Pipe here with another controversial and very current issue. Genetically modified embryos. I myself am interested in genetics but am not anywhere close to being an expert. Scientists can actually identify an embryos genes and modify them; think of the applications. Babies without cancer genes etc. However many people feel that this is simply wrong. That it may turn children into a 'designer product' and parents unable to afford genetic modification would have inferior children. Of course this is purely hypothetical. The birth of a modified embryo is illegal in most countries (not sure if it is allowed anywhere actually) Necessary for humanity to enhance itself? Or do you think people shouldn't 'play God'? What are your views on genetic modification?
'Play god' you mean ignore the prayers of your people and let them suffer? Pretty sure governments already do that
I find the argument that people unable to afford it get inferior children a load of crap, it's no different than medical care in many countries. If you can't afford it you don't get it.
Define 'inferior'. I'm poor, yet my kids have everything, the two that are at school are among the most intelligent and well behaved in their class, neither have any health issues (at of now ofcourse)
Pretty sure cancer isn't genetic. Perhaps a greater predisposition towards it is though. Anyway, we are forever moving in the path of finding longevity. This is one such method. Actually a very elegant one. Rather than care for our people after bad things happen, and we react to them, we can alter their DNA to make it so those things never happen at all. Proactive. Reduce suffering, increase life expectancy. Sounds great. Until we look at the societal impacts. How long until you need to be a designer baby to succeed? Where businesses to not want to hire "invalids" Watch Gattaca to see where that's coming from. It's a movie from I think late 80s early 90s when we were just figuring out what DNA meant and the applications of it. It's an interesting take on possible life should we head that way.
DNA is a code like binary but far more advanced. It is a set of instructions for the creation and application of amino acids which become proteins. Some genes may cause cancer cells to form some people have these genes naturally (genes are a section of your DNA) however radiation or other factors may alter the DNA's base order and cause cancer and other conditions to occur.
Most cancer is not genetic but it raises the risk. Like when the doctor asks if there is any history of cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, etc. That's not exactly genetic but I would say that it is one of the hereditary factors.
I see no issues with it, as long as it doesn't completely seperate the population. For instance, if you are able to have a baby that is less likely to contract certain illnesses and such, then go for it if you have the money. If they are able to advance it though and create more intelligent or physically superior babies, then normal people would become second class in a sense, except for the naturally gifted.
It would be foolish not to utilize science here. Do we want to waste countless dollars on our own health by keeping a weak immune system, or do we want to permanently cure many diseases? I think that individuals should have no say in the genetic modification process. The government should have full control of it - if you're going to get any modifications, it will be the standard pack that will make the kid live longer or earn more money, and nothing more.
Cancer is kind of genetic. Sharks can't get cancer whereas humans can. Both species have different genes. If we made it so that telemeres replenished in length, and that free radicals in cells didn't cause damage, we might very well cure cancer based on genetic modification. The first country to start using genetic modifications will be the one with the most success later on
Firstly, there are no cancer genes. You cannot just remove that. But the whole "desingner babies" thing really annoys me. It makes it sound way worse than it really is. All genetic modification of a baby does is ensure that no genetic or herriditory diseases are passed onto the baby and the best possible genes for development. And lets be honest, who doesn't want the best for their child? why leave nature to do it randomly when you can have a trained professional doctor make sure the best possible genes are passed on. Genetic modification of embryos would mean that things like type 1 diabetes and many highly dibilitating diseases can be completely avoided. If you're scared it's "messsing with God's eye of humanity" or whatever you're really just kidding yourself. The only reason we don't allow it is because people are scared of it. I for one am not scared and embrace genetic modification for the improvement of the genes. Now, I am in no way saying that people with disabilities don't deserve the most out of life because they do. But I will say that no humam deserves to suffer merely because people were too scared of a little bit of genetic engineering. And it isn't facism to say that. If people are suffering from illness it isn't facism to want to cure that right? But genetic modification should not be forced. It should be an option, like abortion. While some don't like it(mostly because they don't understand it) that does not meant that it should not be an option for others.
Free Oxygen radicals will always harm/age the body. There have been studies on mice, rats and dogs that show very low callorie diets can slow down the ageing process by up to twice as slow, because theyre not metabolising as much and not producing as many free radicals. Another way to reduce the free radicals is eat/drink anti-oxidents. Aka fruit, veg, tea and coffee(coffee actually has 4X as many anti-oxidents as tea). Cancer is not confirmed or denied genetic though. In fact we don't know the certain cause of cancer. We know what happens when cancer starts to form but it is almost entirely random. Free radicals can be a factor though since they may just corrupt or kill cells. Genetic modification does not seem to be a cancer cure though. That idea is just ludicrous.