Comment Questions on genetic engineering (Score 2) 10
Hi! Thanks a lot for this great opportunity. Hope it's not too much to ask several questions at once.
I've recently been involved in a discussion on this subject, so several questions came up:
1. Is genetic engineering on the level of creating catgirls, cabbits and such possible with current technology? I'm guessing that given all the progress and existence of things like glowing fish and GM food, it's probably doable, and the only reason such things don't exist yet is due to ethical and economical reasons. Put in another way, how far could one get into mad scientist territory if ignoring all rules was possible?
2. Are there limits to gene therapy? If one can artificially create something like the above, is it possible to make an existing organism rebuild itself into the same shape? I understand that it's probably not been attempted, but are there any known limits past which something of the sort wouldn't be worth trying?
For instance, as somebody with an interest in photography, I think it'd be very neat to be able to improve my vision and become a tetrachromat, or gain the ability to see IR or UV. Can gene therapy get something like that done?
3. What is your opinion on DIYbio?
Thanks!