| Username |
Post |
| _BP |
Posted
on 27-Nov-01 04:25 AM
The recent cloning of a human embryo has generated much controversy amongst the learned. Ethical questions have been raised, which is a sure sign that this is a truly landmark human accomplishment. It in reality brings the entire human race closer to "God"...the essence that is life itself.
As a person in the medical profession, I strongly believe that genetics is the ultimate frontier. The practice of medicine in its historical entirety has largely been measures of comfort and symptomatic treament -- but genetics promises a true "cure" for almost all human ailments. The most advanced surgical and medical treatments today serve only to belatedly alter the course of an inherent problem, but genetics (...and cloning) offer a real fix, and prevention of the passing on of a familial medical curse. Imagine that one day we will all carry our own genomic sequences in a card, so we can receive medical treatment optimized to the most basic building blocks of our bodies... in any emergency... in any hospital.
It is impossible to stop the human quest for knowledge. It is simply wrong to try and stop it for fear of ethical repercussions. Certainly these issues need to be addressed, but inaction justified by fear is truly a shame. Perhaps the day of reckoning is when we humans understand how to rid ourselves of all ailments and evil, for there are signs that behavior and personality too may be linked to the most fundamental building blocks of life. Exciting times are ahead, and with a little help maybe we will all live to see them unfold.
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| some dude |
Posted
on 27-Nov-01 04:54 AM
historically, religion, and specifically western religion, has always tried to clip the wings of science
abolish religion
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| _BP |
Posted
on 27-Nov-01 06:12 AM
"Progress lies not in enhancing what is, but in advancing toward what will be."
-Kahlil Gibran, "A Handful of Sand on the Shore"
"Reasonable people adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people."
-George Bernard Shaw
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| ashu |
Posted
on 27-Nov-01 07:50 AM
BP,
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| ashu |
Posted
on 27-Nov-01 07:51 AM
BP,
Loved that Shaw ko quote above.
For an interesting article on cloning,
click on:
http://slate.msn.com/?id=113959&
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| _BP |
Posted
on 27-Nov-01 10:18 AM
That was a splendid reference Ashu. Helps make the point een better.
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