I think we have to look at the possible scientific benefits with the ethical considerations.
While my training in animal behavior, human development, and molecular biology has not gone on for, say, 40 years, from my 7.5 years of graduate study, I would say that some of these proposed exeriments don't sound scientifically that sound to me. Results from a mouse with "human-like" brain structures can only tell us so much - and then the mouse will have "human-like" structures (whatever they want to design for), rather than "mini human brains".
At the same time, I find references such as MACavers to the "work of the devil" as odd, too. We've been breeding pigs to be used for heart transplants to save humans. Is that the work of the devil? Is in-vitro-fertilization (IVF) the work of the devil, so some couples can have children? Is retinal transplants so blind patients can see, the work of the devil? I perceive these differently - as a God-inspired gift, perhaps.
Some say yes, some say no.
For most of the experiments proposed, it seems foolhardy, really. Getting "lion genes" doesn't mean a person will act/feel/be like a lion. It means that maybe their aggression levels might be higher, a male might develop penile spines (good luck getting a date with those), or all-over-body hair (ditto the previous).
Although I'm a scientist, I'm not one to say "full speed ahead" to just anything. I just don't see the purpose behind some of these ideas - I think the better science is in studying human variation, and other species' variation, within the species.
But, alas, often funding goes to some of the "cooler" ideas.
While my training in animal behavior, human development, and molecular biology has not gone on for, say, 40 years, from my 7.5 years of graduate study, I would say that some of these proposed exeriments don't sound scientifically that sound to me. Results from a mouse with "human-like" brain structures can only tell us so much - and then the mouse will have "human-like" structures (whatever they want to design for), rather than "mini human brains".
At the same time, I find references such as MACavers to the "work of the devil" as odd, too. We've been breeding pigs to be used for heart transplants to save humans. Is that the work of the devil? Is in-vitro-fertilization (IVF) the work of the devil, so some couples can have children? Is retinal transplants so blind patients can see, the work of the devil? I perceive these differently - as a God-inspired gift, perhaps.
Some say yes, some say no.
For most of the experiments proposed, it seems foolhardy, really. Getting "lion genes" doesn't mean a person will act/feel/be like a lion. It means that maybe their aggression levels might be higher, a male might develop penile spines (good luck getting a date with those), or all-over-body hair (ditto the previous).
Although I'm a scientist, I'm not one to say "full speed ahead" to just anything. I just don't see the purpose behind some of these ideas - I think the better science is in studying human variation, and other species' variation, within the species.
But, alas, often funding goes to some of the "cooler" ideas.
artyon:
