Comment Some extra thoughts on Planet Gattac (Score 0) 473
This is in response to Jon Katz' article on genetic tampering and on many of the responses already.
I believe that Katz's article was very enlightening and thought provoking, though I have some other places we can look for examples of genetic engineering. One example of genetic engineering is Jurassic Park, either the book or the movie. Scientist there played around with genes just as much as the prople in Gattaca did, only in Jurassic Park they brought back creatures that were 65 million years dead, as opposed to affecting living creatures. Jurassic Park shows just how dangerous genetic engineering tampering can be. No matter how careful we think we are, somethin can go wrong and get out of hand. So what if Dr. Ventor is able to make a new life form from the genes of and old and helpful bacteria. One little change in the genetic sequence can change this helpful guy into a horrible bowel eatting diesease that will kill every one. Maybe some smart person will manage to work out how to kill the disease before the human race is wiped out; but how long will this take? With the creator of the new disease being the first to die, someone else must learn all that he already has.
While society today is working on wiping out prejudices, the Gattacan society creatted the biggest prejudice of them all. Not only are prople looking at the color of Vincent/s skin, but they test blood, urine, hair samples as well as every little flake of dead skin that falls off. So what if he has a heart condition. Agreeably he should not be placed in a situation that could provoke his heart condition, but is sitting in a room with a computer entering data going to provoke a heart attack? Instead of this safe job, "his kind" is put to work as janitors, a job that is much more physical. This type of discrimination already worries people today, as employers will not hire prospective employees because they may have to pay more money for a genetic diesease that was not their fault in the first place. People should not be judged by a medical illness that could not be prevented. Really, how does a heart condition effect typing on a computer?
We should not 'play' around with genes of species "because we can". These are the famous last words of many who have payed for their mistakes. Once we are that shallow that we do something on this magnitude "because we can", many other factors are introduced into research and developement. Politics get involved, "hey vote for me because I can make every woman look 25, thin and blonde," and money becomes an issue. When this happens, the scientist are no longer researching for a better society, but for the higher paycheck. Another problem that gets involved is the possibility for the information to be used as weapons. Once an evil hand gets on the information, no telling what will happen. I'm not suggesting that we do not use genetic engineering, in fact is has been used for many years in agriculture to help produce food, I am just saying that we need to put a limit on how far we should go and that creating another species is over that limit. Helping cure AIDS, MD and other genetic diseases is research that is within the bounds and should be encouraged.
As to the religious involvement in this matter, I think that the religious officials should have some say in this matter, they should be able to give their opinions on the matter, but they should not have the final decision. The final decision should be made from a committee of scientist that have a good knowledge of the subject at hand but have no personal commitment in the case. Then they should hear debates from all sides and then decide whether or not genetic engineering on a certain topic should be attempted. This decision should be based on the possible outcomes of the experiment and the possible consequences on society.
Finally, science fiction has a lot to tell us and we can learn a lot about the possible future if we only listen. As stated in the article, it has already predicted genetic engineering, missions to Mars, and manned space flight. Science fiction shows us the possible ups and downs that are associated with a possible experiment. If this is scientifically sound, then all that is left is the question, "Can society today handle such an idea?"
I believe that Katz's article was very enlightening and thought provoking, though I have some other places we can look for examples of genetic engineering. One example of genetic engineering is Jurassic Park, either the book or the movie. Scientist there played around with genes just as much as the prople in Gattaca did, only in Jurassic Park they brought back creatures that were 65 million years dead, as opposed to affecting living creatures. Jurassic Park shows just how dangerous genetic engineering tampering can be. No matter how careful we think we are, somethin can go wrong and get out of hand. So what if Dr. Ventor is able to make a new life form from the genes of and old and helpful bacteria. One little change in the genetic sequence can change this helpful guy into a horrible bowel eatting diesease that will kill every one. Maybe some smart person will manage to work out how to kill the disease before the human race is wiped out; but how long will this take? With the creator of the new disease being the first to die, someone else must learn all that he already has.
While society today is working on wiping out prejudices, the Gattacan society creatted the biggest prejudice of them all. Not only are prople looking at the color of Vincent/s skin, but they test blood, urine, hair samples as well as every little flake of dead skin that falls off. So what if he has a heart condition. Agreeably he should not be placed in a situation that could provoke his heart condition, but is sitting in a room with a computer entering data going to provoke a heart attack? Instead of this safe job, "his kind" is put to work as janitors, a job that is much more physical. This type of discrimination already worries people today, as employers will not hire prospective employees because they may have to pay more money for a genetic diesease that was not their fault in the first place. People should not be judged by a medical illness that could not be prevented. Really, how does a heart condition effect typing on a computer?
We should not 'play' around with genes of species "because we can". These are the famous last words of many who have payed for their mistakes. Once we are that shallow that we do something on this magnitude "because we can", many other factors are introduced into research and developement. Politics get involved, "hey vote for me because I can make every woman look 25, thin and blonde," and money becomes an issue. When this happens, the scientist are no longer researching for a better society, but for the higher paycheck. Another problem that gets involved is the possibility for the information to be used as weapons. Once an evil hand gets on the information, no telling what will happen. I'm not suggesting that we do not use genetic engineering, in fact is has been used for many years in agriculture to help produce food, I am just saying that we need to put a limit on how far we should go and that creating another species is over that limit. Helping cure AIDS, MD and other genetic diseases is research that is within the bounds and should be encouraged.
As to the religious involvement in this matter, I think that the religious officials should have some say in this matter, they should be able to give their opinions on the matter, but they should not have the final decision. The final decision should be made from a committee of scientist that have a good knowledge of the subject at hand but have no personal commitment in the case. Then they should hear debates from all sides and then decide whether or not genetic engineering on a certain topic should be attempted. This decision should be based on the possible outcomes of the experiment and the possible consequences on society.
Finally, science fiction has a lot to tell us and we can learn a lot about the possible future if we only listen. As stated in the article, it has already predicted genetic engineering, missions to Mars, and manned space flight. Science fiction shows us the possible ups and downs that are associated with a possible experiment. If this is scientifically sound, then all that is left is the question, "Can society today handle such an idea?"
