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Several hundred years? Research yes, but no applications? Why would anyone put in the effort to do the research, if they know in the best case scenario the appl
by credit_guy 10y ago
Several hundred years? Research yes, but no applications? Why would anyone put in the effort to do the research, if they know in the best case scenario the applications would come in several hundred years?
Now, I understand doubts in our current state of knowledge, and the desire for more knowledge, but consider this: 352 years ago people didn't know about cells, let alone chromosomes, DNA, or the possibility of genetic editing. The concept of GMO probably didn't exist 50 years ago. I don't think any of us has a change to imagine how the world will be in a few hundred years. Did you really mean several hundred years, or several tens of years?
- carapace 10y ago> Why would anyone put in the effort to do the research, if they know in the best case scenario the applications would come in several hundred years? Because they are Scientists. -- Really the point I'm making is that we should be proceeding with GE applications "as an old man crossing a river in Winter" with utmost caution and humility. We should introduce GMOs with the greatest of reluctance, after every other avenue to achieve our goal has been ruled out, not rushing pell-mell like drunken teenagers. I really do mean several centuries. We have only just discovered that the oceans teem with bacteriopages, that biofilms can think, that we have an "organ" called the "microbiome" made up of cells that are genetically not us, that the physical structure of chromosomes influences the decoding of DNA, it goes on and on. New things are discovered daily. I think we should wait until we understand before we manipulate.