This is a subject that I find quite interesting: the possibility of the extinction of human race by humans becoming TOO frail.

Human beings are the most caring species on the planet. We (Most of the time) care for a great many people, even people on TV, movies, and games who we have never met. In fact, I got teary-eyed at the major death at the end of Half-Life 2 EP2.

On the other side of my point is evolution, whose fuel is Natural Selection, the basic surival of the fitest. When you remove this from reproduction as humans have, you end up in the decay of our average state of being, especially as our medical technology becomes more advanced. Genetic mutations are produced and passed on, but the people who have them aren't killed in the wild anymore, no. Now they are given crutches and a government check and live out their lives. Even Stephen Hawking has kids.

Modern humans have worse allergies, joint pains, and other medical issues than any time in the past, and they are becoming more and common. We can help reduce the physical manifestation of those genes, but we can't improve the person's genes, and as a result, those genes become more common in the gene pool.

What this will result in if left unchecked is a progression to lock-kneed, wobbly, frail, obese, pained people who just keep getting new legs, tummy tucks, and hydrocodone to reduce those effects. Eventually, everyone will have so many genetic mutations that weren't removed by natural selection that our bodies simply won't work anymore.

Now, how to stop this?

The first and most obvious one is to start killing the weak and let evolution resume.

That is inhumane and unjust, however, and I do not condone it.

The next one, and the one that is more humane, is to modify the genes of fetuses to remove those bad ones and replace them with the normal ones.

This presents a huge problem.

People are still very scared by the field of genetics, and the unresearched science fiction movies and comic books, not to mention idiotic hippy lectures, have made people think that by changing one or two genes, humans will grow tentacles and turn radioactive.

This is why I propose that we train doctors and create laws and regulations to be sure that people only change the genes that are absolutely necessary. For instance, preventing bad joints and poor circulation, making sure the code to make all the essential protiens is there and functioning, etc.

To prevent a scenario like the movie Gattaca, where the changes in genetic engineering are extreme and produce different social classes, these laws would have to prevent the unnecessary alteration of facial features and physique.

As well, this would have to be a government funded project, one that everyone could have done, regardless of financial burdens.


Discuss.

I don't have much to say, you've basically stated that genetic alteration is the only way, and that it isn't as bad as everyone thinks.

I guess I agree. I feel like if I go into any more depth I'll be repeating what you said.

Don't put so much detail into the post, or we'll have nothing to discuss! You basically wrote an essay with a proper conclusion, like you were just stating you opinion and not leaving an open-ended debate.

Although killing isn't an option, couldn't reproduction be prevented in people with genetic problems? If they don't pass on those genes, then it stops there. It would take longer to start working than altering genes, but I would imagine the public would be more willing to accept it. There are enough healthy people in the world to continue our species. As long as they stayed healthy and produced plenty of offspring then it could work, right?

I think a more pressing issue is overuse of germ-killing products. Because after you use hand sanitizer, for instance, guess which germs are the only ones left? The strongest.

We're ****ed by the spawn of our own paranoia, basically.

Well yes, by using hand sanitizer you also limit your exposure to bacteria which limits your immunities against them.

I think that the field of genetics is still too young to have such a widescale project set on it. I think this would be something that would take at least a hundred years to even start.

Also all of the diseases and stuff that you're talking about, well most of them, aren't caused by just one or two faulty genes but by awkward combinations of many genes which may or may not all work properly.

Mapping genes for issues and waiting for human genetics to advance to a point where this would be feasible makes this proposal pretty much impossible. At least not for a long time.

(I know you're not saying that it has to be done in the present but it's just not a feasible solution for the near future.)

PS. I am watching Beast Wars right now.

PSS. This is awesome.

in 50 years we'll all be cyborgs so it doesn't matter how frail we get as long as we can stay alive for another 50 years

Quote from drocksta

in 50 years we'll all be cyborgs so it doesn't matter how frail we get as long as we can stay alive for another 50 years

Keep dreaming........

Ash, you've got one hell of a point there!
I feel you only came to this forum for the debate part and you don't animate xD

Actually, I came to the forum to show off my game Dungeon Escpae about 2 years ago, and the debate section caught my fancy and kept me here since.

Schwa, I am aware that we don't have the technology yet, but since the problem I am talking about is not yet an issue, and won't be for another 200-300 years, it's fine that we start then. I just think that we should discuss the morality and laws and the overall practicality of the solution now rather than when everyone has Aspergers Syndrome and jelly bones.

Quote from Ash

Actually, I came to the forum to show off my game Dungeon Escpae about 2 years ago, and the debate section caught my fancy and kept me here since.

Schwa, I am aware that we don't have the technology yet, but since the problem I am talking about is not yet an issue, and won't be for another 200-300 years, it's fine that we start then. I just think that we should discuss the morality and laws and the overall practicality of the solution now rather than when everyone has Aspergers Syndrome and jelly bones.

Oh. Well, with no specific evidence to support my claim or an informed opinion, I don't believe that the world (Also known as the United States of America) is heading down the right path for that to become a viable option, concerning morality and policies with genetic stuffs.

Quote from Smashdood

I think a more pressing issue is overuse of germ-killing products. Because after you use hand sanitizer, for instance, guess which germs are the only ones left? The strongest.

We're ****ed by the spawn of our own paranoia, basically.

All the sanitisers have increased the amount of people with asthma.

klol

Quote from Ash

Actually, I came to the forum to show off my game Dungeon Escpae about 2 years ago, and the debate section caught my fancy and kept me here since.

Schwa, I am aware that we don't have the technology yet, but since the problem I am talking about is not yet an issue, and won't be for another 200-300 years, it's fine that we start then. I just think that we should discuss the morality and laws and the overall practicality of the solution now rather than when everyone has Aspergers Syndrome and jelly bones.

Also, hows Dungeon Escape 2 going?

It will be mankinds fault if he becomes extinct. How come theres alot more diseases nowdays then a thousand years ago? Simple, mankind. Mankind invented fast food, drugs, tv, gaming consoles and TONS of other things that kill people. For example, fast food. Big companies like McDonlads, Hungry Jacks, ect, have made fast food cheap, thus bringing more people to eat it wich in turn creates problems like obecity. How about Tv? What did people do before Tv was invented, they played outside, socialised more. Overall they were more active and because of this they were healthier. But mankind changed all that by brining in the Tv. Now people lounge around all day watching Tv and playing video games. Violent video games also cause people to murder and steal which isn't good. Drugs also cause people to kill. Im pretty sure some drugs/ciggaretts might also be able to alter genes (not sure though). Vehicles also ruin THE WORLD!! by polluting it, so does a lot of other things man has made.
Mankind is destroying itself and the world!!!
So if mankind gets extinct its he's fault :/

Quote from Blacky

It will be mankinds fault if he becomes extinct. How come theres alot more diseases nowdays then a thousand years ago?

There aren't. We just have better technology and knowledge, and so we can identify diseases easier, and split old diseases into multiple ones because we couldn't see the difference years ago.

Simple, mankind. Mankind invented fast food, drugs, tv, gaming consoles

Gaming consoles? Since when do they kill people?

and TONS of other things that kill people. For example, fast food. Big companies like McDonlads, Hungry Jacks, ect, have made fast food cheap, thus bringing more people to eat it wich in turn creates problems like obecity.

So, based on your argument, if more people ate salad then there would be a higher obesity rate. The fact that a lot of people eat fast food isn't the cause of obesity, it's the fact that a lot of people had bad parents who never taught them to cook, and so they go to fast food restaurants instead. They make it their diet. Eating there every few days won't hurt you.

How about Tv? What did people do before Tv was invented, they played outside, socialised more. Overall they were more active and because of this they were healthier. But mankind changed all that by brining in the Tv. Now people lounge around all day watching Tv and playing video games.

I won't deny that this is a problem, but, again, the TV isn't the problem, it's the parents who allow their kids to grow accustomed to watching TV during leisure time that are making the TV addicts you speak of.

Violent video games also cause people to murder and steal which isn't good. Drugs also cause people to kill.

BULL ****ING SHIT.

Stop listening to butt****s like Jack Thompson. The "research" they cite is filled with logic gaps, misattributations, and false conclusions.

Read the book Grand Theft Childhood. It's the ONLY example of REAL research on the effects of violence in video games on children.

Also, read the thread "Violent Videogames" found HERE in the debate section.

Im pretty sure some drugs/ciggaretts might also be able to alter genes (not sure though).

Firstly, not exactly, but they can screw up cell reproduction and cause deletions, shifts, etc. in DNA and create mutations in the cell. This is why cigarettes cause lung cancer. However, this is not true for ALL drugs. For the hardcore shit like acid and PCP, yes, but for weed and shit like aspirin and psuedomedophene, no, they don't.

Secondly, I doubt you can even say why changing genes is a bad thing.

Vehicles also ruin THE WORLD!! by polluting it, so does a lot of other things man has made.

Pollution isn't nearly as big a problem as shitheads like Al Gore make it out to be.

Mankind is destroying itself and the world!!!
So if mankind gets extinct its he's fault :/

Someone's a bit pessimistic.

It's okay to be pessimistic :/
I'm pretty sure mankind has created some more diseases, but I guess we will never know.
It sounds like you'r blaming parents for alot of things.
But what decided to stop the parents from teaching there children to cook? Fast food is what. It's cheap, so parents decided to tell thier kids to go there instead of eating healthy because its cheaper and healthy things are becoming more expensive you will likely go down to your local fast food shop and eat junk instead of eating healthy fruits, vegetable, ect. So in a way it is sorta the parents fault but you see fast food everywere, on Tv, busses, buildings, ect, so even if their parents taught you to eat healthy sooner or later you will try fast food and because it tastes so good Im sure it won't be you'r last.
Eating fast food every few days WILL hurt you if you don't eat healthy between those days.
Gaming consoles do kill people. Theres some nerds that play them every ****ing day until they die. There was this guy who didn't eat, sleep, exercise, go to the bathroom because he was playing a frikin video game on a GAMING CONSOLE, guess what? He died. Also, I bet most nerds probably die alone. So if all people were nerds, locked up in you'r mothers basment all day playing World of War Craft all day humans will become extinct because no one reproduced. Instead the played video games on a gaming console.
If you took out your anger in a virtual world (lets say Halo) and if you played it enough your mind will get numb, thinking violence is normal and sooner or later you'r gonna go on a killing rampage.
Can't argue about parents letting thier children watching Tv and turning into addicts though...
Pollution might not be a problem right now but imagine the world, lets say 2,000 years into the future, then you might need to wear gas masks because the air is to toxic. You won't be able to swim in any oceans, lakes because they to, are toxic and clean water will cost $1,000 a litre. Why? Because people didn't think what they are doing to the environment, creating cars, nuclear power stations and wasting water by washing thier misserable cars.

Excuse me sir but stop talking off topic in the debate section. Also stop talking off topic wrong bullshit.