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The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

Posted May 13, 2008 9:10 AM

From Wired: Top Stories:

Scientists have created the first genetically modified human embryo.What does this mean to you? Led by Nikica Zaninovic, researchers at Cornell University added a green fluorescent protein to an embryo left over from assisted reproduction. They destroyed the embryo five days later. It is believed to be the first documented genetic modification of a human embryo.

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protn7
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 44
#1

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/13/2008 10:51 PM

if brought to term it would be the progenitor of a race of green people. Did they break the rules by making a transgenic embroyo? I thought that was forbidden.
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foofire
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Join Date: Mar 2008
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#2
In reply to #1

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/14/2008 12:41 AM

Yeah, never mind the idea of "Playing God" with some life that hasn't even had a chance yet. Genetic manipulation may be something that is interesting and can hold some keys for life, but we need to practice on someone that has volunteered to have their genes spliced.
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Sparkstation
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#3

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/14/2008 1:35 AM

I don't like the implications of this.

Mind you, the Greenies will soon, no doubt, be hoping for additions to their ranks.

Kind Regards....

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master of none
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Join Date: May 2008
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#4

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/14/2008 12:28 PM

First, the green animals and now this. Why green? There are much more interesting colors out there.

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Kwetz
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#5

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/14/2008 1:09 PM

I wonder how that type of "researchers" being so proud, clever and absolutely convinced that what they are doing is right, don't experiment on themselves, they could add themselves this colored proteins (of course each researcher a different colour) It will help to know who they are by observing their funny glowing colours!!!

I'm going to shed some tears....

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Bayes
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#6

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/15/2008 2:30 PM

From the article "They say embryos wouldn't be allowed to develop for more than a few weeks, much less implanted in a woman and brought to term. "

This is a deplorable and unredeemable act. We are not talking about a couple of cells here. We are not talking about a mother in a desperate situation having to make a terrible choice because of unfortunate circumstances (poverty, rape, abuse, etc.), we are talking about scientists, emotionally detached, using life as an empirical tool. Within "a few weeks" in the embryo the heart and limbs already begin to develop. If "implanted in a woman and brought to term" this would be a human being just like you or me. Please consider the chart below. There is simply no justification on experimenting on humans regardless of the stage of developement unless that person being of sound body and mind volunteers. This argument that it is the only or best means to obtain the knowledge necessary to cure diseases is nonsense. There is a serious moral hazard here that needs to be addressed. I worry that it will instead be ignored.
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Sparkstation
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#7
In reply to #6

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/15/2008 4:40 PM

Hello Roger Pink

Thank you for the explanatory Post and interesting Chart.

You get a GA point from me, wish I could have given you two.

Kind Regards....

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foofire
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#8
In reply to #7

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/15/2008 11:56 PM

Yeah thanks for that xxx comment Sparkstation. Its that kind of attitude that keeps horrible stuff like this going. I completely agree that we are destroying human life.
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Kwetz
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#9

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/16/2008 9:45 AM

Hello to all,

I'm very happy to see 100% agreement (up to now) on the position against experiments with human embryos. It seems we still have an opportunity to change that unmoral and non - ethic way of thinking.

Thanks to Roger Pink for the poster, I give him a GA too. It's a pity that posters qualified GA in this other thread, The Aesthetics of Ethics, defend just the contrary position.

Best regards

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 It's stupid to discuss about AI: We´ve reached by the "B" way. We' ve producing men as clever as machines.
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Taganan
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#10

Re: The First Genetically Modified Human Embryo

05/16/2008 11:47 PM

Not right to use an embryo. Should has used tissue samples from Zaninovic, preferably from above the neck .

I don't have any problem with plants and only few with animals being genetically engineered, with proper precautions and thorough testing. For people it should be reserved for those old enough to consent to it.

My father built the gene gun for 2 Cornell professors so they could shoot DNA into seeds. It worked perfectly too.

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Bayes (1); foofire (2); Kwetz (2); master of none (1); protn7 (1); Sparkstation (2); Taganan (1)

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