uma Thurman to play a leading role. I’m pretty sure she’s been genetically engineered.

 

[OldSalty2]

...aren't created with a microscope, a super computer and a centrifuge.

True, but humans bulit those as well...its not like the machines are doing anything but what humans "tell" them to do...despite all the AI hype.

 

[Bender]

Go Be Poor Somewhere Else

 

[Concrete shooter]

They should make a movie about this. I’d get Uma Thurman to play a leading role. I’m pretty sure she’s been genetically engineered.

What do you think about casting Ethan Hawke and Jude Law with Uma Thurman??? Seems like that would be a great cast!

 

[seanh]

Nothing new to see here. There were some German scientists that started playing with genetics stuff back in the 30s.

Personally I'm all for it. Whatever it takes to advance Humanity is a good thing. Those that don't like technology and get on board get left behind.

 

[E-Tool]

I’s be all for it if it were affordable, I can just imagine mail order genetics race would no longer be a factor because we’d have a ton of “upgrades” each one being a genetic minority.

Imagine super soldiers cloned for the inevitable war with china, or clones for organ harvest... these movies have all been done and non ended well.

 

[softcock]

They should make a movie about this. I’d get Uma Thurman to play a leading role. I’m pretty sure she’s been genetically engineered.

-
... Gattaca

 

[TheHorta]

-
... Gattaca

Good name. I like it. Let’s write a script and pitch it to Hollywood.

 

[Shootin Stuff]

If CRISPR gives you a bigger schlong, I’m all for it.

Why do you care about the size of HIS schlong?

Surely you would want to make your own bigger, not someone elses?

 

[TheHorta]

Why do you care about the size of HIS schlong?

Surely you would want to make your own bigger, not someone elses?

Well, my natural humility prevents me from speaking out of turn, but I’ll throw down and compare goods with any gerbil you can find.

 

[Concrete shooter]

Good name. I like it. Let’s write a script and pitch it to Hollywood.

If we want any chance at an Oscar, We're may need to replace our ENTIRE CAST with black people if we're making a movie about genetically superior humans

 

[Odysseus1911]

Genetic engineering isn't new. We've been using CRISPR in biomedical research for 4 or 5 years now. We've been deleting/inserting/editing genes for at least 15 years using Cre Lox Recombination.

Anyway, word on the street. . er. . I mean lab, is that CRISPR isn't the gene-editing silver bullet it was purported to be a few years ago when it came out. One of my colleagues used it to knock out a particular potassium channel in a couple of cell lines. Eventually worked, but not on the first try. I never played with it myself, but others who have have told me that it really isn't much more reliable than Cre Lox recombination (which I have used to knock out certain genes in mice for neurological disease research). When it works, it works great, but sometimes it doesn't work at all -just fwiw.

At any rate, I doubt this will ever become available to anybody but the super rich, and there's always the possibility of them getting a kid with some horrible off-target gene alteration, so I really don't see this catching on.

*Edited this morning after coffee for clarity.

 

[Jscb1b]

If we want any chance at an Oscar, We're may need to replace our ENTIRE CAST with black people if we're making a movie about genetically superior humans

THAT'S RACIST!!!

 

[seanh]

Racist? You mean how we had selective breeding to build a bigger better stronger faster field worker?

 

[PinesAndProjectiles]

So you are against eliminating aids?

I've eliminated aids by not sharing needles or sticking my dick in dirty whores.

This isn't about stopping aids but playing God and I don't think it's a good idea.

 

[FS1]

Nature will fight back. The law of unintended consequences, our genome will collapse and destroy the human race. There have been multiple extinction level events in our history. We may cause our own. What will the next rise of life on earth be. Mutant zombie race.

 

[Odysseus1911]

I am a biomedical research scientist who has actually used gene editing for disease research. I'm also a God-fearing, Bible-believing Christ follower, so I feel I'm in a unique position to weigh in on the moral/ethical/theological considerations of genetic engineering.

Guns are a perfect analogy for genetic engineering. Guns have great potential to be intentionally used for both good and evil. There's also the potential for horrible unintended accidents. Yet, using them is not inherently wrong. It's the same with genetic engineering.

As a Christian, I believe it is absolutely in line with God's will to apply the discoveries He's allowed us to make to the search for cures for disease. After all, it is a tenet of my faith that all diseases are the result of the fall of man due to sin, and thus, disease is the will and design of Satan. Therefore using medical technology to cure diseases is really doing work for God's kingdom. I believe if would-be parents carry some disease that would cause suffering or early death of any child they conceived, it is a blessing from God that this technology might allow them to have a healthy child. On the other hand, I believe it would be heinously self-centered and evil for parents with no legitimate disease concerns to subject their future child to the small risk of horrible off-target gene alterations just to have a perfect child.

I'm not telling anybody they're wrong and I'm not trying to flex any religious authority. I may have been flexing my science a little bit

 

[theLBC]

luckily i have NOVA on auto-record and this was extremely interesting but i have not watched the entire program yet.
can we use cam9 and rna to defeat covid or cancer? seems promising.
while PBS is often pushing liberal bullshit, Frontline and NOVA are often worth watching. I recorded the Frontline series From Jesus to Christ last night.

 

[Maggot]

Seig heil my Fuhrer. Ve haf created a Master Race.



Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race
www.ushmm.org › deadly-medicine › overview

Dr. Susan Bachrach, curator “Deadly Medicine: Creating the Master Race” shows how the Nazi Regime under Adolf Hitler aimed to change the genetic make-up ...

 

[High H2o]

@sirhrmechanic
I only see the dystopian side of it. "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". Any man with the power to modify the human genome would hold the ultimate in power! While I would,in theory, love for someone to magic me from 6'4" 300 lbs to 6'4" 225lbs, I'm certain the rest of my "undesirable" traits would soon be addressed!
As a Christian, I don't believe we are to tamper with God's design. Taking religion out of it we still have experienced to much history to think this could turn out well.

Hey man, don't sell yourself short. You have the power to "Magic" yourself to 225. Just glad you didn't want to change your height!