Evolution machine

[sthack99]

Evolution machine: Genetic engineering on fast forward - life - 27 June 2011 - New Scientist

"The invention of a machine that puts evolution on fast-forward, generating new organisms in days rather than years, promises an industrial revolution for biology. But that's just the beginning: its inventors think they can use it to rewrite the very language of life – and even make new kinds of human."

With the invention of this machine, do you think everyone will finally accept Evolution as fact? And does this cross the line into the realm of "immorality"?

[neochronomo]

With the invention of this machine, do you think everyone will finally accept Evolution as fact? And does this cross the line into the realm of "immorality"?

I don't think it'll ever be the case -- at least not for a very long time -- that everyone or nearly everyone accepts evolution as fact.

As for it crossing the line, I would say it depends on what they mean by "new kinds of human". In the rest of the article it discusses a possibility that we may be able to make ourselves virus proof, which I would say is a moral thing to do. You can make the argument that there may be unforeseen, negative consequences in the distant future from messing with our genes, but I'm sure it could be studied and tested for safety like anything else we do to and put in ourselves (e.g. medicine, surgery, Fruit Loops, braces).

[seyorni]

Those disavowing evolution have already proved themselves immune to evidence and reason. Why should they change now?

[sthack99]

Because their entire argument is that macroevolution has never been witnessed. But now it can be. So what will their argument be next?

I would love for anti-evolutionists to chime in. I know if I had put this in the religion/philosophy category I would have gotten some bites, but I didn't think it belonged there....

[Angry Citizen]

Why would this change anyone's mind? The objection many creationists raise is that humans CAN cause tremendous change through the use of intelligence, but that it's artificial. They claim that nature cannot replicate this kind of change. If anything, this will just make them feel more secure, not less.

[grandpa]

Why would this change anyone's mind?
The objection many creationists raise is that humans CAN cause
tremendous change through the use of intelligence, but that it's
artificial.

They can't even begin to answer the questions, which is why they turn to God.

That being said, plenty of religious people are intelligent and well-rounded.
Nikola Tesla's dad, for example:
"I longed to be an engineer, but my father was
inflexible. He was the son of an officer who served in the
army of the Great Napoleon and in common with his brother, professor of
mathematics in a prominent institution, had received a military
education; but, singularly enough, later embraced the clergy in which vocation he
achieved eminence. He was a very erudite man, a veritable natural
philosopher, poet and writer and his sermons were said to be as eloquent
as those of Abraham a-Sancta-Clara."
Nikola Tesla - Early Life Of Nikola Tesla

Grandpa h.

[notthecheatr]

Because their entire argument is that macroevolution has never been witnessed. But now it can be. So what will their argument be next?

Oh, that is by no means their entire argument. They have tons of arguments, all of them wrong but if you take one away they'll just change the subject to a completely new "argument" and proceed from there instead.

YouTube - 65 Million Years With A Creationist.

[crimethinker]

I was watching Star Trek: Deep Space Nine recently. The episode was about a dispute between a Federation-run school on the space station that primarily taught Bajoran children and Vedek Winn, a spiritual leader of Bajor, the planet the space station orbits. Vedek Winn wanted the teacher to ignore certain aspects of science, like evolution and the origin of the universe.

I thought, "Damn, even in the 24th century..."

I'm less certain that such things will still happen in the technologically advanced future, when all have access to a free and better education, but more importantly I'm not certain they won't.

[SoylentGreen]

Because their entire argument is that macroevolution has never been witnessed. But now it can be. So what will their argument be next?

I would love for anti-evolutionists to chime in. I know if I had put this in the religion/philosophy category I would have gotten some bites, but I didn't think it belonged there....

I think it obvious what they would say. Man created a machine that creates evolution, therefore evolution is intelligently designed QED

[grandpa]

I think it obvious what they would say.
Man created a machine that creates evolution, therefore evolution is
intelligently designed QED

True, and I'm not so stupid as to try reguting that logic, as that's a surprisingly decent argument in this case. However, it still doesn't explain animals as we see them today, and especially not in the past.

Grandpa h.

[theophilus]

Because their entire argument is that macroevolution has never been witnessed. But now it can be. So what will their argument be next?

This isn't macroevolution in the sense that it is generally used. It is human intervention in the normal processes of biology. It is in fact a process by which a group of very intelligent scientists are trying to design new organisms.

[HoleyCarbonGrid]

While it is human intervention, the process takes place very similarly to how evolution does.

(1) It causes new genes to be introduced
(2) Selects populations with particular genes/traits of interest

Both are analogous of natural processes. The first happens naturally through mutation, translocation, and other well-studied processes that are known to happen regularly in sexually and asexually reproducing organisms. The second happens in nature through the process of natural selection - differential reproductive success based on survival/sexual selection traits.

So yes, while it is a human invention, it's essentially engineering faster evolution in directions that natural pressures would not go.