Creating a new species, hasn't science fictions been there before?

Question

They say they can use any mammals DNA. To me that is worse. Crossing plant and animal DNA.

Answer 1

I am worried by Genetically Modified Organisms but not for religious or science-fiction reasons; I am worried for scientific reasons.

My worry is based upon experience with natural alien species (for example rhododendrons have become a nuisance in UK woodlands and accidental introductions of rats have caused environmental disasters in many parts of the world). Surely the even more alien organisms achieved by genetic manipulation could be greatly more damaging.

The creators of GMOs often think they may be doing some good for humanity but can not know what devastation the unintended consequences might cause. And generally the intended consequences are merely means by which humanity can exploit the environment even more greedily.

It is greed that is causing the growing shortage of fossil fuels and it is greed that is damaging the environment. Efforts to solve these problems without curbing our greed run the risk of doing more harm than good and none more so than genetic manipulation.

The fact that GMO crops can be more damaging to the environment than other crops has already been demonstrated by tests commissioned by the UK Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs. But even so Defra is not showing as much concern about the issue as it should and the general public needs to maintain pressure.

I am glad you have recognised that there is something wrong with GMO technology and that consumers in the UK are boycotting foods containing GMOs.

Answer 2

I guess, it's no longer science fiction.  I am sure in some scientist's basement, there is a cloned human.

Answer 3

I don't worry nearly as much about the large animals & plants being geneticaly altered as I do simple things like bacteria & the virus.  As we learn more about genes & what each switch in a gene turns on, turns off, enables or suppresses, then we will be able to alter genes within other species to perform diifferent tasks or even build a different fertile species. Gene splicing is a rather crude process fraught with hit & miss experiments.

When we can plug in all the differing 4 bases to build new genes & new species, then we will have reached the apex of genetic science.

Answer 4

At first glance, taking my love of all God's creatures into consideration, this seems a somewhat plausible solution to an overwhelming problem.  Since I didn't know much about this study I decided that the best place to start informing myself about this latest attempt to scientifically alter the  poplar tree with genes of the prolific rabbit seemed interesting, so I did a search which came up with an article you can read at this URL. http://www.nhne.org/news/NewsArticlesArc...

While the experiment is still years away from being implemented outside of the testing environment, we face the much larger problem of genetically altered vegetation that may do more harm than good if allowed to be tested in the field.  The situation involves these altered trees having an undesired effect on other vegetation around them and causing more damage than they're worth.  Poplars are already  a natural pollutant plant but the genetically altered poplar will be able to "speed up" the process in mind boggling percentages in saplings alone!  One must think of the total effect on our environment before we let these trees loose to mutate when and where we do not wish them to.

Along with these concerns is the fate of the rabbit.  Are these genes culled from rabbits who can live through the harvesting, have died of natural causes or must they be killed in order to supplement the tree?  Mixing animal and vegetable seems a bit too weird and probably unnecessary to me, especially when the poplar has these attributes to begin with.  Scientists simply haven't come up with another formula using the existing enzyme.

You have to wonder if yielding to the obvious good such experimentation offers as a remedy to pollutants won't create an unbalanced Eco-system and put humans at risk for who knows what.  I have a vision of the lowly poplar growing huge pods and when I walk by one, will suck me up into it to cleanse my body of the pollutants my body has absorbed through the years!!!!  There must have been a B-class movie about this done in the 50's that I've forgotten and prefer it to remain so.  Good Grief!

Answer 5

evolution was the first with making new species

billions of years a go

Answer 6

Perhaps you read or watch too much sci-fi.  Those bacteria that help clean oil spills have a natural ability to do that.  Science enhanced that ability.  

All plants can help clean the air.  Some better than others.  Again, the trait is already there.  Science just enhances it.  

No tree has rabbit DNA in it.  That is illogical and just flat cant be done.

The only thing I see wrong is your misunderstanding and lack of knowledge on the topic.

Answer 7

good grief  . With rabbit dna we may be in trouble..lol Where have you been ? are you OK?  If a ? apears near the time on your computor dont touch it willknock out you anti virus. It took shaw secure 3 hours to clean it out with 3 scans  A popup may apear ofering free scans . touch it and by by  computor. Shaw is geting lots of calls . not sure if  it is the states yet

Answer 8

before i explain my thoughts I'm just going to warn you, i believe that animals and plant life should come before humans. think about it, if they do this, the animal DNA will eventually evolve and in I don't know in 2100 (if trees last that long) trees will be able to fight back against humans and defend themselves from being cut down.