gsmith@brahms.BERKELEY.EDU (Gene Ward Smith) (09/21/86)
In article <1662@ames.UUCP> barry@ames.UUCP (Kenn Barry) writes: >It appears the day may be coming when we will have the knowledge to >alter our biological makeup, the very shape and function of our >brains and bodies. This raises some interesting questions. Should >we do such a thing, assuming we figure out how? Will we? If we >try to improve the species, are we likely to succeed or bring on >disaster? I have long thought this may turn out to be the key question of the next century. By temperment, however, I am unable to worry much about the consequences. The one character type in the movies I always identify with is the Mad Scientist. I especially like the Mad Scientist who *goes too far*, as Victor Frankenstein or William Hurt's character in Altered States. Basically I want a laboratory with Jacob's Ladders sizzling away, and a corpse over which I can shriek "Give my creation life -- LIFE!!!" Since I doubt if this attitude is unique to me (if scientists will build the atom bomb, they'll build anything that seems half-way sensible) I would guess that if we do find out how to alter germ plasm for what could be argued to be the better, we will do it. A genetic change increasing the neoteny of H. sap, and so both life-span and intelligence at once, is what I would aim for. Others may have other ideas (better football players, better disease resistance, who knows?). What is *possible* will be the main driving force, I would guess. From the talk.religion perspective, this could be claimed as "trust in God", I suppose. (If God doesn't stop us, that means it can't be too bad!) ucbvax!brahms!gsmith Gene Ward Smith/UCB Math Dept/Berkeley CA 94720 Fifty flippant frogs / Walked by on flippered feet And with their slime they made the time / Unnaturally fleet.