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  • The Otaku SuppositoryThe Otaku Suppository PAHK YAH CAH IN DAH YAHD BAWH-STANRegistered User regular
    This seems very oddly timed considering that horror movie about genetic engineering and creating new species called Splice is coming out within a month.

    Your fuckin' family's dug into the Southie projects like ticks. You, however, grew up on the North Shore, huh? Well, la-di-fuckin'-da. You were kind of a double kid, I bet, right? Huh? One kid with your old man, one kid with your mother. You're upper-middle class during the weeks, then you're droppin' your "R"s and you're hangin' in the big, bad Southie projects with your daddy on the weekends. I got that right?
  • RoloRolo Registered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    Dubh wrote: »
    is there any work of science fiction where playing God turns out to be pretty okay?

    You're only 'playing god' when something goes horribly wrong.

    The rest of the time you're curing cancer.

    I would call curing cancer playing God

    Man was never meant to harness the awesome power of the pointy stick.

  • SquallSquall hap cloud Registered User regular
    Dubh wrote: »
    Larlar wrote: »
    Dubh wrote: »
    is there any work of science fiction where playing God turns out to be pretty okay?

    I'll write one when I'm done with my current story. That sounds like fun.

    maybe I should also write something

    start a trend

    I agree

  • Wrench N RocketsWrench N Rockets Registered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    Rolo wrote: »
    lostwords wrote: »
    so like if you inject special bacterial horsey dna into a baby, you can raise a halfstallion/half human monstrosity? am i reading that right? can i finally ride a centaur?



    Essentially we've only been able to splice parts of engineered DNA patterns into cells before.

    This time we've put an entire loop of engineered DNA into a cell, and it's complete enough that it can replicate on its own.

    The implications for bioweapons are terrifying.

    Really, there are many more effective, less-delicate and less-costly methods for creating bio-weapons than this.

    Sure, if you just want to kill people.

    But now the sky's the limit.

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  • TamTam I hate art I love artRegistered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    Rolo wrote: »
    lostwords wrote: »
    so like if you inject special bacterial horsey dna into a baby, you can raise a halfstallion/half human monstrosity? am i reading that right? can i finally ride a centaur?



    Essentially we've only been able to splice parts of engineered DNA patterns into cells before.

    This time we've put an entire loop of engineered DNA into a cell, and it's complete enough that it can replicate on its own.

    The implications for bioweapons are terrifying.

    Really, there are many more effective, less-delicate and less-costly methods for creating bio-weapons than this.

    yeah, nature's already ten million times more cost effective

    just use any number of existing deadly pathogens

  • DubhDubh Hoodmistress Registered User regular
    if I was playing God

    I'm pretty sure I'd be throwing balls of fire at cities, impregnating virgin women, and flooding the world

  • Romanian My EscutcheonRomanian My Escutcheon Two of Forks Registered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    Dubh wrote: »
    is there any work of science fiction where playing God turns out to be pretty okay?

    You're only 'playing god' when something goes horribly wrong.

    The rest of the time you're curing cancer.

    I would call curing cancer playing God

    I'll be sure to tell that to the kids at Nemours.

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  • Kevin CristKevin Crist Look at the faces. Listen to the bells. It's hard to believe we need a place called hell.Registered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    Dubh wrote: »
    is there any work of science fiction where playing God turns out to be pretty okay?

    You're only 'playing god' when something goes horribly wrong.

    The rest of the time you're curing cancer.

    I would call curing cancer playing God

    Many forms of modern medicine is playing God. I doubt Organ Transplants were in the original blueprints.

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  • RuckusRuckus Registered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    Dubh wrote: »
    is there any work of science fiction where playing God turns out to be pretty okay?

    You're only 'playing god' when something goes horribly wrong.

    The rest of the time you're curing cancer.

    I would call curing cancer playing God

    Well in that case we've been playing god since we started creating inoculations, so why stop now?

    Raneados wrote: »
    so what SPECIFICALLY is the problem with my hole?
  • TamTam I hate art I love artRegistered User regular
    why stop indeed

  • scarlet st.scarlet st. Registered User
    so what if we're playing god

    it'll be fun.

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  • UnbreakableVowUnbreakableVow Chareth Cutestory Lawyer of the SeaRegistered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    Dubh wrote: »
    is there any work of science fiction where playing God turns out to be pretty okay?

    You're only 'playing god' when something goes horribly wrong.

    The rest of the time you're curing cancer.

    I would call curing cancer playing God

    Many forms of modern medicine is playing God. I doubt Organ Transplants were in the original blueprints.

    I realize this

    It doesn't mean I agree with it

    But whatever, might as well not stop now, you guys are right

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  • WallhitterWallhitter Registered User
    i genuinely think this is a good thing. i'm (and this is perfectly sincere) totally for playing god.

    the way i see it is, as long as it doesn't ultimately harm us/the planet, it's okay. if we can build a better herring then let's do that.

  • HoukHouk Nipples The EchidnaRegistered User regular
    Basically, the phrase "playing God" is really stupid and only used to demonize something without addressing the actual issue!

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  • VivixenneVivixenne Not Mad... Just DisappointedRegistered User regular
    yes this is why I want someone to answer my question from the first page :(

  • Muse Among MenMuse Among Men Suburban Bunny Princess? Its time for a new shtick Registered User regular
    Does this mean we are closer to making Humanimals a reality?

  • VeretasVeretas Registered User regular
    So does this mean my childhood dream of becoming a Blade Runner can come to actual fruition?

  • HellaJeffHellaJeff FAB FRESH RAIIINBOOWWWWWRegistered User regular
    This is one heck of a door. It isn't new life, but it is pretty much the beginning of sci-fi style genetically engineering stuff to be all different with wings and shit.

    First bacteria that are coded to decompose trash with more fuel as the result.

    Then bacteria coded to hide in plastic and eat flesh when in direct contact.

  • Centipede DamascusCentipede Damascus The machine is broken. The universe is broken.Registered User regular
    me am make fire with sticks!

    ME AM PLAY GODS

  • VeretasVeretas Registered User regular
    seriously

    VERETAS: BLADE RUNNER

    let's make it happen

  • Muse Among MenMuse Among Men Suburban Bunny Princess? Its time for a new shtick Registered User regular
    Does this mean we can create penis enlargement treatments that actually work?

  • WallhitterWallhitter Registered User
    Houk wrote: »
    Basically, the phrase "playing God" is really stupid and only used to demonize something without addressing the actual issue!

    Exactly! Potentially harming people, violating human rights or the environment, THOSE are issues. Playing the part of some possibly existent creator figure really isn't

  • MaceraMacera Registered User
    I'm not that worried about the ethical implications of this. We've been breeding animals and plants into warped, unnatural forms for centuries.

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  • Viscount IslandsViscount Islands [INSERT SoKo HERE] Registered User regular
    Macera wrote: »
    I'm not that worried about the ethical implications of this. We've been breeding animals and plants into warped, unnatural forms for centuries.

    Those kitties in glass jars.

    I want to do with you
    What spring does with the cherry trees.
  • Muse Among MenMuse Among Men Suburban Bunny Princess? Its time for a new shtick Registered User regular
    Does this mean we are closer to making Humanimals a reality?

    They better make Humicorns first.

    We should email Hussie STAT.

    And then send those scientists a link to Humanimals and a simple declaration: MAKE IT HAPPEN

  • Wrench N RocketsWrench N Rockets Registered User regular
    Next step: Shoggoths.

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  • Kuribo's ShoeKuribo's Shoe Masks, huh? Mine's superior.Registered User regular
    Houk wrote: »
    Basically, the phrase "playing God" is really stupid and only used to demonize something without addressing the actual issue!

    this is essentially why I avoided using the term in my original post

    it's nebulous at best and stupid at worst

    I just wonder, if we get to the point where we can genetically modify humans, where's that line, the line between making it so you never get cancer, and making it so you look exactly the way your parents want you to, finding the genetic markers for homosexuality and overwriting them, etc

    would it destroy individuality? is that bad? who ate my schnitzel?

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  • VivixenneVivixenne Not Mad... Just DisappointedRegistered User regular
    Macera wrote: »
    I'm not that worried about the ethical implications of this. We've been breeding animals and plants into warped, unnatural forms for centuries.

    yeah exactly

    see: grafting

  • Romanian My EscutcheonRomanian My Escutcheon Two of Forks Registered User regular
    Vivixenne wrote: »
    yes this is why I want someone to answer my question from the first page :(

    From what I can tell in the article, the only ethical question here is whether or not these scientists should be changing the intended function of a cell. They aren't creating life, they're just modifying it to serve their purpose, to create stuff like virus vaccines and eco-friendly fuels.

    EDIT: Oh, and as stated a few times already, there's some fear that scientists might be able to modify cells to serve as bioweapons... But that's a little beyond the scope of what's been done here.

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  • MaceraMacera Registered User
    Vivixenne wrote: »
    Macera wrote: »
    I'm not that worried about the ethical implications of this. We've been breeding animals and plants into warped, unnatural forms for centuries.

    yeah exactly

    see: grafting

    or pugs

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  • RoloRolo Registered User regular
    Vivixenne wrote: »
    wait so what are the implications of this technology that make it a bad thing or a good thing?

    Good thing:

    The real interesting stuff will start when people are able to use this technique to generate and grow things like stem cells from exisiting organic materials. You could use it help people with damaged or deteriorating diseases of the nervous system like Parkinson's.


    Bad thing:

    The most dangerous thing would be introducing a bacteria cell into an environment that isn't prepared for it, and having that cell multiply at an uncontrolled rate. Remember the episode of the Simpsons where Bart brings his frog to Australia? That kind of thing could happen when people get ideas like 'let's engineer a bacteria that can break down plastics and oils", and then the bacteria makes its way into the wild or gets flushed into the ocean. It then starts adapating and breaking down other materials, or makes it more difficult for plant life to grow, or makes the water even more toxic for other animals.

  • HoukHouk Nipples The EchidnaRegistered User regular
    Vivixenne wrote: »
    wait so what are the implications of this technology that make it a bad thing or a good thing?
    Well, a very long-term issue I think would be the creation or alteration of new life. Like, if you create a new species whole-cloth or modify one so that it is sufficiently different from the existing species, can you claim ownership over it? Since it's a synthetic being, do animal protection rights apply to it? Can you patent it and use it however you want? Are there certain changes we shouldn't be allowed to make? Who gets to decide what is and is not allowable, or dangerous, or useful, or whatever?

    It's not that the technology itself would be bad or good, but how it's used. Think of it how people saw the rise of nuclear power/weaponry back in the day.

    I mean that is a pretty long-off and far-fetched situation, but it's one example off the top of my head.

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  • Kuribo's ShoeKuribo's Shoe Masks, huh? Mine's superior.Registered User regular
    in this thread I ask unoriginal questions about the ethics of genetic research

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  • HellaJeffHellaJeff FAB FRESH RAIIINBOOWWWWWRegistered User regular
    Macera wrote: »
    I'm not that worried about the ethical implications of this. We've been breeding animals and plants into warped, unnatural forms for centuries.

    This is kind of cooler though, because that is like throwing lots of different meat in a pot for a few hours and calling it stew compared to meticulously measuring how much of each meat and the spices involved to create something real specefic.

  • Kevin CristKevin Crist Look at the faces. Listen to the bells. It's hard to believe we need a place called hell.Registered User regular
    Macera wrote: »
    I'm not that worried about the ethical implications of this. We've been breeding animals and plants into warped, unnatural forms for centuries.

    Humanity has much to answer for bringing the Affenpinscher into existence.

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  • VivixenneVivixenne Not Mad... Just DisappointedRegistered User regular
    ooooooh those are some great and very well-worded answers, guys

    cheers

    shoe at least MY unoriginal question generated some GOOD answers so NYEH

  • Romanian My EscutcheonRomanian My Escutcheon Two of Forks Registered User regular
    Rolo wrote: »
    Bad thing:

    The most dangerous thing would be introducing a bacteria cell into an environment that isn't prepared for it, and having that cell multiply at an uncontrolled rate. Remember the episode of the Simpsons where Bart brings his frog to Australia? That kind of thing could happen when people get ideas like 'let's engineer a bacteria that can break down plastics and oils", and then the bacteria makes its way into the wild or gets flushed into the ocean.

    Another example is how kudzu went wild in the Deep South.

    Somebody brought kudzu seeds over from Japan, next thing you know the kudzu's strangling the existing plants by growing over it.

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  • Kuribo's ShoeKuribo's Shoe Masks, huh? Mine's superior.Registered User regular
    Vivixenne wrote: »
    ooooooh those are some great and very well-worded answers, guys

    cheers

    shoe at least MY unoriginal question generated some GOOD answers so NYEH

    you smell

    there's a good answer for you

    take it to the bank

    the smell bank

    it is the only bank that will have you

    because you smell

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  • HellaJeffHellaJeff FAB FRESH RAIIINBOOWWWWWRegistered User regular
    Or Japanese beetles from japan to America.


    Man fuck Japan's ecosystem.

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