From: Hermit (hidden@lucifer.com)
Date: Mon Aug 05 2002 - 07:13:10 MDT
Thanks Kharin. Interesting, but I don't think the argument goes nearly far enough.
As previously mentioned, modern non-GMF wheat is a very strange genetic hybrid. Worth considering that had it been developed in a lab, its release would almost certainly not be permitted. Which suggests that we trust random chance more (a lot more) than directed development. Which is quite a sad indictment indeed. We need to learn that change happens, and that planned change is typically much less traumatic than responding to the fertilizer after it has passed through the ventilation system.
Consider the fact that the rate of evolutionary development is determined by competitive factors. We eliminated most threats to ourselves bar those we create for ourselves and in consequence our evolution has been in stasis for a very long time. In fact, we have done little evolving in the last 70,000 years.
The advent of artificial intelligence and nanotechnology, both likely closer than anyone not in the fields imagines, will pose massive new challenges to humanity. If we survive the Singularity (slow take-off scenarios which I consider somewhat unlikely) we will need to evolve rapidly and in directed fashion in order either to develop ourselves into some new competitive form, or to adapt to being only the second nastiest (fittest) creature in the known Universe - and cooperate. I am not sure we can accomplish either without genetic engineering (if genes are to remain meaningful at all).
Kind Regards
Hermit
---- This message was posted by Hermit to the Virus 2002 board on Church of Virus BBS. <http://virus.lucifer.com/bbs/index.php?board=51;action=display;threadid=25922>
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