Reply #5: Evolution and stem cells

[brentblack]

I fear many things when it comes to science simply because evolution is such a fickle bitch. When we modify genetic material on a large scale, we set our selves up for unintended consequences. I greatly fear for our race due to the constant influx of chemicals such as prozac, xanax, ritalin, etc. This will eventually cause changes in the DNA makeup of large swaths of our race. This is not a small matter or something to be taken lightly.

It is what it is...science cannot stop, but there will be ramifications for adding all these chemicals (especially when we drug our children because they act too much like children) into the system. The body will take this into account when it passes on genetic material to offspring and may make changes as it sees necessary.

I know stem cells are different from the aforementioned drugs, but modifying anyone's genetic makeup (especially people that are young enough to procreate) is a risk that gains momentum over several generations.


Oh...and the punchline....I AM paralyzed from the waist down due to a spinal cord injury (don't drink and mountain bike, kids) and I am still uncertain about messing around with the genetic code. We cannot be short sighted on issues such as this.

That said....I would like to walk again.