Genetic Manipulation 2.0

[Roxas]

You have the right to view this topic or not. Think it's unethical? Don't read.

I, for one, think it's a great idea to be able to give our babies traits. And you can't make them perfect, you can just make them the way you want. Want your child to be good in sports? Make him good in sports. Do you want him to be extremely smart? Do it. It's all choice, and I'd be glad to be able to decide the future of my baby.

[Zexion of the Twilight]

:( I thought I ended it when I requested the topic to close......

[Shanny-Boo]

So do I, Roxas. I think genetic manipulation is the future.

You can't decide personality, but it'd be neat to choose how smart they would be, or what they looked like, and such.

Although as stated in the earlier thread, messing with an embryo's genetic code would most likely result in mutation...

[Roxas]

You requested your thread to be closed. I'm starting a new one, by me. So don't read it if it drives you crazy.

[Camel]

i also think that it would be cool to genetically "ENHANCE" your babies,
thinking
i could give them permenant GRILLZ

[Darkwatch]

I don't mean to rain on your parade, Roxas, but making someone automatically good at sports or making them smart; is impossible.

For one, it's the person's natural attributes that gifts them, the only way you can make them good at sports is if you change their muscle contents so they gain more than normal, or can get a mile run workout by walking to school...

BTW, I LOVE THE IDEA!

[Ratchet]

What about genetic conditions and illnesses? I don't agree with designer babies for looks etc, but if it stops suffering , I see this as a way forward.

[Roxas]

Yeah, but you can warp their natural genetics, judging this is right, and make their muscles enhance faster than normal, or their brain process faster than average.

[Zexion of the Twilight]

We are entitled our own opinions, but the children will just become barbie and ken dolls.

[Roxas]

They aren't dolls, Zexion. They are still living breathing creatures that can make their own decisions.

[Zexion of the Twilight]

They aren't dolls, Zexion. They are still living breathing creatures that can make their own decisions.

which we alter, I'm just speaking my mind here.

[Darkwatch]

which we alter, I'm just speaking my mind here.And your mind is blessed with pure ignorance. If you don't even know what you're talking about, don't bother posting in the thread. You're right about your opinion, but don't state it if you can't back yourself up. =P


The whole idea is that we can do exactly what Roxas previously stated; Alter muscle growth and brain process'. The only problem with that, is the fact that our tissues and cells that are made up of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, and nucleic acids; which are differed. If we change our genetic structure, then we change the molecular formula we use to live.

Judging that all humans need Carbohydrates; humans would have to increase the intake of this and other substances by tripling; maybe even quadrupling, depending on how much we alter. This would also require us to perform blood changes, and cell reconfigurations in comparison to normal humans. Changing genetics is very complicated, and we already hardly know enough about the human brain, so could we do this?

We could do this physically, but it would, like I said, have us change the amount of vital substances to survive.

I am for this, and I want to help this progression, one day. Though this could be a nice challenge for us. ;]

[Roxas]

The only problem, quite a desperation, in fact, would be that altering genetics would kill the baby in the womb. It's a possibility, and something we'd need 'Guinea Pigs' to do for us.

[Claryssa]

The only problem, quite a desperation, in fact, would be that altering genetics would kill the baby in the womb. It's a possibility, and something we'd need 'Guinea Pigs' to do for us.

That's my problem with it. The possibility of the death of the child. The ability to alter the genetic code would be a great asset to science, but the risks are great. I don't think scientists are going to start trying that until they know much more about genetic structure. Not even on "guinea pigs."

[ArchVice]

*facepalm*

The idea of manipulating the human genome is no different than cloning humans. There are far too many varibles for it to become a complete success at this point in time. Genetic traits being altered by humans is subject to human error. I understand the ideal situation would be a world where we are able to cast our own flaws off our children and "enhance" their bodies/minds. But the fact of the matter is that playing God results in serious error.

Furthermore, I strongly believe that genetic engineering of babies in essence would dehuminize the "conception to birth" process. Not to mention the staggering cost it would amount to. We should love our children for who they are, not what we wish them to be.

[PAW]

You have the right to view this topic or not. Think it's unethical? Don't read.

I, for one, think it's a great idea to be able to give our babies traits. And you can't make them perfect, you can just make them the way you want. Want your child to be good in sports? Make him good in sports. Do you want him to be extremely smart? Do it. It's all choice, and I'd be glad to be able to decide the future of my baby.

The concept takes out the idea of Strong and weak, which is a vital part of living organisms, creating many biological and mental problems. Imagine that you have everyone on the Earth who is strong and smart, imagine if they turned 'bad'/ THese people are so smart and strong that they can o what they like to achieve their desires, no one can stop them because veveryone is as strong and smart as each other.
And what's the point? You wouldn'tbe needed in the equation after your 'baby' turns a certain age, because it will be smarter and stronger than you, able to fend for itself, with all that strength and smarts, they could easily kill you and others around them by accident or on purpose.

[Repliku]

I do not agree with 'designer babies' as far as looks goes. If you want a baby to look good, get with someone who looks good and have a kid. But, it is what will happen when such a thing is probable. I think that some things such as hair color or skin color later on could even be changed as the child becomes an adult with how much they are learning currently. Designer babies for appearance could come out flawed and well, it is controlling how that child looks which could bring about a new mental condition for children subjected to it and also parents who demand more out of their children. I think it would be better that some things be left to nature in this regard.

As for intelligence or enhancing a baby to receive traits of different muscularity and potential etc, I think again, the odds for such can transpire by simply doing what nature asks of you and choosing a strong and intelligent person to mate with. There's only so much altering genetics can do without taking from someone else entirely. A gene pool is a gene pool.

What I do agree with though as far as genetic research goes would be the weeding out the illness process. I.e. if someone is likely to pass on heart disease or some other genetic deficiency that is likely to cause the child to suffer, I see no reason why this couldn't be removed for a better gene trait found in the parent. Surely, if I knew I would pass on such a condition as heart disease, Multiple Sclerosis, a skin condition like Psoriasis, etc, if I had control over it, I'd want it removed to give the child a better chance at survival. I think this should be the main goal of genetic altered children.

There are some viable reasons as mentioned above why I don't wish to see babies designed to be intelligent, potentially athletic etc. Some reasons really do come down to the mental expectations parents will put on children. The cost for having a child with a potentially higher IQ or physical stamina etc would be that parents paid for it so they would be placing high demands on their children's success at life. The child becomes a factor of being guided and owned more. We see this behavior already with parents that push their children to go all the way in school or physical activities or acting etc. The reason why? The parents want the children to succeed and spend some money to do it and expect money back through their children's efforts because the kids already look great or have that potential and the parents were not so gifted themselves. I think we'd see a lot more of this faulty behavior if this genetic designer activity were to happen commonly. It's just part of human nature for some people to have these sorts of delusions that they merit expectations on others for doing something for them. In the case of these kids it would be that they spent the money and not just the other excuse that they birthed them.

Also, it takes the child's personal identity away from him or her. Think about what it would be like to be a 'super baby' compared to others whose parents couldn't afford such. At first, these kids will be treated as weird and freaks and as time goes on and more of them are produced, other parents will feel compelled that they must do such a practice or else their kids will be inferior. These kids will either grow up snotty or disillusioned. I do not think it right to put such a burden on their shoulders. Some kids truly already deal with enough and this is just another way parents and others can control them when they will want to be their own selves. There is a fear factor as well that some adults may react poorly and some may even come to hate the children produced this way. Also, we consider the use of steroids and other enhancing physical drugs illegal and don't want it seen in our Olympics or sports. Why would this be considered any different in the end? I think it spells out more trouble than it's worth.

So as far as I can see, the best 'designer babies' truly would only merit greatly if they are designed to eliminate certain likely genetics that cause them physical or mental ailments which would impede them in life.

[Xegreny]

N-N-NECROBUMP.

>:

Also: Genetic Manipulation is bad, 'since it removes the ability for everyone to be unique. You can't be unique if someone decided everything about you. :X

[LongAndRandomUserNameFTW]

This is a pretty interesting topic.
Genetic Manipulation is a bit witch-related. Manipulating people to give them the traits you want them to have?It would be better to let them grow into their own traits instead of people giving them their own.

[tSG1]

Like Zexion said, if you change their genetic structure, then the person is no longer unique. Also, it could backfire "like Edward's mother in FMA" and you end up with a mutant.

[daxma]

Super Necrobump.This is an interesting topic but i mean why look for a thread that was as far back as this one.

[Xaale]

That was a HYPER Necrobump D:

Why were you lookin' that far back? XD

If you change the genetic structure, you're no longer yourself. You are starting a new bloodline of a false family structure made by manipulated DNA.

[Darkcloud]

...this is starting to look an awful lot like Gundam Seed...

Okay, first off, genetic manipulation: There are a lot of pros and cons to this innovating and advancing technology, but the one thing that needs to be realized, even if this quote has been used to death:

With great power comes great responsibility.

I'm not just talking about the possibility of changing your kid's characteristics, I'm also talking about how it affects the rest of the world. Yes, chances are we will get to a point where we will be able to help our kids by making sure they don't receive diseases like multiple sclerosis, etc., but by that time the rest of the world and the careers that follow will also be adapted to it.

Think about this for a minute: We reach that point in the future where we can identify the chances of receiving certain diseases and cancer, through a map of the genome, and we find out we've got something like, say, cancer. Would we still qualify for the same things a person without it would? Would we still be able to receive health insurance? Think about it. The insurance company, by this time, would have access to all the client's medical records, and by choice, could decline, in order to save money.

As far as genetic manipulation should go, it should only be used to for medical purposes. To go to anything else, for beautification or for because you think it's the best way to get what you want out of your child...I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't be happy with who they are.