Originally posted by
TargeT
I'm basically just being devils advocate here, since neither one of us has an influence on what will or will not come of CRISPR.
But, this topic is sort of like GMO foods, they run a close parallel.
Human males and females are designed for selective breeding (though, also with a "default" for "acceptable" breeding) already, we naturally are attracted to things that in general are healthier and better for the whole; these are mostly by products of our hormonal system, though some social input certainly effects the decision making process also (very bland, clinical way to look at love, but it is an aspect of it).
we certainly do this for our selfs if we are conscious about diet (though even with out our conscious diet decisions we naturally are attracted to foods that allow us to survive in nature better, a strong attraction to sugars and fats, a wide taste pallet for micro nutriments. aversion to rotten things high in micro organisms that could over power our immune systems etc...)
I guess what I'm trying to say is this:
Humans always perform natural acts, we just excel at becoming highly efficient while doing them due to our intellect.
we cannot comprehend of unnatural acts and everything that we are capable of can be tied back to an example in nature (CRISPR is just us using natures natural process in a way that we desire).
I guess I"m completely ignoring the short term, the moral, anything but basic reality, what is the pattern... what is it comparable to and why would we not let that guide us?
I suppose one could say that we are doing what we were made to do, to do anything less seems abhorrent. Now, will we make mistakes while doing it? absolutely, that's also inherently human. should we not do a thing for the fear of doing it?
my answer to that will always be: never, never let fear restrain you, we are so very capable, we will come out ahead of this; it's already happening (though not in politics or those other contrived/controlled arenas).
Every tool we have at our disposal makes us better as a whole (though there is always room for improvement).