Picture now sitting at Woodbine Race Track watching one horse run at 2 or 3 times the speed of the others because he had his genes artificially selected. How fair does that sound?
My opinion on this topic is very similar to that of designer babies. In fact, I really don't see how a person could agree with either idea and be against the other. How could one have different opinions on designer babies and artificial selection in plants and animals? In my eyes they're the same thing; altering the genes to display certain desired traits. I find this new "breakthrough" equally as disturbing as the idea of creating a "genetically modified" baby.
Many will argue that artificially selecting or modifying the genes plants and animals alike would save time, money and resources. Although this may be true, and I do not deny that it is, is it really safe? One of our science teachers told me that it could be beneficial especially in third world countries that could use the speedy process that is artificially selection of plants which would include crops that could be used domestically as well as be exported internationally to help the economy of that country.
Still, is it really worth the risk to compromise everything that we as a human race have known and trusted since the beginning of time?
I don't think so. I still don't believe that taking shortcuts is the better way to do anything. Sure shortcuts take less time, and energy, but at the end of the day you'll realize that you had to cut out a few steps or some good ingredients that would have made the product its absolute best. Is it worth it to speed through the process if it means you have to settle for the mediocre version of the the full scale, real deal?
Well it's your choice. All I can say for myself is that I'm sticking with au naturel as best as I can.
Sources:
http://faculty.ed.uiuc.edu/g-cziko/wm/14.html#Heading2
http://threes.com/cms/images/stories/food/big-mac-extra-value-meal.jpg
http://ntp0.ucd.ie/expertiseatucd/researchshowcase/racehorses/images/01_horses.jpg
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/au+naturel
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_selection
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin
http://library.thinkquest.org/C0118084/Gene/Genetic_variation/artificialselection.htm
HI RAVEN!
ReplyDeleteI really liked you blog on Artificial selection. I also liked how you started it, by grabbing the audience attention, with the burger and lettuce. I agree with what you said about how taking shortcuts and how you miss some steps and at the end its not the best. By artificial selecting plants and animals in third world counties, it does help our economy but it will kick us in the end. Your blog was short but you stated you opinion very well and how you think that it’s equally bad as designer babies. GOOD JOB! : D I am also going au naturel! Can’t wait for your next bio blog!
Hey Raven! I am back again to comment on your blog, but this time on a different subject. I especially love your beginnings. It is what always grabs my attention to come back and leave a few of my own opinions. Personally, what you said is very right. I do not think that it is good to try artificial selection. It;s not fair like in the beginning how you stated for a racehorse to run twice as fast as the others due to the fact that it has had its genes artificially selected. Your blog was short but you stated your opinions. I especially love the ending about how we should not take shortcuts and the going "au naturel." It's been said many times in most blogs. Artificial selection is something that we should not mess around with at all, unless we are doing it for a good cause, example helping endangered animals from becoming extinct. It's sad to look at what we were and what we have become. But anyways, I patiently await for your next blog so I can comment yet again. Good job! :)
ReplyDeleteGreat BLOG Raven!
ReplyDeleteI personally think it is morally wrong to artificially select the genes of animals as the outcomes of faster horses is easy money $$$. Humans are taking the shortcut in life and morally this is all wrong. Your McDonalds topic was pretty good too, when I thought about it, I was pretty grossed out by it. Artificial selection can be used in "down and out" countries and states such as the quickly improving New Orleans, and especially Haiti. It can be used for trees and healthy crops and foods. We are not 100% sure all this is safe, and although we save time and money, it is morally wrong and going the natural way is always the good and safe way.
Hey Raven,
ReplyDeleteI really want to eat the Big Mac even if its artificially selected and processed. Yum. Artificial selection has indeed improved ones quality of life by speeding up the process of growing crops and cows that produce more milk. It is a shortcut that has many advantages but with advantages there are also disadvantages. There are so many new things humans have created because of artificial selection such as killer bees (made from breeding two different types of bees to produce more honey).
Awesome blog post that really grabbed my attention~
-Jenny
Hey Ravyyyy!
ReplyDeleteGreat blog, I love you and your strong opinions of everything! I can just picture you arguing about this and saying everything you said in your 3rd paragraph aloud. I toally agree with you on how this issue is very similar to that of designer babies. I think it would be very strange for someone to be for one idea but against the other, they are almost the same issue. You have a geat point that if we could make due just fine years before all of this artifical nonsense why can't we keep it up now? I agree but I can easily see the other side of the arguement, however, I'm still hanging on this side! I don't think anyone will change my mind any time soon!
Hey Raven
ReplyDeleteI think you blog is great you strongly protayed your opnion and supported it. I agree completely when u mentioned short cuts its wrong and wont benefit us in the end. I agree with all your advantages and disadvantages. Yet i dont think its right to use undeveloped countries for the artifical selection process although it could create money and support the economy. I also liked your opening it made me hungery but kept me reading over you did a great job :D
Dear Raven Mason,
ReplyDeleteI would like to congratulate you on another well written blog! I completley agree with your opinion on designer babies. Having a child is a great natural process and it should stay that way. It doesn't make sense that humans would go as far as altering their very genes just to become prettier or more athletic.
If this proccess does happen to pull through in the near future it would completly change the way in which we live our lives. Good old fashion hard work would not exisit. Due to the break through in science one simple process will allow human beings to excel at everything without having to lift a finger! It blows my mind too Raven!
RAV!
ReplyDeleteEw, thanks to you I'm not going to be eating McDonald's in a while.. A cow thats artificially modified and food that was created in a lab? The thought is just disturbing. When I go out to eat I like food. The irony behind choosing natural over artificial is that you don't know what is truly natural anymore. Think about organic fruits and vegetables. They say they are grown and picked organically but how do you know they were not genetically modified before they were planted in the earth? It's hard to tell nowadays and though I love the easy way to many things, I disagree with artificial selection. Nature is a gift to us and not only are we polluting it everyday due to our carelessness, we are also 'artificially' modifying everything. It is unfortunate even though it has been beneficial along the lines somewhere. Nonetheless, good job on your blog and keep the good work up!
*I like to eat REAL food.
ReplyDeleteHey Raven.
ReplyDeleteI thought the same thing, about how this topic was very similar to designer babies. It's basically us humans, altering the genes of future offsprings, whether it be a pig or a human, to have desirable traits. Designer babies is a lot more personal,and won't end world hunger, but at the same time it doesn't make artificial selection better. Though it's hard to determine whether it is "good" or "bad", we can see that artificial selection has a lot of disadvantages. We're putting an organism's life at risk, for our own benefits. This whole "eliminating the weak", is totally Hitler's idea. And just that alone tells us that it is a bad idea.
Now as much as I think artificial selection is a bad idea, I still think that artificial food tastes better than the healthy stuff. McDonalds all the way! ;)
Hey Raven!
ReplyDeleteI must admit! Your blog was intense!
Great job! :) I specifically liked how you started off your blog. You really grabbed my attention and kind of made me think twice about my own opinion towards Artificial Selection. In regards to your race horse comment, it truly isn't fair that- not only are horses being bet on and abused, but their genes are being 'altered' in order to make them more efficient. Hoe cruel is that! Like I mentioned in my own blog, I strongly believe that God made everything on this earth, the way it is, for a reason and we shouldn't be the ones to mess around with it! After reading your blog, I find myself leaning more towards the Anti- Artificial Selection side, but at the same time, it has done 'some' positive work to humans!
Once again, great job! Loved your points and examples used!
Ttyl :)
Hey Buddy,
ReplyDeleteAs humans we have been able to utilize the wonders of science to enhance our daily lives. Arificial selection is just another example. I see that you strongly disagree with the whole process of artifical selection, however when you come to think of it, it is very advantageous. We are able to get more milk from cows and plants can be more disease resistant. I don’t see artifical selection being in any way similar to designer babies. Designer babies is the alteration of genes to fit a humans ideal child. Aritifical selection is a way to enhance the offspring by mating two parents with good genes. It seems like a more natural approach and it is more beneficial.