Gattaca is closer than you think
Radar just published this article about genetic testing, how some parents are choosing particular traits for their offspring pre-conception. Creepy.
I find it intellectually interesting that one could potentially screen out children that would suffer from colon cancer, but at the same time I am petrified that the world really could become overrun with identical towheaded model-types.
[shudder.]
I can only imagine that in the next 20+ years, the 'regular' babies born today will be pumping out genetically 'perfect' babies of their choosing. Hell, they'll probably just grow babies in a big field and harvest them like corn cobs. It's one thing to research DNA to figure out how to regrow someone's arm or cure cancer, but screening out "imperfections" like brown skin, gayness, short stature, or freckles is really just an exercise in eugenics.
9 comments:
Well, at least one this is for certain, the future will either be GATTACA or it will Idiocracy, but it can't be both.
Things that are not imperfections:
-gayness
-freckles
And skin color
Um, I know. That's why I put the word imperfections in quotes, to demonstrate sarcasm.
I notice you didn't include the fourth example, short stature.
Anonymous Dude, it's inherently clear that TR is not promoting eugenics, and is against weeding out traits so many people out there are prejudiced towards.
It is pretty damn apparent to any half-educated reader of our blog that the regular posters not only respect diversity, but also embrace it, especially since we are pretty damn diverse ourselves--not like you need to know our business or anything.
So what's your deal, hmm? Are you just some bitter bastard out to get someone or what? Presumably you're the same person who antagonistically commented on Saturday's post. If not, I stand corrected--but you still need to learn to read.
Ah GATTACA, I remember you well. While the idea of Ethan Hawke's and Uma Thurman's traipsing around our world in mass quantity is appealing as eye candy, it's also very frightening.
While I agree in principle (nobody wants their baby to suffer a life-threatening disease), the idea of "designing" my baby for specific traits is appalling. I have this eerie feeling that we will all end up like that Twilight Zone episode where the dad buys his children a new nanny that they designed themselves. "Eyes, voice, hair, arms, ears" etc. It was all displayed so you could see the choices they offered.
Rod Serling: way before his time.
PS: Mr. Anonymous, go bother someone else.
Mary, I think that episode played during the marathon we watched a while back. It was weird to see the eyeballs, wigs, and voiceboxes available for creating the perfect nanny. What happened at the end of that episode? Did the nanny-bot go crazy?
Talk about DNA-level designer children nauseates me -- as if today's East Memphis mommy offspring weren't designer enough. I thought we covered all that philosophical ground with the star-bellied sneetches...? Each according to our gifts, people. Building future generations a la carte is a really bad idea, no matter how good the intentions.
Is this the nanny-bot in question? From the TZ episode of the same name, if so. Super creepy.
rosy cheeks and everything!
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