• Question: Do YOU think genetic engerniering is completely wrong or do you believe that there are some good and positive aspects to it?

    Asked by jewlz to Mike, Pip, Tianfu, Tim, Tom on 26 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Philippa Bird

      Philippa Bird answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      It’s a fine line. The possibility of curing some really nasty diseases is of course amazing and really beneficial. But it would be sad if we start to get “designer babies” where you can request for them to have blue eyes or be tall or something, if you had enough money. I think that is really wrong.

    • Photo: Tom Lister

      Tom Lister answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      People have been selective over genes since they began, only they did this through selecting the best partner, or the best crop/animal to breed.

      I think that there is a lot of good that can be done, but I completely agree with Pip: try and avoid giving the technology to psychopaths!

    • Photo: Tim Stephens

      Tim Stephens answered on 26 Jun 2012:

      Yes, I agree with Pip. It’s something that could be used for good or bad, and it’s an ethical minefield to decide what is good and what is bad.

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