[itistoday]

For now, I ask you all to please place yourselves into the not so distant future, where having a custom made child is as easy as saying what you want.

Would you do this to your children? If you met someone who was genetically modified, or someone who had their children genetically modified, what would your honest feelings towards them be?

Discuss.

[TheBadgerHunter]

Currently an unborn child hasn't got a whole lot of rights so there is no reason why this would be a problem. If people are allowed to they will, and who am I to argue with that?

[The Godfather]

Have you watched the movie Gattaca? The "naturals" could only get jobs as janitors.
The designed babies were perfect in every sense, but they expected to perform perfectly at work.

[Mafia]

Originally posted by The Godfather:
Have you watched the movie Gattaca? The "naturals" could only get jobs as janitors.
The designed babies were perfect in every sense, but they expected to perform perfectly at work.

ya, equal opportunity modding imo. i don't want superbabies taking my job at age 10.

[Teronzhul]

To remove genetic predispositions toward disease, yes. (my family specifically has a history of pyloric stenosis in the male children)

To increase their mental and physical abilities or alter their appearance, no.

I would like my child to actually be a product of the genes of myself and my spouse, and not the creation of a lab techie in front of a computer screen.

[Mafia]

Originally posted by Teronzhul:
To remove genetic predispositions toward disease, yes. (my family specifically has a history of pyloric stenosis in the male children)

To increase their mental and physical abilities or alter their appearance, no.

I would like my child to actually be a product of the genes of myself and my spouse, and not the creation of a lab techie in front of a computer screen.

your right i wish i could change my vote. to prevent disease, retardation, and deformaties i wouldnt mind. but no superbabies!

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

Serious diseases or eye colour sure.

Giving them super brain power or strength, no.

[Cipher13]

Sure, great idea. Let's select for traits such as looks, and hair colour, and breast size, which may well be linked with traits that influence our immune system, or resistance to cancer, or whatever.

Let's thin out the gene pool by selecting for all the same traits - I mean, after all, who *wouldn't* choose for their child to be "more intelligent"?

Let's completely destroy any uniqueness we may have, by making us all clones of our favourite hollywood whores. Every guy loves the idea of hot twins, or triplets (dare I imagine), but when *everyone* is beautiful... nobody is.

This is just a dumb idea.

I'm not sure I'd even advocate this for medical purposes... altering genes to reduce the risks of acquiring certain diseases, or developing certain conditions? That's all well and good until you figure out that the "replacement" gene isn't all you hoped for.

Evolution has done pretty bloody well so far, and I'll stick with it (though if I were to play the devil's advocate here, I'd argue that this is the evolution of evolution... but I digress).

[Mafia]

i think this would envoke a huge increase in the number of child molestation.

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by Disgruntled Head of C-3PO:
Serious diseases or eye colour sure.

Giving them super brain power or strength, no.

Why not improve basic attributes like intelligence and strength? Just speeding up evolution a bit. Wouldn't even need to be a large scale thing, eventually the attributes would spread naturally.

[spiky_dog]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
Why not improve basic attributes like intelligence and strength? Just speeding up evolution a bit. Wouldn't even need to be a large scale thing, eventually the attributes would spread naturally.

i voted yes because i plan to do this, by careful choosing of my mate should i go down that road. choosing your partner based on their attractiveness, health, and (hopefully) intelligence is the "natural" way to get children with good basic attributes, as you describe them. people have been doing exactly this for time immemorial because, guess what, we are wired to find such people more attractive.

[Athens]

yes because if it was possible and legal others would and I would want my child to be on equal ground with other modifid children.

[effgee]

I'd like to have mine with a built-in switch for the vocal chords (volume control with "mute" functionality). Come to think of it, a master switch (on/off) would be a good idea, too. And since we're already at it, various ports to connect them to an external device for uploading new "software" (aka "behavior modification") wouldn't be the worst thing to have, either.

Now the color - that is a much more complex question. Gonna have to get back to you on that one.

[Athens]

Originally posted by effgee:
I'd like to have mine with a built-in switch for the vocal chords (volume control with "mute" functionality). Come to think of it, a master switch (on/off) would be a good idea, too. And since we're already at it, various ports to connect them to an external device for uploading new "software" (aka "behavior modification") wouldn't be the worst thing to have, either.

Now the color - that is a much more complex question. Gonna have to get back to you on that one.

you know its not really something to laugh at. The science is real, the possibilities are not if but when. And genetic screening is already occuring now for insurance companies. This subject is a real future and Gattica was a great movie to show one possible out come. Funny thing is I just watched that tonight too lol.

[effgee]

Originally posted by Athens:
you know its not really something to laugh at. The science is real, the possibilities are not if but when. And genetic screening is already occuring now for insurance companies. This subject is a real future and Gattica was a great movie to show one possible out come. Funny thing is I just watched that tonight too lol.

Here's why it is funny:

1. This is the lounge (I laugh about whatever I find funny at the time, you should see me away from the computer - creeps people out)
2. This is the lounge (simply because someone giggles over a certain topic - in here or elsewhere - doesn't automatically imply they're not capable of seriously discussion said topic in a different setting - one noteable exception being me, of course)
3. Hello? It's the lounge, silly!

You're much more lovable when you're not sick - get better soon.

[Cadaver]

If I can get mine to behave better, then I'm all for it!

/father of 3

[mitchell_pgh]

I kind of see it as an YES/NO situation. If you are going to modify them for birth defects/eye color why not make sure they are smart/strong?

I think if I decided to modify my child, I would probably go all the way. Keeping the best possible components of my wife and I and removing the worst.

[Athens]

Originally posted by effgee:

You're much more lovable when you're not sick - get better soon.

Thank you

[DeathToWindows]

Disease prevention - yeah.

über-mods... think I'll pass

[MacGorilla]

If I could genetically modify my daughter to keep her room clean, I'm all for it.

[hart]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
Why not improve basic attributes like intelligence and strength? Just speeding up evolution a bit. Wouldn't even need to be a large scale thing, eventually the attributes would spread naturally.

I just read an article explaining why statistically it doesn't end up happening this way but now I can't remember where I read it. New Yorker maybe? anyway, it was saying that a super intelligent person is most likely to have a child that is less intelligent and by the same token a not so smart person is likely to have a more intelligent child. So it all evens out over time.

The other thing you guys are leaving out is that genetics is not the be-all and end-all of human development. Environment and experience play a large role in the eventual form that genetic potential takes. We're in a time when genetics is the rage (other times, people have been equally enamored of environment) but in the end they both influence the eventual outcome.

I don't think that it's going to be all that simple to just put together a genetic package to produce a "smart" person or a "strong" person. These charactericstics are multi-faceted, especially intelligence and probably won't be produced by just choosing a couple of genes.

[Apple Pro Underwear]

f*ck it

life's short

go for it

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by hart:
I just read an article explaining why statistically it doesn't end up happening this way but now I can't remember where I read it. New Yorker maybe? anyway, it was saying that a super intelligent person is most likely to have a child that is less intelligent and by the same token a not so smart person is likely to have a more intelligent child. So it all evens out over time.

I don't think that it's going to be all that simple to just put together a genetic package to produce a "smart" person or a "strong" person. These charactericstics are multi-faceted, especially intelligence and probably won't be produced by just choosing a couple of genes.

What I'm saying is that the off-spring an abnormally intelligent person and an average joe will result in someone somewhere in between.

Absolutely true. Its more of enhancing a persons potential intelligence or other attributes.

Thankfully we'll all probably be dead by the time this is possible.

[fireside]

Originally posted by Cipher13:
(though if I were to play the devil's advocate here, I'd argue that this is the evolution of evolution... but I digress).

could you really call this the evolution of evolution? its not really "evolution" if we humans stick our brains into it is it?

[fireside]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
Thankfully we'll all probably be dead by the time this is possible.

isn't that pretty much dodging the question?

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by fireside:
isn't that pretty much dodging the question?

I already said I'm all for it.

[CD Hanks]

Let evolution do it's job. Don't get all mad because you've got bad genes and produce crappy offspring, just deal with it. It's natures way of saying "we don't need any more of you".

[FulcrumPilot]

I abstained from voting. Wish it were as simple as sjobs saying "boom" and its done!

Anyway a relatively smarter idea to make smart children is to give them good drugs. I suspect this is going to happen in the next decade or so.

[FulcrumPilot]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
Don't get all mad because you've got bad genes and produce crappy offspring, just deal with it.

Bad genes for brains and looks don't mean you have good genes for resisting against microbial invasions. They may seggregate independently. This explains why there is much variation in animal societies when it comes to shapes and sizes and behavior.

[nredman]

Originally posted by MacGorilla:
If I could genetically modify my daughter to keep her room clean, I'm all for it.

*lol*

[d4nth3m4n]

i'll probably be too underpaid at the time to even have this as an option.

[CD Hanks]

Originally posted by FulcrumPilot:
Bad genes for brains and looks don't mean you have good genes for resisting against microbial invasions. They may seggregate independently. This explains why there is much variation in animal societies when it comes to shapes and sizes and behavior.

Right, but by definition and usage of "crappy", that would indicate some sort of irregularity or disability hinder the life of a child in a negative way. Doesn't matter that they're ugly if they've got cystic fibrosis.

[sugar_coated]

Genetic modification of humans is not a good idea! It should be forbidden. It is an act of the devil.

[CD Hanks]

Originally posted by sugar_coated:
Genetic modification of humans is not a good idea! It should be forbidden. It is an act of the devil.

Devil? No. Retardation? Yes.

[itistoday]

Originally posted by CD Hanks:
Devil? No. Retardation? Yes.

I'm pretty sure none of those are the culprits

[Superchicken]

Do any of you know how the research would have to go to get results that would satisfy any couple wanting a baby? This would NOT turn out well.

[jcadam]

When my wife and I walk into the conception center, we don't want to be confused by a myraid of potential attributes (looks, personality, height, etc.). Too many possiblities makes it harder to make a decision. We can eliminate many negative qualities without too much thought. We know, for example, that an endomorphic body type is a generally undesirable charateristic. Most men would want to be mesomorphic, most women ectomorphic.

So, the solution: Just come up with 10 basic models for each gender, you choose one. There will only be small, nearly indiscernable differences based on the parents' genetics. Sure, 1 in 20 children will look almost exactly alike, but that is the price of perfection.

[CD Hanks]

Originally posted by jcadam:
So, the solution: Just come up with 10 basic models for each gender, you choose one. There will only be small, nearly indiscernable differences based on the parents' genetics. Sure, 1 in 20 children will look almost exactly alike, but that is the price of perfection.

Then perfection can go **** itself. If we (as a species) ever lose our diversity, then it would be best if we just stop calling ourselves human, because we wouldn't be human any longer.

[E's Lil Theorem]

Well, I don't plan on having any kids, but as of now I would not be opposed to the idea if my neighbor wants to do it.

[Athens]

what i see being the first step is not defining the colors or the eyes and stuff like that but removing imperfect gens like the ones that cause cancer or illness. Once that is mastered then much futher on I see things like deciding height and eye color and stuff. I also see gen minipulation for making people resistant to things like HIV.

[CD Hanks]

Originally posted by Athens:
what i see being the first step is not defining the colors or the eyes and stuff like that but removing imperfect gens like the ones that cause cancer or illness. Once that is mastered then much futher on I see things like deciding height and eye color and stuff. I also see gen minipulation for making people resistant to things like HIV.

You're failing to take into conisidering that diseases and viruses mutate. Hell, HIV has mutated several times now. Tweaking a few genes in our genome isn't going to help.

[ryaxnb]

Originally posted by spiky_dog:
i voted yes because i plan to do this, by careful choosing of my mate should i go down that road. choosing your partner based on their attractiveness, health, and (hopefully) intelligence is the "natural" way to get children with good basic attributes, as you describe them. people have been doing exactly this for time immemorial because, guess what, we are wired to find such people more attractive.

True. I voted No, but don't care. The more I think about it the more attractive changing some attributes would be. Make sure we're mostly non-tempermental and rather technology oriented.

[ryaxnb]

Originally posted by effgee:
I'd like to have mine with a built-in switch for the vocal chords (volume control with "mute" functionality). Come to think of it, a master switch (on/off) would be a good idea, too. And since we're already at it, various ports to connect them to an external device for uploading new "software" (aka "behavior modification") wouldn't be the worst thing to have, either.

Now the color - that is a much more complex question. Gonna have to get back to you on that one.

Seriously, that is genius. And:
* Pain Control (Normal pain to just a blinking light for pain)
* Criminal Intent Mod (Resists doing any crime)
and being able to power 6V devices off the bodies own energy would be nice too.

[jcadam]

Genetic modification may also be possible in currently living adults. I read some speculation in some science mag a while back that suggested using engineered viruses to spread DNA 'mods' or 'patches' throughout our bodies

Imagine if they could switch off, or severely retard the aging process that's hard-wired into our DNA.


But, for genetic engineering to really prove its worth: Could they give us males the ability to have multiple orgasms?

[effgee]

Originally posted by ryaxnb:
Seriously, that is genius. And:
* Pain Control (Normal pain to just a blinking light for pain)
* Criminal Intent Mod (Resists doing any crime)
and being able to power 6V devices off the bodies own energy would be nice too.

See? Now we're getting somewhere ... ... methinks I'd want them to sport a "diagnostics" port as well (you know, kinda like my car). Kid runs a fever, turns green, etc. - hook him/her up to a G8 iPod and you immediately see what the problem is. "Flu" flashing on the display, email being dispatched to the family doctor of choice who then automatically calls in the appropriate prescription.

Still not sure about the color issue, though ...