What a Wonderful World.

When I first started reading about this topic, I immediately remembered the previous blog about “designer babies” when I expressed how strongly my opinion was against the idea of manipulating genes for personal purposes whether it be medical or cosmetic. Artificial selection and designer babies are similar in many ways. Artificial selection can be defined as: “selection for reproductive success in plants and animals that is directed by humans.” Similarly, we can define designing babies as: “selection for reproductive success in humans that is directed by humans.” The main difference that I could think of was that a designer baby refers to humans, while artificial selection refers to plants and animals. This brings up the moral question of if humans are truly superior to plans and/or animals. In other words, is it okay if humans alter the genetic make up of animals, but then morally wrong when they alter their own genes? Taking all of this into consideration, I think that humans are no superior, meaning that altering the genes of plants and animals are just as ethically wrong as altering the genes of humans, and should not occur under any circumstances.

Aside from the fact that artificial selection is ethically wrong and should not occur under any circumstances in my opinion, I must mention how I do see the significance behind it. Due to artificial selection, we have been able to breed desired characteristics for preferred plants and animals. More specifically, humans have been able to use this breakthrough for a variety of purposes such as faster race horses, better milk production in cows, and have even been able to create broccoli, cabbage, kale, and other vegetables through the artificial selection of the wild mustard plant. For these reasons, I must acknowledge how big of a breakthrough this is in science. Humans are now able to get their preferred characteristics in plants and animals, which would have never been able to happen prior. This however, doesn’t make it right. We are now able to produce plants and animals with the traits we want through artificial selection, but at what cost?

Artificial selection directly contrasts natural selection when natural forces cause the population to change. Instead of letting nature take its course, humans are forcing desired traits and are altering populations artificially through artificial selection. This in my opinion is what makes artificial selection terribly wrong. Humans are taking advantage of science, and making the world we live in artificial. We are always told avoid eating and drinking foods with artificial flavour, coloring, etc... So why do we all of a sudden think it’s acceptable to be producing nature of all things artificially?

Let’s face the reality of a world we live in. We have artificial everything. Artificial food, artificial grass, artificial hair, artificial sweeteners, artificial teeth, and more. Why can’t we just accept what we were given and live a N A T U R A L life? Through artificial selection, we are actually taking one of the few natural things that we have left on this planet and making it artificial, just like everything else.

After learning a lot about evolution, I’ve realized how it benefits various species in many ways. For example, through evolution, species can naturally evolve to be more resistant to pray, disease etc..., therefore increasing the survival of succeeding generations. If humans continue to artificially modify plants and animals how will we ever allow them to naturally evolve for better survival? For example, instead of manufacturing plants that are more disease-resistant, let nature take its course and let survival of the fittest come into effect. If plants that are not disease-resistant die by their own means, eventually they will naturally come up with a gene that makes them resistant, and future generations will be completely resistant. See where I'm going with this?

To be completely honest, artificial selection is just a shortcut for us humans. It's just another excuse to be lazy and to cheat Mother Nature. Instead of waiting for nature to take its course, humans are rushing a what used to be a natural process. For example, instead of training racehorses to run faster, we modify them so they are born to do so. Who knows, with everything from mad cow disease to swine flu , it makes you think whether these could have been avoided if humans just learned how to patiently wait to evolve into better and more resistant species. When you’re sick, it is suggested to eat healthy, drink water, and get a lot of sleep.. NOT to just alter your genes so your children won’t ever get the flu.

CONCLUSION

Much like designer babies, we have to realize that we are taking advantage of magnificent scientific breakthroughs and using them for our own selfish and impatient purposes. By doing this, we are only hurting ourselves. Instead of letting plants and animals evolve naturally, we are forcing evolution on them which is wrong on so many levels. If God or Mother Nature, depending on what you like to think.. wanted things this easy, something would have been done about it. Humans should just learn how to take pride in nature and accept that everything is how it is for a reason. Instead of forcing artificial characteristics, on nature, we should let them evolve on their own time.

Let's face the reality shall we. Humans are just impatient. STOP trying to speed up natural processes, and justifying it with impressive scientific breakthroughs. That doesn't make it any more excuseable. As my mother always told me: "Patience is a virtue, a virtue is a grace, Grace is a little girl who never washed her face". Irrelevant? Don't think so. I encourage you to be patient with nature and take time and smell the n a t u r a l l y roses. What's the rush?

Resources:

http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sites/0072549238/student_view0/glossary.html
http://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/evolution/dog_breeding.html
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0118084/Gene/Genetic_variation/artificialselection.htm
http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/session5/closer1.html

Pictures:

http://www.watchmojo.com/blog/health/tag/flu/
http://www.zedge.net/profile/SWEET_HINA/
http://themovementdallas.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/are-artificial-sweeteners-safe/

http://www.ehow.com/how_5712373_curl-synthetic-artificial-hairpieces.html

“Designer babies” — you have G O T to be kidding me..

The media uses the term “designer babies” to describe the process of modifying genes so that children will have ideal characteristics whether it’s for medical or cosmetic purposes. This in my opinion is just plain stupid.

Firstly, I would like to introduce the quote that I try to live my life by. It was first brought to me during the summer of 2009 when I was depressed about a rather unfortunate athletic injury. My mommy tried pretty much everything she could do in attempts to cheer me up, but I was just bitter and angry about life and couldn’t be bothered. One day as I was checking my e-mail, I saw that she had sent me a link to some inspirational video as she tends to do rather often. It was from there that I discovered some food for thought that helped me get through the summer and even now, still has a heavy influence in my life on a day-to-day basis. As stated by Vivian Greene:

“Life’s not about waiting for the storm to pass,
It’s about learning to dance in the rain.”

http://www.danceintherainmovie.com/miami/

link compliments of Mommy Harris ♥♥

You may be thinking that I’ve gotten extremely off topic talking about dancing in the rain and whatnot, but if you take time to ponder over the quote, you’ll see how it relates to A LOT in life, and even this whole “designer babies” ordeal.

In life, you may not always get dealt the perfect hand, but you A L W A Y S need to learn how to make the best of it. We’ve all said something about wishing we were better, smarter, “cooler”, prettier, more popular, etc.. but that’s not what life is about. Instead of dwelling on our imperfections waiting for the story to pass, we need to make the best of what we were given by God, and appreciate everything that we have, making the best of our situations dancing in the rain. Get it now?

ANYWAYYSSS, back to these “perfect babies” *eyeroll.. I truly believe that the capability of humans to modify genes is an incredible scientific breakthrough, but I am 100% against it. No one is perfect or SHOULD be perfect, so why are humans trying so hard to make it this way? “Everything happens for a reason”, and I think that altering genes goes against this saying, which in my opinion is immoral and ethically wrong.

The ability that humans are being presented with to create their perfect offspring is actually pretty depressing. What’s wrong with just taking what you get and understand that all babies are blessings from God? I do understand that the purpose of genetic modification is initially to cure diseases and reduce suffering found with hereditary disorders (such as Huntington’s chorea, Cystic Fibrosis, and Muscular Dystrophy) but let’s be logical here. We live in a competitive and shallow world and that’s just what it is sorry for the reality check to anyone who thinks otherwise. When people realize that there are ways to have the best, smartest, prettiest, fastest ;), healthiest, etc.. babies, this priviledge will be most certainly be abused and if you think otherwise please find the nearest exit from the bubble you’ve been living in. Even if the intentions of some are genuine, modifying genes is just wrong on so many levels. Children are gifts from God and should be loved unconditionally regardless.

Usain Bolt; The fastest man EVERR! Point #1: If this man was genetically manipulated he would not have, nor would he deserve the amount of recognition he has now. Point #2: He wasn't genetically altered and look how well it worked out for him.

As mentioned previously, modifying the genes of children is not just for cosmetic purposes, but was intended for medical purposes as well. I can admit that I do see the principle behind the idea of genetic modification, but I do not think that there are enough reasons to justify it. In 2004 I was told that one of my closest family members was diagnosed with breast cancer. It is said that cancer is heredity and is caused by a genetic mutation. In this case, altering a specific gene could potentially save lives and could have saved a particular one of my family members a lot of pain. With this in mind, there hasn’t been a history of cancer for many generations prior, which brings up the mystery of where the disease came from. This has given me my “everything happens for a reason” attitude towards a lot in life. Gene therapy could have helped my family member and many other people coping with this fatal disease, but in return, her diagnosis of has only made her, as well as the rest of my family a lot stronger. Even after being personally touched by the effects of heredity disorders, my opinion towards “designer babies” remains the same.

Okay... Can we just be realistic for 2 seconds?! Before considering this the greatest and most useful scientific advance, we need to stop being so naive and pause ever so briefly to consider the moral and ethnic limits of society. Modifying the genes of future generations is just a horrible idea. Everything given to us at birth is a gift, and we should appreciate whatever we have. Instead of considering how we could be closer to perfect, we have to be satisfied with who we are. The only way you can get close to perfection if there is even such a thing, is through the knowledge that comes from age. Learning and making your own mistakes makes you a wiser person, which is something to be valued. Everything that happens is for a reason, and by alternating genes to avoid such happenings ultimately makes the subjects “superhuman”. Designer babies are N O T humans!! They’re N O T natural and are practically lab experiments!!

Designer baby! ^^ (no seriously.. why can't I just alter my genes so my children can fly..)

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, the best word to describe the people who partake in genetic mutation would be ignorant. Genetic manipulations are immoral and ethically wrong on SOOO many levels. Am I any less of a person because I have natural brown eyes, as opposed to a child that has genetically manipulated blue eyes? Am I any less of a person because I have as bad eyesight? Asthma? Long legs? DIDN’T THINK SO! Soooo really people, just deal with what you are given, take it as a blessing from above, and learn to “dance in the rain” while you're at it.

http://medicineworld.org/cancer/page15.html
http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/agar.html

PICTURES:

http://library.blogs.delaware.gov/2009/10/01/breast-cancer-awareness-month/
http://encefalus.com/general/dark-knight-psychology/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/othersports/olympics/2592903/Usain-Bolt-scorches-to-sprint-double-leaving-rivals-in-his-wake---Olympics.html

I mean c’moooon.. I wasn’t genetically mutated and look how great I turned out :)

What on earth are we doing?! (pun intended)

Many scientists consider humans as the most invasive species, as humans can greatly change an environment and impact living things that reside there. Are we being stewards of the world? Take a look at an issue in which human intervention has positively or negatively affected the biodiversity of our ecosystems.

With this in mind, are humans stewards of the world?

To help us understand the discussion more effectively, we can define the word “steward” as “a person morally responsible for the careful use of money, time, talents, or other resources, esp. with respect to the principles or needs of a community or group”. With more regards to the environment and in simpler terms for anyone lacking the effort to comprehend the definition, a steward of the world is ideally someone who is aware of the ecological needs of all natural environments and respects this by taking responsibility of the well-being of the earth. Taking this into consideration, humans are DEFINITELY no where close to being stewards of the world.

Since time, humans have been invading the earth’s natural environments causing a variety of ecological alterations such as shrinking glaciers, permafrost melting and more commonly known, global warming. Individually, this might not seem like as big of a deal as it is to many, but these alterations begin to have even more of an effect on the environment that isn’t as easy to recognize. For example, plants are blooming prematurely across Europe, lakes are declining in Africa, flowers are blooming earlier in spring, and birds are arriving earlier during migration periods according to a NASA study. Even though these changes will not necessarily be noticed by the untrained/naked eye, they are significant changes that prove how irresponsible humans are acting, by showing little to no regard about the effects of our actions and how the world we live in is suffering.

I have to admit though, that even though humans are tearing apart the environment, and taking away from the natural-ness of it all (paying no regards to my made up word), it isn’t completely horrible. Many great inventions and discoveries have come from humans due their invasion on the environment. Take transportation for example. If our actions were strictly environmentally based, cars and other vehicles would never have been invented making everyday transportation a lot of effort and even the closest of places a journey, and transportation to different countries wouldn’t be possible without the help of air-polluting airplanes and water-polluting boats making vacationing close to impossible. This proves how humans have been sacrificing the wellbeing of the environment for better living conditions, so that humans may live luxurious lives.

More recently however, societies have been making a greater attempt to slow down the effects that human invasion has had on the environment. Hybrid cars are in the process of being more recognized and used to decrease the amount of pollution entering the atmosphere, public transit, carpooling and high occupancy vehicle lanes are being promoted as environmentally friendly alternatives to everyday life. Cities are implementing recycling and composing programs so that our wastes do not fill up land fills and we can reuse reuseable materials ironic huh?. The city of Toronto and more recently even the city of Markham if I am not mistaken, correct me if I’m wrong has even began charging $0.05 for the purchase of a plastic bag to promote reusing bags. This effort made by humans to slow down because the effects cannot be reversed the effects of human invasion have not gone unnoticed, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that humans are about 99% (in my opinion at least) at fault for letting the environment get to the state that it currently is in. Trying to not sound bitter, I don’t want to say that this current effort is “too little, too late”, but in all honesty it is no where close to making up for even half of the damage already caused to the earth. I think that I can speak on behalf of a vast majority of humans with the idea that we are sacrificing the well-being of the environment for our own personal satisfaction please correct me if I’m wrong. We are completely disregarding the needs of and cries of help from our ecosystems because we continue to alter the environment to better everyday living.

CONCLUSION
In conclusion, humans are by far the most invasive species because we are invading our ecosystems and refusing to take responsibility of our actions (until more recently) by altering the world and not catering to the needs of the biodiversity in ecosystems. Yes, for the most part the changes made by humans are significantly beneficial to everyday life but at what cost? We have to become a lot less selfish in the sense that we need to understand what we are doing to the environment, and take into consideration the needs of the environment instead of continuously looking toward how to better the living for humans. As a species, we are no where close to becomming stewards of the world, and we have a loooooong way to go before we learn to put the needs of the plant ahead of our own.

hope you enjoy. COMMENT PLEASEEE! :)


THANKS TOO:

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/human-intervention-alters-natural-systems-nasa-study_10048999.html
http://www.yourdictionary.com/steward
http://moneyning.com/life-style/reduce-reuse-recycle-and-how-it-helped-with-my-personal-finance/
http://www.cartoonstock.com/directory/s/stop_global_warming.asp
http://www.physorg.com/news10031.html