Designer DNA: Should we be able to reprogram our genes?

Gattaca

We have already over populated the planet so I don't think "curing death" is such a pressing issue. However we are all ready seeing the beginning of genetic discrimination, everyday we learn more, I suspect it will be in before we are able to customize ourselves.

"Regulated tightly and open to public debate" for what. So that the government can ensure that they get their share of the pie and you have have the "bible thumpers" all over this like abortion. This is human technological progress, and if you do not like it there are several of third world countries that you can opt to live in where you will not be privy such things.

"Maybe we’d be better off if we never split the atom in the first place, living more peaceful & harmonious lives without the fear of nuclear war someday." darkhorsejim

Lol, typical liberal hogwash. Splitting the atom yielded both positive [energy] and negative [weapons] results. However, "living more peaceful & harmonious lives," I am not one for personal attacks, but please leave the marijuana alone. Man has been warring with its neighbour since the beginning of time and with each war weaponry has evolved. The days in which there will be no war will be the days in which man kind does not exist.

I do not believe genetic manipulation is something we will see within this century. We haven't even reached the tip of the iceberg when it comes to controlling our own genetic makeup.

Well, this is the real world. We Should have the option to defeat desease permanently if we want to (Liberal BULL). Without bleeding hearts, I say disease is thinning the herd. without it we would over populate, but if we discover the ability and allow private people to modify genetics than Do it just dont give it too the government

Why not? The government’s Manhattan Project attempted to do something similar with the building blocks of the universe by splitting atoms to create the most powerful weapon ever conceived by man, but as usual, first for warfare & second for more humane reasons. So it follows that the building blocks of life would eventually be decoded. But along with all of the good that could result from this amazing discovery, this type of information will eventually be used by the gov’t for warfare & sold to the highest bidders again leaving the rest of us wondering if we’ve become too smart for our own good. Maybe we’d be better off if we never split the atom in the first place, living more peaceful & harmonious lives without the fear of nuclear war someday. I guess it’s just human nature to reach for the stars in all aspects of our existence & worry about the fallout after the fact, because not knowing seems to be worse than knowing, even if it will ultimately lead to our downfall. So why do we still insist on tinkering with the building blocks of life?

This sounds too much like what the nazis were doing in germany in the thirties.Humans were designed with a certain flaw i think that is the way the creator designed us

The sun is changing our DNA

Prediction: Humans will soon find they have 3 strands of DNA.

Interesting. What kind of industry would arise from this? Is this "evil"? What problems will we face in the future?
Prediction: Humans will wipe themselves off the face of the Earth, or ZOMBIES!

Currently we 'reprogram' DNA by *shooting* it (on a really small scale) with a marker gene, culturing the cells and killing off all the 'un-marked' cells with chemicals... Sounds kinda primitive to me.

I thought the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act is really interesting, because it didn't even cross my mind that this information could be used against me.

"This here strand says you're predisposed to alcohol abuse; that'll be an extra $200 on your insurance bill."

Does my DNA control my personality, or does my 'predisposition' mean this will be what I become?

Surely not. DNA should be used to Help and save Lifes, not to modify the Future Humans. I agree with Organs being created for transplant and looking into DNA to cure Cancer, AIDS, Diabetes...

But changing your own DNA to achieve something as a "feature" more than a prevention, I find it crazy, disrespectful and Dangerous.

the rich will get ahold of this before anyone else . the rest of us will still be wondering what ID actually is , and if it's still worth debating about being in our schools .

Isn't that what Dr. Mengele was working on?

To answer the title question; Of course, we should.

Why are people so scared of everything?

Besides, the only people who would discriminate against people with altered DNA are the stupid idiots who discriminate based on sexuality, race, or any other issue.

As we grow more intelligent and well informed we stop focusing on catch phrases and lumping groups together.

Scientists constantly seem to just be playing with their "toys" with cloning animals and genetically modifying them along with a range of other things. If we could all look after ourselves and the environment around us rather than finding excuses for it then the world wouldn't be going so downhill.

This smells to much of flying cars... Remember in the 50s 60s and 70s (not exactly sure of a date) we were assured that we would have flying cars in the 90s!! I WANT MY FLYING CAR!!

This technology needs to be tightly regulated and completely open to public debate.

It will be a great achievement to be able to prevent disease. But some people consider homosexuality to be a disease. You can imagine how dangerous this technology could turn out to be if left unchecked.

Sounds eerily similar to the movie Gattaca!

Want to live longer? Go take a walk for twenty minutes, let your skin absorb some sunlight and get the hell off the computer for longer than twelve hours!

I'm shocked bible thumpers aren't all over this one. I think this requires more attention than Gay marriage, Gay rights to adoption, abortion, or birth control.

This will change everything.

We are so far away from designer babies that this question is kind of funny. More to the point I don't see why not when it comes to rooting out genes linked to disease and dependency. As far as cosmetic uses for this kind of technology go if we approach it with a certain amount skepticism and responsibility I think we'll be fine.

In answer to the title question: Yes and No

Gene manipulation needs to be monitored very carefully, and, in my opinion, should only be allowed to cure debilitating diseases. But there's a fine line between what's debilitating, and what could just 'be slightly better', like being taller or better at sports etc..

I myself can't see how, now that we have started, it will be possible for this tehnology to be confined to just really bad diseases: we first need a robust definition of what it will be permitted for, and to adhere strictly to it.

I'm going to reprogram my dna to be more dolphin.

People are forgetting they can't escape from the wraith of time. Even if we could put new organs into our bodies, our minds will still age. You can't just put a new brain into your body, at that point it's no longer your body. It's the new brain's body. Even if we can move our thoughts and ideas from one brain to another like other useable data, it still wouldn't be the original person. 'You' would still die with your brain. All that would be left is a mirror of yourself, still human, but not you.

I personally have no issue with it. The faster we can flee from our primitive, vulnerable shells the better.

I do, however, have issues with genetic homogeneity, eugenics and genetic control. Those things have to be addressed with fervent attention.

Human would be people who didn't alter because they wanted to be "better" than someone else. I can understand altering to fix a problem like addiction or heart problems, but not to make one better just to be better.