Doudna wants to “democratize” CRISPR, as she puts it. But whatever her perspective, it doesn’t really matter, because genetic engineering will inevitably follow a path similar to computing where it becomes easier and easier, cheaper and cheaper, and more and more accessible to more and more people over time.
Doudna and other technical experts appear to still be laboring under the illusion that they will remain in control of this process, which is why they continually reference governing bodies and so on. My reply to that is, tell it to the North Korean regime.
Even if we rule out evil doers, which we can not do, the fact still remains that over some period of time literally millions of people will be fiddling with technologies like CRISPR and whatever is to come next. There are already CRISPR kits on Amazon, and bio-hacking groups of amateurs on Reddit. Only God knows what such amateurs will be releasing in to the environment. Yes, genetic change in the natural world is a given, but never before at such a pace.
Yes, it was the IGI Facebook page where I invested a month attempting to engage. Yes, Doudna does make the points you’ve credited to her, agreed. But none of that really matters, because the technical experts are rapidly losing control of the genie they have let out of the bottle. I see their talk of governance systems etc as basically a way to pacify the public while this technology continues it’s rapid march past the point of no return.
Please feel free to rip any of this to shreds. I have strong views, that’s true, but I’m also very receptive to challenge.
My real concern is not genetic engineering in particular so much as it is the ever accelerating knowledge explosion as a whole.
Let’s say you’re right, and biosecurity is close to impossible to control and is almost certainly going to destroy us all. Doesn’t that just make it even more urgent to work on it?
Hi again Tessa,
Doudna wants to “democratize” CRISPR, as she puts it. But whatever her perspective, it doesn’t really matter, because genetic engineering will inevitably follow a path similar to computing where it becomes easier and easier, cheaper and cheaper, and more and more accessible to more and more people over time.
Doudna and other technical experts appear to still be laboring under the illusion that they will remain in control of this process, which is why they continually reference governing bodies and so on. My reply to that is, tell it to the North Korean regime.
Even if we rule out evil doers, which we can not do, the fact still remains that over some period of time literally millions of people will be fiddling with technologies like CRISPR and whatever is to come next. There are already CRISPR kits on Amazon, and bio-hacking groups of amateurs on Reddit. Only God knows what such amateurs will be releasing in to the environment. Yes, genetic change in the natural world is a given, but never before at such a pace.
Yes, it was the IGI Facebook page where I invested a month attempting to engage. Yes, Doudna does make the points you’ve credited to her, agreed. But none of that really matters, because the technical experts are rapidly losing control of the genie they have let out of the bottle. I see their talk of governance systems etc as basically a way to pacify the public while this technology continues it’s rapid march past the point of no return.
Please feel free to rip any of this to shreds. I have strong views, that’s true, but I’m also very receptive to challenge.
My real concern is not genetic engineering in particular so much as it is the ever accelerating knowledge explosion as a whole.
Let’s say you’re right, and biosecurity is close to impossible to control and is almost certainly going to destroy us all. Doesn’t that just make it even more urgent to work on it?