A question I often get during presentations is what trends worry or scare me. I usually include genetic engineering in my answer.
There are all sorts of amazingly positive things happening in the genetic engineering field.
Examples include improved crops, cures for diseases, new fuels - the list goes on an on.
But genetic engineering is a field where scientific advancements are happening at a very fast rate.
So fast it's outpacing our ability as a society to think through the implications - good and bad - of what the science is capable of doing.
A good example is designer babies. According to a recent article in PSFK:
"23andMe, a company that analyzes customers’ DNA and provides info about their health and ancestry, has recently received a U.S. patent for a system that can help future parents choose the traits they want for their would-be children."
The traits mentioned in the patent include height, weight, hair color, risks of congenital heart defects, estimated life span, etc.
Despite this patent, designer babies in meaningful numbers are still years away. I think my grandchildren (my kids are young adults) will likely be the last natural born generation. After them, I think future generations will be genetically engineered at some level.
This holds great promise - imagine a world where genetic diseases and disorders have been eliminated. But it also really scares me because I'm not sure we're ready for this much control over our specie's genetic destiny.
The picture is from a related article on GMO Babies.