Evolution, Man's play thing?

[Il Medico]

In a show on the BBC called Primeval, the bad guy (girl actually) is trying to change the course of evolution to save the human race. Given our current level of genetics it is feasible that in the near future we could bring back species through genetic manipulation of living descendants or alter the course of living ones. The question I ask is should we? I say yes, if it helps humanity then I am all for it. what do you guys think?

[Havet]

In a show on the BBC called Primeval, the bad guy (girl actually) is trying to change the course of evolution to save the human race. Given our current level of genetics it is feasible that in the near future we could bring back species through genetic manipulation of living descendants or alter the course of living ones. The question I ask is should we? I say yes, if it helps humanity then I am all for it. what do you guys think?

I would like to have a pet dinosaur to be honest :thumbup:

[Black Sheep]

is trying to change the course of evolution to save the human race.
Whoa, like a modern day adolf Hitler, eugenics and stuff.


Given our current level of genetics it is feasible that in the near future we could bring back species through genetic manipulation of living descendants or alter the course of living ones.
But the set of relations of each life form with each other and its environment is so chaotic, that we would probably end up with an unpredicted scenario.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Human evolution under rational control rather than being left to the blind vagaries of unthinking Nature?

Full steam ahead I say! The more of the universe we control as a species, including the process of evolution, the better.


But the set of relations of each life form with each other and its environment is so chaotic, that we would probably end up with an unpredicted scenario.

That's why you raise them in a controlled environment.

[Il Medico]

Whoa, like a modern day adolf Hitler, eugenics and stuff.
No, in the show certain animals evolve that completely wipe out most other spices, like the animal world version of a Nazi. That is what the 'bad guy' is trying to change.

[Coggeh]

I'm all for the advancement of science in any beneficial way possible and I can see and agree with some benefits this may bring.

Evolution isn't perfect , if it was we would not have straight backs and what not , so by controlling our evolution we can improve quality of life and living standards as well as improving and so many other things .We already use genetic manipulation of crops etc to benefit humans so why not do this ?

[WhitemageofDOOM]

Human evolution under rational control rather than being left to the blind vagaries of unthinking Nature?

Full steam ahead I say! The more of the universe we control as a species, including the process of evolution, the better.

The more rationality controls the universe, but pretty much this.

[mikelepore]

People direct the course of evolution every time they mate with someone they are attracted to. If people criticize genetic engineering, they could as well say: how dare you have children with someone who has curly hair, and promote that genetic characteristic, merely because you find it attractive? In this way, there never was a time when eugenics wasn't being performed by every sexually reproducing species, including humans. After a million generations, some such selections may even lead to a new species, while some others won't.