DARPA to Genetically Engineer Humans by Adding a 47th Chromosome

reply to post by Sk8ergrl


Man is a being of free will and cannot be controlled in any way or form.

You can only be manipulated to be a slave of your own mind and your own faith!

Originally posted by XPuntar
reply to post by Sk8ergrl

 

Man is a being of free will and cannot be controlled in any way or form.

You can only be manipulated to be a slave of your own mind any your own belief!

They must've thought something like "hey, instead of actually trying to activate all our natural chromosomes, let's just add GM ones"

...........

Do you think all research (biological or otherwise) which has the potential for misuse should not be done? You're going to have a hard time finding any such research.

reply to post by Phage


I will wager no one thinks that, Phage. BTS has provided many examples here of the true good that can be done via this kind of research. I don't think anyone is going to argue about regenerative limbs, or curing diabetes or providing a way for the paralyzed to walk......


But that really isn't the basis of the objections, herein, either.

Everything that science provides us can be applied either way: for good or for bad. Surely you agree with that.
Then, we are left to weigh the consequences, and the good against the bad that can be applied, via said research.

It is a quagmire of ethics, really.....and if you haven't experienced the bad that can come of it, it's hard for you to envision, I think, how it could possibly outweigh seeing a soldier with a new limb, after having made the ultimate sacrifice in defending our way of life, here.....supposedly.....

Just some hysterical thoughts from yours truly.
Tetra

Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by ionwind

 

They may be more sensitive, but by how much? We are getting into the topic of bioethics, just because we can do it, should we?

Engineered human cells lines have been used to save lives for quite a while.

What ethical problems are there in using cells for genetic research?
Do you think there are ethical problems in using cell lines to develop antibiotics?
Do you think there are ethical problems in using cell lines to perhaps cure type 2 diabetics?

Do you think all research (biological or otherwise) which has the potential for misuse should not be done? You're going to have a hard time finding any such research.

You list very good examples of why we should use cell lines and expand the use of umbilical cord stem cells, which is normally just discarded anyway. They have medical applications that help everyone. No one would/should argue against trying to find a cure for cancer or many other diseases.

When we start using them in warfare, they will be used to help kill the enemy, i.e. other people. The decision to build and use biologically based weapons is a political decision, but scientists will get the blame.

reply to post by burntheships


I'm not buying that.

I actually followed the series of links to the actual science article and didn't see any mention of a new chromosome in the paper brief.

A human isn't something you just "add a chromosome" to. DNA doesn't work that way.

There are specific traits with specific locations. If you add a chromosome, it isn't for anything physical like a new arm or something. More likely for chemical receptors at the micro scale. You'd have to edit the already present genes in the already present chromosomes. It's like writing an encyclopedia and adding in a new book that contradicts the previous ones. It don't work that way. You edit the old book, and you add *new* information to the new book.

At most, this so-called new chromosome would be for disease resistance and health benefits. Any other way and it would not work.

Originally posted by Gorman91
reply to post by burntheships

 

I'm not buying that.

I actually followed the series of links to the actual science article and didn't see any mention of a new chromosome in the paper brief.

The HAC acts as the 47th chromosome.

Human Artificial Chromosome (HAC) David Kwon and Zyvan Wesley Basic Information First discovered in Western Reserve University School of Medicine at 1997.

HAC is a microchromosome that can act as the 47th chromosome of a human cell. It is roughly 6 ~ 10 megabases. Vector

HAC The HAC vector's ranges from 10~15 kbp They are useful in expression studies as gene transfer vectors and are a tool for elucidating human chromosome function. prezi.com...

en.wikipedia.org... www.molecular-plant-biotechnology.info... www.nature.com...-title www.nature.com...
rbmojournal

A human isn't something you just "add a chromosome" to. DNA doesn't work that way.

See the research above. I find it hard to believe they can use synthetic biology
yet apparently they have done this very thing.

More likely for chemical receptors at the micro scale. You'd have to edit the already present genes in the already present chromosomes. It's like writing an encyclopedia and adding in a new book that contradicts the previous ones. It don't work that way. You edit the old book, and you add *new* information

It is not even new, the research dates back to 1997, that is 16 years ago.
Read it by those who have done it...they say they have done it....
which you go on to agree with, it seems you are contradicting yourself.

reply to post by burntheships


eh then it's not really a chromosome. It's more like some kind of free range protien.

You were sounding like they were adding a new chromosome to a human being and changing their person hood. This sounds more like a very advanced virus.

I mean in functional terms sure it's a chromosome. But it hardly compares to the other chromosomes.

reply to post by burntheships


CAN act. You are missing the can part as well as missing another huge piece of the proposal, they are not adding this HAC to humans.

reply to post by Gorman91


Well, I ....not being a molecular biologist myself was left to use the terms they use,
which are quite accurate I might add.

Originally posted by Gorman91
reply to post by burntheships

 

eh then it's not really a chromosome. It's more like some kind of free range protien.

You were sounding like they were adding a new chromosome to a human being and changing their person hood. This sounds more like a very advanced virus.

Imagine if I had created the thread with the title of "rogue protien" ?
Google free range protien....would you?
In fact, if Phage does not correct you we have a ding ding ding.

Or, can you expound on why you "feel" it is a protien rather than synthetic biology?

I mean in functional terms sure it's a chromosome.

Again, your contradicting yourself. Or maybe your confused.

The OP article, which uses correct information about the HAC, and the HAC
acting as the 47th chromosome as a vector to add sythetic biological materials
to man ( on a cellular level) is genetic engineering.

For what the purpose, I dont think that the OP article was hysterical about any
aspect of it, they mentioned Gattaca, which I think is pretty accurate.

reply to post by Kali74


your missing that date, 1997.
15 years ago.

reply to post by burntheships

I dont think that the OP article was hysterical about any
aspect of it,

Except that it claims that the project involves the genetic engineering of humans. It doesn't. It involves engineering of cell lines.

Cell lines are not humans. The OP article is a hoax. A deliberate misrepresentation of the facts.

Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by burntheships

 

I dont think that the OP article was hysterical about any
aspect of it,

Except that it claims that the project involves the genetic engineering of humans. It doesn't. It involves engineering of cell lines.

Your wrong, hit the alert button and find out.
Once again, the only hoax is your posts of deception.
Cell lines, yes how original. How else do you suppose they
would be able to USE them. ?
And once again, your on ignore for that very reason.
www.urbandictionary.com...

Originally posted by Phage
reply to post by burntheships

BTW, there is no ignore feature any more. I know you can see me

Yes, if you only knew how accurate that is.

reply to post by burntheships


They've covered every contingency.
What could possibly go wrong?

reply to post by burntheships


A few proteins passing through the membrane of the nucleus is hardly a chromosome. To use a useful analogy, you are saying that a pebble orbiting the Earth is a moon. Sure, technically you're right. But hardly a moon in comparison to THE moon.

Synthetic biology is not the right term also. Synthetic chromosome is.

reply to post by burntheships

How else do you suppose they would be able to USE them. ?

Why. To create an army of unstoppable clones. Of course.
But they aren't. The project is to develop better ways of manipulating cell lines. Not to engineer humans.

BTW, there is no ignore feature any more. I know you can see me.

Originally posted by bekod
reply to post by burntheships

 

DARPA's way of creating a Zombie, the Ultimate Warrior,increasing strength, vision, and hearing no senescence of pain, nor the need of sleep or food, best of all can not die of wounds, or until head is blow off. One last though the DNA is a contagion that creates others by a virus, no know cure. the good news is life span is 28 days.

edit on 31-7-2013 by bekod because: line edit

Heh, ever seen the movie "28 Days Later"? A lot can happen in 28 days lol.

reply to post by burntheships


What are you talking about? What does 1997 have to do with anything? When they were first created has no flipping bearing on what they are used for. The proposal is pretty specific, that they are seeking funding to do research improving HAC's to introduce into cell lines for vaccines and gene therapies as well as defense against chemical weapons and biological weapons.

I suggest you read the proposal again... very slowly, then maybe do some genetics research on how scientists are looking to cure genetic diseases, maybe then something will click for you.

Yes it is a very controversial field, with all kinds of ethical questions, genetics always have been and always will be. Making up fantasies does nothing to address ethics and in fact can hurt future questioning of ethics... cuz you know "them crazies". If you want to get into the ethics of it all, I suggest you educate yourself.


ETA: I think it's entirely possible that one day your fears may come to realization. This project however does not involve genetically engineering any humans as the article claims, therefor it is a hoax.

reply to post by burntheships

I do not think adding a synthetic chromosome will quite work out like they think it will. But you know whatever. One day! Steadily! People may just wake up to the fact that its a brave new world out there.

reply to post by burntheships


If they say, they are thinking about it, it means it has been tested for the last decade. Good part is that if it was already tested, they know something about 'basic side effects'. It could create some of the before unthinkable possibilities for the development of the human kind (or new kinds of humans - instead of racism and religious wars there will be speciezem ), It could also go very wrong and Planet of The Apes will become a documentary

EDIT: I only now realized it is a hoax. Ignore my post