Its real, Its no longer fictional or part of some human nightmare.
But if we go through the process of designing so called perfect babies what will happen to tomorrow’s society? Will they be a bunch of perfectly formed mutations?
How could you hate a mother for wanting a perfect child and whose to judge what perfection is?
Just where do the limits of science stop?
I would like to know who agrees with Genetic Manipulation , And if so why?

I agree with genetic manipulation, in so far as it has great potential to increase quality of life. Certain children who would otherwise have been born with debilitating illnesses, could live a "normal" life.

I don't agree with manipulation for the sake of appearance. Not to alter the apperance of a healthy child, for meaningless ideas about contemporary beauty. For deformities, yes. To change eye colour or the shape of a nose, for the sake of vanity, no.

Like all technology, it is a matter of how we use it. We can use it responsibly, or we can abuse it. I imagine the latter will take place.

[quote]Originally posted by Vallisk
[b]

I agree with genetic manipulation, in so far as it has great potential to increase quality of life. Certain children who would otherwise have been born with debilitating illnesses, could live a "normal" life.

Should'nt that be left up to NATURE OR GOD if such things exist?

That depends on your own, personal beliefs. In my opinion, nature is entirely neutral. It surrounds us, but is neither benevolent nor malignant.

I view God as the creative and loving force behind the universe. Some would place their idea of nature here, or a goddess, or spirits, etc. My view of God is one which involves interaction only through other human beings. God does not impose his will. He allows mankind to make decisions and benefit or suffer from the consequences.

You could argue that altering a child genetically is playing God. I don't think it is. If we have the ability to improve life, we should.

If you bring in Nature or God.. then Nature or God allowed humans to get access to such stuff so that we use this stuff...

If you leave one thing to Nature or God then to be consistent you'll have to leave EVERYTHING to Nature or God... U got a tummy ache.. go pray for relief

[quote]Originally posted by Scarlet
[b]

Removing genetic illnesses is fine I dont see why that action shouldnt be promoted but anything else used on children at that age is against their rights imo.

Ah, ah, but that's where you may not be right. Have you ever read the book Ishmael? I don't remember the author, but I'll post it later.

It is my theory that we have stopped evolving, which I will create another thread about.

here's a thought:
say the removal of genetic defects [illness, deformities etc] from the foetus stage becomes a normality, something that is often done, if a family decides to refrain from such treatment, are they then viewed as inhumane? their child will be even less normal in the society because the condition has long been obliterated from the treatment.


the alteration of genes for vanity sake makes me sick really. but the health idea isn't a bad one although i wouldn't opt for it myself. but in a few generations [if it takes even that] the idea will settle in, our children will become familiar with the process and it will be accepted.

you can't stop technology. if times find it immoral, you ban it for a while and it will carry on underground and resurface later with more data until it is approved of.

and the natural argument really doesn't kick it anymore. sitting here hooking up to the net isn't natural at all, shall we go sit under the stars now? hunt some boar? yes, we must be consistant.

All human inventions/technology can be used for both good and bad. For example something as simple as a carving knife can be used to create great beauty in the form of art, or it could be used to kill. I have a hope that genetic manipulation will be used to cure humanity of a large amount of illnesses/disabilities, we just have to make sure we use this new tool for good

:-)

ah, but cant it be argueed that it is a health benefit to be beautiful? you get more boons that way, less stress, more sex...

There's a movie, Gaedeke or something like that. Its about this. Its kind of depressing.

Do you mean Gattaca? If so, i saw it and agree. It was depressing. Although, at the same time, there was a message about the human spirit. Something cloning just cannot capture.

Yes, that is the one. The end had hope at least. some.

Aye, it did. I liked Blade Runner more.

supposing that we know the definition of good?

that may be so that the child has lesser suffering in their life and therefore you could bring the vanity elements into it anyway.

ungliness may be seen as a disability in the future. who are we to judge?

I never really took the time to understand the concept of genetic manipulation, but from what I know of it and what I can forsee it's uses being scares me.

I and all those around me are and forever will be genetically unpure, hell I would have it no other way! Why the hell would I want to be genetically modified I like being fragile I like being stupid, I like the way the world is suffering or no suffering disease or no disease, vanity or not...

Not that I'm afraid of change, but I'm afraid of loosing a great part of my everyday eat, sleep, have sex. Genetic modification doesn't quite fit in there.

indisrepair, i think you might be a little befuddled. genetic manipulation can be used in all varying degrees - from designer babies completely perfected to the finest detail [once technology will allow it] to just a check tweek to make sure you do not inherit a disease from your parents.

it could well fit in with our little world. and it's a scares me.

The qeustion also stands that even if all this goes through who will be aloud to have this knowledge and does it mean that it will not apply to poorer countrys because they can't afford this type of technology.
So a mother in calafonia will be aloud to spend thousands to change her unborn babies eye colour whilst a mother in Sudan will not be able to deffend her baby from being born death or blind.
Is it fair to move foward in the name of technology?

nothing in this life is fair