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Being against transgenic animals is a form of xenophobia - they have as much right to exist as older species. The additional genetic diversity is fantastic and

Being against transgenic animals is a form of xenophobia - they have as much right to exist as older species. The additional genetic diversity is fantastic and a great chance to improve nature. If they are inferior they will die on their own, if they are better they will prosper, the most fair outcome. Nature isn't supposed to be a curated and fragile garden. I'm sure this is only a harbinger of things to come. As genetic engineering becomes cheaper and more accessible, genetically modified animals will become the norm, to the dismay of people obsessed with genetic purity everywhere.

justbaker 5y ago
>Being against transgenic animals is a form of xenophobia - they have as much right to exist as older species. The additional genetic diversity is fantastic and a great chance to improve nature. If they are inferior they will die on their own, if they are better they will prosper, the most fair outcome. Nature isn't supposed to be a curated and fragile garden. Not at all, it’s being concerned about the effects of releasing genetically engineered species into the wild, both purposely or accidentally. It’s not questioning “is it right/wrong because they are different genetically” but “is it ethical to potentially change the environments of other species without understanding the ramifications”.
- deleted 5y ago
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vimacs2 5y ago
That's an impressive level of hubris. I hope you're aware that the extent to which a gene can propogate is only loosely correlated with subjective metrics like "fitness" and "superior" traits on to it's host organism. Otherwise, we wouldn't have crippling genetic disorders around after nearly 4 billion years of evolution. Also, can we please oh please not project this liberal meme of the "free market" on to Nature. Nature doesn't have "better" or "worse" ideas and it certainly doesn't have markets - at least till we came around.
- User23 5y ago
  Markets are a pretty good metaphor for the sexually reproducing tournament species.
RGamma 5y ago
Because you seem to be lightheartedly endorsing arbitrary interventions in complex (eco)systems: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences

justbaker 5y ago

>Being against transgenic animals is a form of xenophobia - they have as much right to exist as older species. The additional genetic diversity is fantastic and a great chance to improve nature. If they are inferior they will die on their own, if they are better they will prosper, the most fair outcome. Nature isn't supposed to be a curated and fragile garden. Not at all, it’s being concerned about the effects of releasing genetically engineered species into the wild, both purposely or accidentally. It’s not questioning “is it right/wrong because they are different genetically” but “is it ethical to potentially change the environments of other species without understanding the ramifications”.

deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

vimacs2 5y ago

That's an impressive level of hubris. I hope you're aware that the extent to which a gene can propogate is only loosely correlated with subjective metrics like "fitness" and "superior" traits on to it's host organism. Otherwise, we wouldn't have crippling genetic disorders around after nearly 4 billion years of evolution. Also, can we please oh please not project this liberal meme of the "free market" on to Nature. Nature doesn't have "better" or "worse" ideas and it certainly doesn't have markets - at least till we came around.

User23 5y ago
Markets are a pretty good metaphor for the sexually reproducing tournament species.

RGamma 5y ago

Because you seem to be lightheartedly endorsing arbitrary interventions in complex (eco)systems: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unintended_consequences