Scientists given go-ahead for Gene Editing.

[Saint Frankenstein]

I very much agree, but failure to account for global population and levels of resource consumption is problematic. Too often, humans do not consider the impact of their actions on the biosphere. And when there are too many of us like there is now, that simply cannot be the modus operandi in the present era.

As if this sort of technology will become available to everyone. It'll be for rich people, like all such things are. The poor and downtrodden will suffer and die as we always have.

 

[fantome profane]

If you have ever watched someone you love die from cancer it is hard to think of death in terms of population control, or issues of economic inequality, or the environmental damage cause by the human species. These issues are less than meaningless, you just want them to live, and damm the world. I don't know if this is right or wrong, but it is human. And as much as humanity scares me sometimes, I and even more scared of those who would deny their humanity.

 

[Shiranui117]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-35459054

This is an extraordinarily important thing. One cannot stress enough the importance of gene editing, because it's applications are immense.

Cancer, for example, will be a thing of the past. Transsexuals will be able to adopt their correct gender at the genetic level without complicated procedures (extremely easy to do). Ageing can be postponed, or even reversed (one of the simpler applications of the editing tool). And that's just the tip of the iceberg. No more ME, Downs Syndrome, Autism, fibroses, AIDS, HIV, etc.

If this ever becomes widely available technology, the entire world will have to adopt a One-Child Policy if we don't want to screw ourselves and the planet.

I'm also really really surprised that they finally decided to allow tampering with genes. Now I want a tail and claws and the throat bone that lets me snarl like a lion!