the ethics of GMO "bioluminescence animals" and humans?

[AuroraGlacialis]

Just saw this talk:
http://www.ted.com/talks/paul_root_wolpe_it_s_time_to_question_bio_engineer ing.html
and it was fascinating and scary at the same time.

You will see fish and mammals that glow in the dark, cats, mice and even monkeys. From the latter the step to humans is not far.

But you will also see pigs that are bred to produce chemicals, animals that have been ripped of their free will and turned into computer controlled robots and brains taken out of animals to drive robots.

The underlying technology is basically the same - bioengineering. As all technologies, it obviously has two sides, but to me, the things they did to the animals in the second half specifically are unspeakable and made me cry. The ethical implications of using this kind of technology are severe and it makes me sad to know, that for many scientists and industrialists, ethics is a word in a foreign language.

So is this the price that would have to be paid for creating something many of us are fascinated with - bioluminescent life?

[Eternal Enigma]

Well, having bioluminescent plants would be neat, but perhaps we should just leave stuff like this alone before we inadvertently cause a gap in the food chain by giving plants and animals new genetic encoding, which could lead to a number of genetic disorders/mass extinction of certain species later on.

[Aihwa]

That was the most amazing thing I've seen in years. I ****ing love science. ^___^

[The Silver Stag]

for many scientists and industrialists, ethics is a word in a foreign language.

^ This pretty much sums it up for me. Who are we to mess about with nature. We seem to view animals as playthings and use them for experimentation, I wonder how many of these scientists would object if somebody/something forced bio-engineering on their body - a fair few I'd bet. I'm opposed to the whole thing myself.

[Sanjwale]

I can disagree that it is amazing that whe maybe can be biolumniscent. and I really would love tho be it or maybe hava a pet who is it.

but like eternal said. I think it is better to keep our nature the nature.

Still love it! :)

[_Omaticaya_]

People should not play with genetics. I reckon science doesnt mean pissing about with dna and stuff. It may look cool, but it aint cool really, we got natural normal bioluminiscent plants anyhow on the planet already, and glowing amazing colorful fish in the sea, let's stick with what God almighty created, there's enough beauty in the world, so much no one here has seen i'm sure i can speak for everyone, we keep thinkin about crazy stuff to invent? holy sh!t -_- has anyone actually been in all the amazing places in the world? or under the sea seriously? on every mountain, in every forest, have we seen all the animals? No... Unless you're Bear Grylls or something. No one can judge until he has seen with his eyes I think. I wish one day i will see these beautiful things too, rather than watching youtube videos about them, or national geographic, or any bloody website... We're all forced to be on internet these days, only some actually experience real wildlife... (i know it's off thread before someone starts wining about it...)