in the local paper.
‘ ...Milner’s experiments at Delian
University have incited widespread interest and contention in the
scientific and private communities.
‘ One of her main opponents, Josh Hall,
has started an intensive campaign to have federal funding for
Milner’s experiments canceled, claiming that it is not the place of
the government to subsidize “evil and subhuman
experiments.”
‘ He further stated that the technology
of the geneticists was running unchecked and that the molecular
eugenics programs should be halted immediately for fear of the
creation of new and possibly dangerous life forms.
‘“ I am not a geneticist,” Hall
declared, “For which I thank Almighty God. What Miss Milner is
doing is both scientifically and morally reprehensible and
irresponsible. She is tampering with the very foundation of God’s
work and should be reprimanded harshly if not expelled outright
from the university.”
‘ Mr. Hall claims to have attempted to
set up a meeting with the university’s board of trustees, but
without success. Barring any meeting, he says, he plans to take his
case to the halls of congress with intensive demonstrations,
marches, and furious lobbying.’
Robin Grant, an up and coming reporter,
had done the first few articles on Ingrid’s work. She had met him
once and decided he was one of the few people on her
side.
Their meeting was the result of his
wanting to interview her after the second article he had written.
Ingrid told him firmly that she could not be interviewed. She had
already stepped on too many toes, -not that she gave a shit what
Josh Hall thought- but she was afraid the university would suffer.
She actually had given him the interview, but insisted it not be
printed until the uproar had died down. Grant had decided to let
the matter rest and for that Ingrid could have swooned at his feet.
He did print an editorial (without using anything Ingrid had told
him), and it was thoughtful and fair.
What is Molecular
Eugenics?
Suppose as in this very
room in which I’m writing, someone walked in and said “I have the
cure for every disease known to man.” What would you think?
Assuming you knew the person not to be a verifiable crackpot, you
might be tempted to listen.
This, the eradication of
disease, is one of the aims of molecular eugenics. It is not the
only aim by any means. Some are noble, some are silly, some are
terrifying.
Molecular Eugenics (ME) is
the process of enhancing favorable traits among genes at the
molecular level, and reducing or eradicating harmful or unfavorable
traits.
The list of congenital diseases is of a staggering length.
Even predisposition to ailments, as opposed to the actual ailment
itself, are programmed into each human’s genetic makeup. The prime
objective of ME is to eliminate defective genes, thus avoiding birth
defects ranging from a harelip to a gangrenous condition known as
Noma, a genetic disease that causes an erosion of the lining of the
cheeks and nasal passages.
ME can be used to provide
immunity from disease. Within white blood cells known as plasma
cells are bodies known as a ribosomes. Within the ribosomes are
strands of genetic material called RNA. The RNA contains messages
in chemical form called codons. Each codon is an order to the
ribosomes to construct a specific amino acid. If an RNA strand
could be encoded with the codons for the manufacture of a specific
antibody, the ribosomes could construct the prescribed antibody to
a specific disease, without the cell having ever been exposed to
the actual disease. There is virtually no limit to the number of
proteins and antigens that can be synthesized, if only their actual
chemical composition were known. The process of introducing these
antibody producing traits, as well as other traits, onto a
chromosome is known as genetic recombination.
On the converse side of the
coin is the very real threat that ME could be used to create life
forms that are dangerous in
‘ ...Milner’s experiments at Delian
University have incited widespread interest and contention in the
scientific and private communities.
‘ One of her main opponents, Josh Hall,
has started an intensive campaign to have federal funding for
Milner’s experiments canceled, claiming that it is not the place of
the government to subsidize “evil and subhuman
experiments.”
‘ He further stated that the technology
of the geneticists was running unchecked and that the molecular
eugenics programs should be halted immediately for fear of the
creation of new and possibly dangerous life forms.
‘“ I am not a geneticist,” Hall
declared, “For which I thank Almighty God. What Miss Milner is
doing is both scientifically and morally reprehensible and
irresponsible. She is tampering with the very foundation of God’s
work and should be reprimanded harshly if not expelled outright
from the university.”
‘ Mr. Hall claims to have attempted to
set up a meeting with the university’s board of trustees, but
without success. Barring any meeting, he says, he plans to take his
case to the halls of congress with intensive demonstrations,
marches, and furious lobbying.’
Robin Grant, an up and coming reporter,
had done the first few articles on Ingrid’s work. She had met him
once and decided he was one of the few people on her
side.
Their meeting was the result of his
wanting to interview her after the second article he had written.
Ingrid told him firmly that she could not be interviewed. She had
already stepped on too many toes, -not that she gave a shit what
Josh Hall thought- but she was afraid the university would suffer.
She actually had given him the interview, but insisted it not be
printed until the uproar had died down. Grant had decided to let
the matter rest and for that Ingrid could have swooned at his feet.
He did print an editorial (without using anything Ingrid had told
him), and it was thoughtful and fair.
What is Molecular
Eugenics?
Suppose as in this very
room in which I’m writing, someone walked in and said “I have the
cure for every disease known to man.” What would you think?
Assuming you knew the person not to be a verifiable crackpot, you
might be tempted to listen.
This, the eradication of
disease, is one of the aims of molecular eugenics. It is not the
only aim by any means. Some are noble, some are silly, some are
terrifying.
Molecular Eugenics (ME) is
the process of enhancing favorable traits among genes at the
molecular level, and reducing or eradicating harmful or unfavorable
traits.
The list of congenital diseases is of a staggering length.
Even predisposition to ailments, as opposed to the actual ailment
itself, are programmed into each human’s genetic makeup. The prime
objective of ME is to eliminate defective genes, thus avoiding birth
defects ranging from a harelip to a gangrenous condition known as
Noma, a genetic disease that causes an erosion of the lining of the
cheeks and nasal passages.
ME can be used to provide
immunity from disease. Within white blood cells known as plasma
cells are bodies known as a ribosomes. Within the ribosomes are
strands of genetic material called RNA. The RNA contains messages
in chemical form called codons. Each codon is an order to the
ribosomes to construct a specific amino acid. If an RNA strand
could be encoded with the codons for the manufacture of a specific
antibody, the ribosomes could construct the prescribed antibody to
a specific disease, without the cell having ever been exposed to
the actual disease. There is virtually no limit to the number of
proteins and antigens that can be synthesized, if only their actual
chemical composition were known. The process of introducing these
antibody producing traits, as well as other traits, onto a
chromosome is known as genetic recombination.
On the converse side of the
coin is the very real threat that ME could be used to create life
forms that are dangerous in
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