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a mechanism which helps us to become more adaptive toward the changing world. We will see how survival mechanism functions during the path of social/biological
evolution and how it shows the fluidity toward changes.
Genetic Engineering
In Only Human, the Doctor compares the Osterbergers with the 46th century humans when he enters the underground city. He believes that the Osterbergers differ from the 46th century humans because they look like present humans (like Rose). This is how he describes the Osterbegers: “No prongs and pods about, for a start, plus everybody’s got hair. And both legs” (Only Human 62). According to the Doctor’s experience, we can speculate that future humans may be very different compared with our present forms. As the need of technological assistance soars, the anxiety toward our unknown future arises. Some opponents criticize transhumanists for embracing genetic engineering which may result in changing and loosing human entities.
However, the results of genetic engineering may not spread like a contagious disease since we may wonder if these genes can be inherited or adaptive. There is a recent debate by a group of scientists on whether scientists can edit human germlines and whether the editing is aimed for therapeutic purposes. Edward Lanphier, president and chief executive officer of Sangamo BioSciences who raises the debate, and his
colleagues believe that “genome editing in human embryos using current technologies could have unpredictable effects on future generations. This makes it dangerous and ethically unacceptable. Such research could be exploited for non-therapeutic
modifications” (Lanphier et al.). There is a difference between editing somatic cells and germ cells. Unlike germ cells, somatic cells are not heritable. By modifying somatic cells, scientists have a chance to cure diseases without altering heritable genome.
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However, many people believe that there are ambiguous areas between therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes. Although these scientists have concerns about the unethical purpose of genetic engineering, they are eager to put more efforts in researching the modification of somatic cells and hope that moral concerns and laws do not impede the development of these potential cures. In a column which published in Nature, they call for further dialogue about this issue:
Key to all discussion and future research is making a clear distinction between genome editing in somatic cells and in germ cells. A voluntary moratorium in the scientific community could be an effective way to discourage human germline modification and raise public awareness of the difference between these two techniques. Legitimate concerns regarding the safety and ethical impacts of germline editing must not impede the
significant progress being made in the clinical development of approaches to potentially cure serious debilitating diseases. (Lanphier et al.)
Whether genetic engineering is used for therapeutic purpose or not, it still has to be examined by many people who fear unknown consequences (the results of choosing genome). The fear toward technological and scientific invasion results from the uncertainty toward these actions.
Scientific development has undergone changes for centuries; however, every new discovery can lead to several alterations toward old theories. The more discoveries scientists have, the more questions they have to solve. Until new theories are tested, nobody can guarantee if the consequences are positive or not. Therefore, Henry Gee says that science is based on doubt instead of truth:
In reality, science is about neither Facts nor Truth, but the quantification of doubt. In the small corner of reality that is available to us, scientists set limits on ignorance—but can never banish it entirely… All scientific
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discoveries are provisional, set to be overturned by results gained from more data better instrumentation, and new ideas… That is, science is not about Truth, but Doubt; not Knowledge, but Ignorance; not Certainty, but Uncertainty. (Gee xii-xiii).
However in Only Human, Chantal wishes to surpass the limits of science (the uncertain outcomes) and to make her science more accurate. She wants to create a world where everyone is perfect and fulfilled without experiencing any unwanted feeling. She says: “No wish unfulfilled, no love to turn away, no life wasted. But with their bestial, unadapted hunting minds they could never have it, never triumph against themselves” (Only Human 190). In order to achieve this goal, she eliminates the Osterbergers’ feelings through the use of chemical drugs and creates Hy-Bractors who are designed to be more adaptable than humans.
In addition, the Osterbergers use genetic engineering to choose their appearances and body features. When entering the city, Rose finds out that everyone is “startlingly, movie-premiere attractive” (Only Human 62). When Rose meets Chantal, Rose notices her beautifully attractive appearance. “Like nearly all the others in the town, she possessed even, symmetrical features, but what really set her off were her eyes.
They were a vivid ocean blue, framed by long, exquisitely curled lashes. She wore the uniform denim trousers and a handsomely tailored business suit with large lapels”
(Only Human 63). In the future where the Osterbergers live, genetic engineering has become an industry which offers consumers abundant choices on genetic traits. Thus, Jacob concludes that Rose’s big mouth and the Doctor’s big ears are mistakes during gene selections. He tells them that the Osterbergers can sue the genetic engineering companies if they are not satisfied with the outcomes (Only Human 60). While seeing the painful process of delivering a child, Reddy says that all Osterbergers can get pregnant and the pregnancy only lasts two days without painful experiences (Only