Is genetical modification wrong?

[Blue-ninja]

Is genetical modification of the fertile egg, forcing it to grow into either a boy or girl of the parent's own choice wrong?

[who flung poo]

i believe so, but i dont know how to give a good reason


Date Posted: August 07, 2007, 02:37:24 AMit's wrong because parents can't just change their child and be like, thats the end of that, because something could go wrong and the girl could be to much like a boy or the boy could be to much like a girl as they were intended...or something

[Iridescent]

I'm undecided.
Because maybe the parents will be unhappy if its a boy or a girl and specifically want one of the sexes. If the child will be less loved because its the other sex then genetically modifying the egg could be a good thing (there would be something wrong with the parents, yes. But it might still create a good family).

[who flung poo]

if children are treated less because they are a different sex, they're so-called 'parents' are not parents to me...

no offense to anyone, if you are

[Iridescent]

Yeah, my example was extreme. But the parents may simply prefer to have a one sex over another. Most parents wouldn't mind in the end, but would be that tiny bit happier if they got it their way.
I don't know how safe genetical modification are though, so the 'dangers' (simple personality traits) mentioned in the first reply could be quite frequent.

I still think its someones choice. We live in a 'free' world. We should be able to decide for ourselves and evaluate decisions properly. Sadly, that is not the case.

[who flung poo]

i never thought you first example was extreme i just simply stated my mind
you do make an excellent point though

[Iridescent]

Only us two discussing? I guess its awkward times back in the real world (I'm in hina at the moment so arranging times is difficult).
Well, I'd say its pretty extreme to be honest. When parents want a child they usually say 'I wish it was a boy(or a girl)' but really they don't care, they just want a kid.
Loving your child less simply because he/she isn't what you expected is stupid (in my opinion). Same with babies born with diseases, I tihnk the parents should care for them anyway. Obviously sometimes the parents can't due to financial problems or social problems, in which case adoption is more appropriate, but the parents could still try to support their child remotely.

[Mangled*]

If it's to decide gender and physical attributes then it's wrong... Let nature decide that.

But if it's used to prevent child-born illnesses like downs syndrome and physical disabilities etc then I'm all for it..

As long as it's put to good use then it's fine.

[SDFilm]

If it's to decide gender and physical attributes then it's wrong... Let nature decide that.

But if it's used to prevent child-born illnesses like downs syndrome and physical disabilities etc then I'm all for it..

As long as it's put to good use then it's fine.

What about conditions that are a relatively minor disability like autism, especially the 'high functioning' sides of the spectrum such as Asperger's Syndrome?

[a-4-year-old]

I don't understand why a parent would care about having a boy or a girl

I wouldn't mess around with genetic modification, maybe if they ever make it perfectly harmless i might consider it, but I have heard bad stories even about ultrasounds.

[MegamanX]

I can't wait to replace my penis with a pair of giant tentacles.

[Shivorken]

Gender wise, hell no - just stupid.

To prevent down syndrome (how the hell are they gonna change the number of chromosome?) and other disabilities then its a definite affirmative.

[SDFilm]

Gender wise, hell no - just stupid.

To prevent down syndrome (how the hell are they gonna change the number of chromosome?) and other disabilities then its a definite affirmative.

What about conditions that are a relatively minor disability like autism, especially the 'high functioning' sides of the spectrum such as Asperger's Syndrome?

[xtishereb]

I'm pretty sure it's either impossible or really hard to do. So far, all I know is that we can change the genes, if we know where they are and what they encode. Male or female is determined by the second X or Y chromosome. Once an egg is fertilized, it will either have 2 Xs or an X and a Y. Changing gender would involve going into the nucleus, pulling out one of the X chromosomes or the Y chromosome and replacing it with the other type.
As for genetically modifying people to express, say, green fluorescent protein, that's all right with me. So long as we only change negative traits and neutral traits. I wonder if glowing green under a black light is a negative trait.

Anyway, we've been genetically modifying other life forms for millenniums via artificial selection. How do you think we got domesticated plants and animals? Did some corn just decide to kill itself just because it wasn't tasty? Did all non-fluffy dogs get killed by all fluffy dogs? No. We decided which traits we liked in wild plants and animals, and eventually the differences from the wild-type versions of the domesticated life forms got so strong they became a new species.
Because of that, I think it's great to genetically modify plants and animals to express traits. We don't read their DNA in our stomachs, who cares if the tomato ripens slowly? Fools who didn't pass Biology, that's who.

Yeah. I learned a lot from my Biology class this year.

[Dascoo]

I wouldn't care.

[Shivorken]

xtishereb, i thought that all humans are born female, ie 2Y choromosomes and later during development they can turn into a male. and also, wont genetic modification do more with changing the guanine and adanine and two more others nuans and nines (i dropped bio 1 and a half years ago) rather than the X and Y chromosomes? I never heard of a breakthrough for this type of genetic modification yet though.

[a-4-year-old]

xtishereb, i thought that all humans are born female, ie 2Y choromosomes and later during development they can turn into a male.

Thats why men have nipples!

[Shivorken]

xtishereb, i thought that all humans are born female, ie 2Y choromosomes and later during development they can turn into a male.

Thats why men have nipples!

Nice logic XD ... probably true.

[a-4-year-old]

xtishereb, i thought that all humans are born female, ie 2Y choromosomes and later during development they can turn into a male.

Thats why men have nipples!

Nice logic XD ... probably true.

It is true, it was in the book "why do men have nipples"

that book was kickass.

[Shivorken]

Thats some funky shit you read their 4yo. whos the author? =]