• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

Designer Babies on the Way?

We could go all kinds of directions - don't want left handed babies, gone - don't want redheads, gone - imagine all the people not allowed to live if the genes related to alzheimers ever becomes known - and on and on.

Yeah, true. But like I said in #10...I'd rather see genetic move in the direction of ending disease and birth defects, but obviously the moral question about the definition of "birth defects" would be important.
 
I suspect we will dabble in 'creating' (more like, heavily modifying) lifeforms at some point... ever read "Uplift", or "the Reality Dysfunction"? Interesting speculation on biotech and genetic sciences in the future.

When I see this kind of topic...always makes me think of "Bladerunner"....
 
Yeah, true. But like I said in #10...I'd rather see genetic move in the direction of ending disease and birth defects, but obviously the moral question about the definition of "birth defects" would be important.

The only problem with ending "birth" defects is that the current cure is to end "birth". I can't get my mind around how, in the future, doctors would be able to "cure" a fetus with a birth defect while allowing it to mature and live. Even if possible, will it be the most desirable course.
 
I suspect we will dabble in 'creating' (more like, heavily modifying) lifeforms at some point... ever read "Uplift", or "the Reality Dysfunction"? Interesting speculation on biotech and genetic sciences in the future.

I never read those before. But, I will take a look at them so thanks for mentioning this. :)
 
Yes I'm quite sure we will be able to create strong AI's like shown in this science fiction. Care to watch the trailer? Go to 0:30 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQ0RIkpDIys

I love video games. :)

future might lie with them or cyborgs rather then purely organic life naturel or edited

which would be fine so long as they don't ever go destroy all humans/intelligent natural life on us

 
Ever read the original story? Real mind-warper....

No, I haven't. A recent book or an older book?

Sorry...missed your point about the book...Bladerunner. No...
 
Last edited:
The only problem with ending "birth" defects is that the current cure is to end "birth". I can't get my mind around how, in the future, doctors would be able to "cure" a fetus with a birth defect while allowing it to mature and live. Even if possible, will it be the most desirable course.

Man, that's the $64,000 question. But, John, I'm thinking that if things get that advanced, maybe the possibilities of having a pregnancy that would be problematic for any reason won't be an issue anymore....hopefully via prevention of unwanted pregnancy technologies working along side of cures in the womb.
 
POST TERMINATED...by the terminator...:mrgreen:
 
Last edited:
I don't know If im ready to have a Pikachu let alone a Mewto or how ever its spelled

It's spelled Mewtwo and yeah it would be funny to create pokemon off of human intelligence, with some color modifications and then the DNA to create the pokemon which most of them are based off of real animals. Take for example Infernape Infernape (Pokémon) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia we can use monkey DNA to clone him into existence.

I can see us being able to do that at some point and time.
 
It's spelled Mewtwo and yeah it would be funny to create pokemon off of human intelligence, with some color modifications and then the DNA to create the pokemon which most of them are based off of real animals. Take for example Infernape Infernape (Pokémon) - Bulbapedia, the community-driven Pokémon encyclopedia we can use monkey DNA to clone him into existence.

I can see us being able to do that at some point and time.

Will these monkey creations be able to mow the lawn? :lol: If so...lets go for it.
 
Will these monkey creations be able to mow the lawn? :lol: If so...lets go for it.


See that's how it starts... then they want civil rights, the vote... next thing you know, it's a genetically engineered monkey's world! :D
 
See that's how it starts... then they want civil rights, the vote... next thing you know, it's a genetically engineered monkey's world! :D

That might partly explain my kids... :lol:
 
See that's how it starts... then they want civil rights, the vote... next thing you know, it's a genetically engineered monkey's world! :D
 
I'm glad I won't be alive as humanity "progresses" down this road. It troubles me in many ways. I'd say that anyone who is in a minority that is genetically based should be concerned that people like them may be "filtered" out sometime down the road.

Let's look at one situation that may be very controversial in time - it seems to be a given now, in the minds of the majority, that homosexuality is genetic and not environmental. How will people feel if, in time, the genetic marker for homosexuality is discovered and it is used to weed out the defect. It's not a big step from aborting babies based on sex to aborting babies based on sexuality.

Scientific progress is not always for the betterment of mankind.

Wait until they figure out how to mess with human instincts and create a race of people who want a dictator. That's the scary scenario for me.
 
The only problem with ending "birth" defects is that the current cure is to end "birth". I can't get my mind around how, in the future, doctors would be able to "cure" a fetus with a birth defect while allowing it to mature and live. Even if possible, will it be the most desirable course.


Well, you're not the parent who would have raise a physically or mentally handicapped child, are you? So why should you or someone else be able to make that decision for them (if it is known)?
 
The only problem with ending "birth" defects is that the current cure is to end "birth". I can't get my mind around how, in the future, doctors would be able to "cure" a fetus with a birth defect while allowing it to mature and live. Even if possible, will it be the most desirable course.

Good evening, CJ. :2wave:

With the current rate of abortions, and considering that many of those fetuses were probably healthy, who would be interested in curing a fetus with a birth defect? A few couples might be, for various reasons, but the overwhelming odds against anyone else agreeing to such a procedure are astronomical, IMO.
 
Good evening, CJ. :2wave:

With the current rate of abortions, and considering that many of those fetuses were probably healthy, who would be interested in curing a fetus with a birth defect? A few couples might be, for various reasons, but the overwhelming odds against anyone else agreeing to such a procedure are astronomical, IMO.

I can't say I agree. When a couple decides they want a baby, they aren't going to abort and a lot of times they let their passion guide them, meaning they will go through some pretty incredible lengths to get what they want. Humans being emotional and often irrational creatures and all.
 
I'm glad I won't be alive as humanity "progresses" down this road. It troubles me in many ways. I'd say that anyone who is in a minority that is genetically based should be concerned that people like them may be "filtered" out sometime down the road.

Let's look at one situation that may be very controversial in time - it seems to be a given now, in the minds of the majority, that homosexuality is genetic and not environmental. How will people feel if, in time, the genetic marker for homosexuality is discovered and it is used to weed out the defect. It's not a big step from aborting babies based on sex to aborting babies based on sexuality.

Scientific progress is not always for the betterment of mankind.

:agree: I am reminded of the results of the scientific experiment in cloning. I believe Dolly was the name of the first sheep that was cloned from an adult sheep's cells. The results were widely hailed as a triumph. Unfortunately, Dolly only lived as long as the parent mother would have normally lived, and died young. I haven't heard if they have managed to overcome that problem, but until they do, it would seem that only newborns should be cloned if longevity is desired. :shock:
 
I can't say I agree. When a couple decides they want a baby, they aren't going to abort and a lot of times they let their passion guide them, meaning they will go through some pretty incredible lengths to get what they want. Humans being emotional and often irrational creatures and all.

:agree: That is why I listed "couples," as a possible exception. If an heir is needed to continue a family name, as an example. Since the procedure would undoubtedly be very expensive, it would seem that only the wealthy might be interested. The average person would probably adopt, or avail themselves of a surrogate mother to carry the child until birth. There have been several stories recently about that. In one case, I believe the surrogate mother refused to give the child up after birth, but I can't recall the outcome of that court case.

Greetings, Tacomancer. :2wave:
 
:agree: That is why I listed "couples," as a possible exception. If an heir is needed to continue a family name, as an example. Since the procedure would undoubtedly be very expensive, it would seem that only the wealthy might be interested. The average person would probably adopt, or avail themselves of a surrogate mother to carry the child until birth. There have been several stories recently about that. In one case, I believe the surrogate mother refused to give the child up after birth, but I can't recall the outcome of that court case.

Greetings, Tacomancer. :2wave:

Hi Polgara :)

Yeah, its actually a cause for a great concern of mine. This could potentially be the cause of a new caste system, except this time, it would be supported by more than ego.
 
Back
Top Bottom