Genetic Engineering

We were talking about this in my Biology Lab class. It involves the isolation, manipulation and reintroduction of DNA into cells or model organisms, usually to express a protein; basically making plants and animals 'better'.

+It's been used to make fruits like Tomatoes have a stronger skin (implanting animal cells into its membrane) so bugs can't pentrate it and when shipping it won't be bruised.

+Humans-By taking out the DNA nesarcry to for example, give a human possibly Downs Syndrom. (Basically endoing the DNA process and creating a human fetus to be without disease)

+Some fear that scientists will take it too far so that parents can choose if their child will be tall, short, stupid, intelligent etc.

What are your views?

I think that people who fear that don't understand just how difficult such a thing would be, not to mention expensive.

In food I don't think it' necassary
I heard that they actually use viruses to keep the gene in place
or sumthing like that
heard it from one of my very good lecturerers
in Humans, only to elminated diseases

Good question, I beleve over time yes they could go to far and if G.E. become comen thives could change the way they look alowing them to "disapeare".

Genetic Engineering is great but alot of people think its bad even thou they don't know what it is :/ it could help alot of people out ~ + make food tolerant to some places and grow faster, have immunities, etc. I think people should welcome Genetic Engineering

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Originally Posted by Violent

make food tolerant to some places and grow faster, have immunities, etc.

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hmm.. I guess I agree with you there, but what about turning foods different colours? like I think they turned cauliflower purple? I think that's un needed. Making tomatoe skin tougher? I don't think thats needed either, what's wrong with a bit of bruising on a tomatoe, it's not going to kill us.

This is probably far fetched, but we are destroy the natural genetic make up of species, once you have GMO, they are very hard to get rid of, they spreaad fast. Those farmers who want to label their crop organic, can't if there nighbour has GMO products ( in Aust anyways), it's a guareented cross contamination.

another good thing would be pervent birthing defects. Think about it knowing that your baby with be born complety norm.

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Originally Posted by nightboyz

another good thing would be pervent birthing defects. Think about it knowing that your baby with be born complety norm.

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When that happens we will just enhance the term "normal". This enhances the idea of trying to create "perfect" humans.

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I think that people who fear that don't understand just how difficult such a thing would be, not to mention expensive.

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There are many people/organizations who'd be willing to take on the huge costs for that research and I think it is being researched at full speed at this very moment.


Just like I said in the stem cell research thread: I greatly dispise messing with genetics and genetic research. I think it's a real Pandora's Box.