Forgive me for this further critique but shooting fish in a barrel can be delightful.
The ever vigilant Awake (June 8,2001) warns about increasing lifespan causing old people to become "weaker and weaker"(pg.9) Well, over at Yahoo Science News(Reuters)is a recent headline "Big Drop Seen in Disability Among Older Americans" - the article notes that people are not just living longer but also "living better".
Then there's genetic research which some people are apparently scared of (Awake pg.8). Again, a recent Yahoo Science News Headline (May 5) "World's First Genetically Altered Babies Born" - they combined two human eggs from different donors to create a viable embryo, to help infertile women. One child is already 4 years old and has , in effect, two mothers.
I love it Science is moving so fast The poor tired old gerontocrats can't keep up. Why, they could just wake up one day and find themselves obsolete!
One day, i hope to have myself cloned, so my beautiful brain doesn't go to waste. of course, i'd teach my cloned self everything i know, and tell him what to do when he feels bad to make himself feel better. heheheee. i'm having fun thinking of the possibilities. When i'm middle-aged ( about 80 ), i'll be cryogenically frozen so that i can experience the future.
I'm interested to note that Bethel hasn't taken a clear position on genetic modification yet, simply noting that there are problems as well as benefits. Perhpas they're learning from their past junk science. This site is always worth a read: http://www.junkscience.com/
The "American Seniors living longer and better" article was reported on CNN.com today as well.
Just a comment on the Genetically modified embryo process that has widely misreported. The child doesn't have 2 mothers. The genetic material contained in the chromosomes in the cell nuclei comes from the parents as with all of us humans. What is done in this new fertility treatment means that some organelles present, mitochondria to be precise, are from a third donor. These organelles contain their own DNA that creates new mitochondria when the host cell divides. Mitochodrial DNA is not part of the human genome. These orgenelles are the decendants of free living bacteria that took up a symbiotic relationship with the larger cells that most multicelluar life is based on a billion years ago or more.
While some may feel that this is too much interference in genetic engineering the mitochondria from a third donor is not much different to any other human mitochondria and for that matter other animal species either.
Thirdson
'To avoid criticism, say nothing, do nothing, be nothing'
