Posted on 02/14/2017 11:39:56 AM PST by markomalley
Genetically modified children could be acceptable in narrow circumstances, according to National Academy of Sciences.
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Since its invention four years ago, a powerful and precise technology for editing DNA called CRISPR has transformed science because of how it makes altering the genetic makeup of plants and animals easier than ever before.
But no possibility opened by gene-editing technology has been so exciting, frightening, or as hotly contested as its capacity to allow humanity, for the first time, to control the genetic constitution of children by applying CRISPR to human embryos, sperm, or eggs—cells which together make up the “germ line.”
On Tuesday, in a striking acknowledgement that humanity is on the cusp of genetically modified children, a panel of the National Academy of Sciences, the nation’s source of blue-ribbon advice on science policy, recommended that germ-line modification of human beings be permitted in the future in certain narrow circumstances to prevent the birth of children with serious diseases.
(Excerpt) Read more at technologyreview.com ...
Sounds great.
Who wouldn’t want to guarantee that their child wouldn’t be born with a birth defect.
Of course, as with all things of this nature, the technology can and will be abused. But that should not stop us from using this to our benefit.
Well, you’ve got to admit it’s probably more time efficient and socially acceptable than selective breeding.
What was SciFi is now for real. Folks are always looking for an edge. What’s to stop parents from adding a little bit of gorilla DNA for strength, a little giraffe DNA for speed, a little owl DNA for night vision.......
raises many serious ethical issues.
im the parent of a child with a birth defect, but not a serious disease. some would call it a serious birth defect. she is still of school age, maturing and growing into quite an incredible person, to the point that everyone looks past her birth defect.
from what I have gathered, many parents these days with advance notice of this type a defect would have aborted the child. they would not have experienced the grace of god like I have through her.
to experience the grace of god is truly incredible and wonderful.
Strange. Seems like I’ve heard of the MASTER RACE before. Genetically superior beings.
Since we are told it’s genetic, perhaps the cure for homosexuality is right around the corner.
This has become fashionable so the Socialized Medicine crowd doesn’t have to dedicate any of ‘their’ money to taking care of children with diseases/defects. I doubt God looks on this as progress.......
Genetically modified children could be acceptable in narrow circumstances. Just like abortion, safe, legal, rare. I ain’t buyin’ it.
Every time I read stories like this, I’m reminded of the movie GATTACA.
To put this in perspective, the genetic problems they hope to edit out are quite large red flags in the genetic code, and are relatively easy to cut and paste with functional segments replacing them.
The other stuff, that most people fret about, is *not* obvious, has important parts scattered all over the genetic code, and is often closely tied with critical code parts, so ordinary cut and paste is out of the question.
For years they though perhaps a majority of the genetic code was unused “junk” code. Then the light dawned that this “junk” had a habit of almost randomly and essentially activating, and without it you would very quickly perish.
So, bottom line: it is going to save a lot of lives to eliminate bad chunks of code from the family tree of those who have distinctive and nasty defects.
The left will put an end to this just as soon as it’s used to prevent people from having gay or lesbian children.
“Who wouldn’t want to guarantee that their child wouldn’t be born with a birth defect.”
As in most situations when man starts thinking he can do a better job than God, there are unforeseen consequences. In every situation I can imagine, God knows best. Not only does He know what we’ve experienced in the past, He also knows what is coming. If we would just trust His judgement, we would all be better off.
Great, then the next time your child is gravely ill I expect you to deny them the medication or medical treatment they desperately need to save their life, because God knows best.
I mean to rely on our brain would be an insult to the God that created us with a brain capable of solving the problems we encounter in life according to your theory.
Heck I suggest just closing your eyes the next time you drive and trust God, oh wait... that would involve you having to use a car... instead of your God given feet... that might be an insult too...
This isn’t medicine we’re talking about. It is design changes in human beings. We have no idea how it all goes together because we aren’t the original designer. It is the epitome of arrogance to imagine that we can even do this.
You can keep your arrogance. I’m not about to start thinking I can out create God. As for those who imagine science can reverse engineer humans, remember the punchline to that old joke. The one where the scientist says he can create man out of nothing just like God. In the joke, God says to him, “Create your own dirt” [out of nothing, first].
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