Once a year the genome guys come out with some hysterical declaration about mapping something or other. And at some point it may all lead to break thrus, but give me millions of dollars with no definitive time-line and I'll give you a list of ways humans are set apart "...from other primates." And my list will have color pictures.
Sorry, but such ignorance cannot go unchallenged by the actual state of affairs within biology, a subject I am privy to, and you obviously have no earthly idea about.
I guess presenting the actual value of something you claim has no value is being “pissy and defensive”. Don't shoot the messenger. You made an ignorant and stupid statement, I corrected you. No need to get pissy and defensive about it.
We could make the same case about the space program fifty years ago, and today we have satellites that help mightily in weather prediction, navigation, and communication. The program cost a bunch, and you may argue with that space-race moon landing thing (it was less costly in lives than fighting a proxy war in Asia) but there did eventually emerge some benefits for ordinary everyday Americans.
I'm looking forward to seeing genetically engineered crops and food animals that require less pesticides/medicines as well as being able to improve them nutritionally. Human beings took a great leap towards civilization when they made domesticated creatures out of the wild ones they were living next to. I see genetic engineering as holding the same sort of promise.