Paul Root Wolpe: It's time to question bio-engineering

http://www.ted.com At TEDxPeachtree, bioethicist Paul Root Wolpe describes an astonishing series of recent bio-engineering experiments, from hybrid pets to mice that grow human ears. He asks: isn't it time to set some ground rules?

TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate.

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  Science & Technology

[tyotypic]

Hmm, I didn't get that at all. To me, it was more "this is what we can do, maybe we should talk about that."

[hmspinaforethisisspa]

I'm sorry, but this whole entire presentation just screams "emotional blackmail". Nobody seemed to be too upset when we first bio-engineered bacteria to produce human insulin for diabetics back in the 1930s.

[dianna83301]

there is a big difference between insulin to help someone compared to creating a species. Ethical choices come in to play. There is a fine line concerning this and equal amount of crazy scientist compared to those in general population. I suppose you think it is ok to reproduce a tyrannosaurus rex, what exactly will we do with that? If they haven't already. hmsspin... "emotional blackmail" warrants no consideration of a truth.

[RockSolid853]

We don't need to exploit and abuse animals for medicine,technology or whatever.

There is always another way, the easiest thing is to use the helpless. I'm not against medicine and technology but these are just short-cuts. There are No free meals.

There is energy and there is karma you can believe it or not,but you really don't want to mess with it. love to all,and may we stop before it's to late.

[HighWarlordJC]

You accidentally a thought.

[divisor plot]

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[Moe Zart]

lol, how do you come to the idea that nature is perfect?

[BandAidsPENNYLANE]

Messing with nature, something that is already perfect. This spells trouble.

[Linda McCurdy]

I Really don't like this Jake I don't want to see any glow in the dark people at all...On the other hand I did buy those geneclty glow in the dark fish

[kazekakashi12]

the question is if another creature was in our position wouldn't they do it?

[VivAtreyu]

Ok this is just sick. Controlling other animals with a controller. It may be cute to use it to control a mice, but looking at the history of mankind we learn that every great invention can be used in an horrific way. The weapon was first designed to kill animals easier to get more food. Now we are using weapons to kill thousands of people every year. If fear that what may happen with that primitive mind control device is something similar showed in the movie Gamer. That would be terrible.

[anErnazure]

Looks to me like you just put words in someone else's mouth. What I got from what Suvi M's comments was "We should make sure we understand the implications and consequences of what we do." That is vastly different from "It's too dangerous, don't touch it!"

In any case, I find that "full steam ahead" usually causes problems later. There are a great many things that should be allowed to develop with out being rushed.