I should have clarified that I had in mind a certain kind of biotech--genetic engineering.
Recent research in Beyond Biotechnology: The Barren Promise of Genetic Engineering, by Craig Holdrege and Steve Talbott, suggests that the concept of a "gene" is an abstraction or a reduction of biological reality. Genes are very context dependent and can't be altered in isolation from other genes and the organism. Holdrege points out that there are all sorts of unintended consequences from genetic engineering in plants and animals and we have no idea what will happen in humans. The social ramifications have been explored in the movies Gataca and The Island.
Even with other forms of biotech or scientific enquiry, I think that cautiousness should be exercised in proportion to concrete knowledge of outcomes. I believe our primary task is to conform to nature and not to make nature conform to our ideals of humanity.
Thanks for helping me clarify Chris. Any further thoughts?
2 comments:
Matt,
I'm sure we agree on the permissibility of stem cell research but...couldn't what you say be applied to all sorts of legitimate scientific inquiry?
Chris
I certainly hope so.
I should have clarified that I had in mind a certain kind of biotech--genetic engineering.
Recent research in Beyond Biotechnology: The Barren Promise of Genetic Engineering, by Craig Holdrege and Steve Talbott, suggests that the concept of a "gene" is an abstraction or a reduction of biological reality. Genes are very context dependent and can't be altered in isolation from other genes and the organism. Holdrege points out that there are all sorts of unintended consequences from genetic engineering in plants and animals and we have no idea what will happen in humans. The social ramifications have been explored in the movies Gataca and The Island.
Even with other forms of biotech or scientific enquiry, I think that cautiousness should be exercised in proportion to concrete knowledge of
outcomes. I believe our primary task is to conform to nature and not to make nature conform to our ideals of humanity.
Thanks for helping me clarify Chris. Any further thoughts?
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