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Why aren't we hearing about genetic engineering anymore?

Last posted Feb 09, 2015 at 10:29PM EST. Added Feb 07, 2015 at 04:34PM EST
15 posts from 13 users

How come genetic engineering isn't being talked about as much as other new sciences?
Also how come there wasn't a boom in the technology as other technologies experienced?

Last edited Feb 07, 2015 at 04:35PM EST

"CUZ IT'S UN-NATURAL AND SATANIK AND MAKES JESUS CRY!!!1!"

Nah, but seriously tho, probably because it's considered err.. controversial in some places. Which I could see, if it was like this Moreau-esque dude on an island creating an army of evil tiger-people, but it's not.

It's just like "Hey, we made this plant that grows better in wint-"

"SATAAAAAAAAAN!"

"But it'll help feed millions of hungry pe-"

"HERETIC! THAT'S JUST WHAT SATAN WANTS YOU TO THINK!"

Last edited Feb 07, 2015 at 05:17PM EST

Did you hear about the UK allowing a new type of genetic engineering to let people prevent mitochondrial diseases in their children by using the mitochondria of a third 'parent'?

There's still tons of discussion going on and advancements being made, I wish it was more publicized too because I think it's awesome.

On the contrary, if you're taking a degree in medicine then you should know that genetic engineering is still a hot topic being discuss about in the community. I think it's just not as highlighted in media as it was back then.

They were actually just talking about altering the genetic traits of children on The Nightly Show last week so it's still somewhat of a current issue. It mostly just gets major press when something goes right (a new discovery is made) or something goes wrong (Monsanto releases a GM crop unintentionally).

My guess is 'cause after that whole "genetically modified" food thing everyone got all up about a while back, the people who actually do modify things just keep it more closed so nobody protests or something

Spirit Coyote wrote:

My guess is 'cause after that whole "genetically modified" food thing everyone got all up about a while back, the people who actually do modify things just keep it more closed so nobody protests or something

Its funny how people care about slightly modified crops, and we should be careful when genetically modifying plants, but noone bats an eye to the various human animal hybrids created.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2017818/Embryos-involving-genes-animals-mixed-humans-produced-secretively-past-years.html

Because it's not the Hollywood technononsense people expect. When most people hear "genetic engineering," they think super soldiers with tyrannosaurus scales all over their bodies or wings on their backs or something like that, but the truth is that real genetic engineering isn't nearly as glamorous.

Accuse the media of corruption or conspiracy all you want, but the only thing that can be said definitively is that news corporations report what gets them viewers and profits. Most people don't have the intellect or opinion spans to know or care about things like politics or science unless it directly affects them, so when there's nothing exciting to report, newscasters will take an otherwise-boring subject (such as genetic engineering) and exaggerate it to absurd levels, claiming it's poisoning our children or some other bullshit.

But the reality of genetic engineering is that it's mostly just crossbreeding some variety of corn with some variety of wheat, or something similar. It's just not the kind of stuff that will get viewers, so after the initial panic died down it stopped getting reported on.

@Kitsune

Its funny how people care about slightly modified crops, and we should be careful when genetically modifying plants, but noone bats an eye to the various human animal hybrids created.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2017818/Embryos-involving-genes-animals-mixed-humans-produced-secretively-past-years.html

The Daily Mail is a tabloid, and 99.99% of what they print is complete bullshit. If anything, the Daily Mail reporting on something is practically proof it never actually happened.

Snickerway wrote:

Because it's not the Hollywood technononsense people expect. When most people hear "genetic engineering," they think super soldiers with tyrannosaurus scales all over their bodies or wings on their backs or something like that, but the truth is that real genetic engineering isn't nearly as glamorous.

Accuse the media of corruption or conspiracy all you want, but the only thing that can be said definitively is that news corporations report what gets them viewers and profits. Most people don't have the intellect or opinion spans to know or care about things like politics or science unless it directly affects them, so when there's nothing exciting to report, newscasters will take an otherwise-boring subject (such as genetic engineering) and exaggerate it to absurd levels, claiming it's poisoning our children or some other bullshit.

But the reality of genetic engineering is that it's mostly just crossbreeding some variety of corn with some variety of wheat, or something similar. It's just not the kind of stuff that will get viewers, so after the initial panic died down it stopped getting reported on.

@Kitsune

Its funny how people care about slightly modified crops, and we should be careful when genetically modifying plants, but noone bats an eye to the various human animal hybrids created.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2017818/Embryos-involving-genes-animals-mixed-humans-produced-secretively-past-years.html

The Daily Mail is a tabloid, and 99.99% of what they print is complete bullshit. If anything, the Daily Mail reporting on something is practically proof it never actually happened.

Thanks for pointing that out, also can you link me to any reliable news sources?

Skeletor-sm

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