Genetic Discrimination

[Creator]

How will this affect our lives should this happen. Since I cannot post the Url
Google Genetic discrimination for info on the subject

I am currently writing a sci fi tale about genetic discrimination. Alpha Omega

[Creator]

I just want to know what do you guys think of the subject

[jackokent]

I guess it sounds pretty scarey cause it's new.

I read an article once about this written by somone with a psyical disability and they were concerned that life is the rich tabestry it is because so so called imperfections which should, in fact be called differences. If such differences were eradicated at birth mankind would lose a lot by way of understanding and learning. There is also a view that such differences are the way in which a species evolves so stamping them out is very dangerous and short sighted.

If genetic engineneering had been around at the start they might have wiped out all those little fish that developed lumps on thier bodies, later developing into legs.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Well, Gattaca is a great movie for those just coming into this topic.

Genetic discrimination will happen. Certainly there was a furore over here last year when insurance companies were trying to get legal access to their employee's health records so that they could analyse which of them were 'bad risks' and could have their premiums raised accordingly.

[Creator]

I heard of Gattaca and read it's synopsis and of course my Alpha Omega is a lot different from Gattaca but only the genetic discrimination is the similarity.

In Alpha Omega the problem is a lot more serious than in Gattaca. The conflict escalates to a full scale war. And We will see the differences between the Designer Humans and Non-Designer Humans

[Winters_Sorrow]

Sounds like "Space Seed" in Star Trek as well

[chrispenycate]

Genetic discrimination has been going on as long as… no,much longer than mankind; it's an essentialpart of natural selection. Mankind is now its own only serious predator, so if we wish to prevent species degeneration, there must be a pressure to improve (the definition of "improve" varies from person to person, the only common characteristic being that each one includes himself) If this can be done prenatally, by editing out genes that would otherwise be detrimental to the organism (in particular, several genetic diseases) then I, personally, consider this an improvement over culling after birth, the more traditional technique. While this would reduce our genetic diversity, I can't see in what circumstance haemophilia (as a random example) could be a useful trait
.
Selecting or editing for a desirable characteristic is another question, both morally and technically. Breeding for life in space, or underwater, could be done by purely traditional techniques (like developing a new breed of dog, wasteful but a mature technology) or gene splicing (with the problem that we can't estimate for a generation or two all the interelated changes, genes not being simple "this codes for blood oxygen transfer" units) Either has disagreeable side effects, particularly socially, but worse than "all blacks are animals" or trying for a final solution to Europe's jewry?

So, personal opinion? I don't think they'll be able to select for increased intelligence (a very complex question) before society has advanced far enough to absorb the change, even religions bending to the pressure from their more financially successful members. Though one or two of the simpler ones, like sex selection, might come up and bite us sooner than we think.

[jackokent]

I guess I was only thinking about deliberate or man made genetic selection, not the stuff that's been going on naturally.

With the random example of haemophilia, in the same way as with the original fish growing legs, we may not realise it as a useful trait yet. To a fish in the water legs would have appeared to be a disability and a hinderance. That is why I think it could be dangerous to eradicate genes. If nature tries to adjust, as it does, and we overcome any such adjustment by this type of eradication, we may be halting progress instead of aiding it.

Just because man has no natural preditors does not mean that nature may not be getting us ready for another climate or stage, or anthing else that requires fundamental natural selection. The interim stages of developement could look like nature's mistakes, but how would we know.

I also agree that gene culling is a lot nicer than culling after birth, but something being nicer than something quite abhorant isn't a good argument for doing it. It might just be an argument for not doing the former.

So saying I am probably taking absolute rubbish, it's late and I've been drinking and I think I could probably fit everything I know about genetics on to the back of a postage stamp... twice.

[Creator]

For a bad spoiler in Alpha Omega the designer humans have shown a weakness. I am not going to reveal it until later......

I will do up the character designs of it.

[Locksmith]

Originally Posted by jackokent

I guess I was only thinking about deliberate or man made genetic selection, not the stuff that's been going on naturally.

As Chris hinted at above, the problem of deliberate genetic discrimination is that it has the rather poor PR of being very close to genocide! Whilst I can see there could be health benefits, there are certainly some pretty complex moral issues to be sorted out before this idea gets anywhere. In the UK we have enough problems accepting GM crops (Frankenstein food to the tabloids), let alone people.

[Creator]

What is PR? Locksmith?

[cornelius]

public relation?

[Locksmith]

Originally Posted by cornelius

public relation?

Bingo!

Sorry for the shorthand!

[kyektulu]

Sadly i think that it is only a matter of time before genetic discrimination occurs.
It is very disturbing as I honestly dont know how far they will go to eradicate physical and mental disability.
As for me, if genetic discrimination was around now would I of been permitted to exist with my condition?
Having a disability does not make a person any less human, they have the right to exist, mankind should not play god.

Selecting the sex in a child is so wrong, and could lead to serious implications, look at China for example, killing female children in the relentless pursuit of a male child to carry on the family name...

[Creator]

I am with kyektulu here. I think it's a sad future so stay tuned to Alpha Omega coming soon.