DIY DNA

Scott Hardie | March 5, 2020
What do you think of people editing their own genes at home? Would you do it if it was safe and effective?

Scott Hardie | July 8, 2020
I lost track of this after asking, but the subject still interests me.

I am wary of technology with such vast potential for harm being in the hands of idiots who don't know how to use it safely. We routinely botch body modification as it is, so I can only imagine the potential for harm when editing each other's DNA.

But on the other hand, wow, what amazing potential for good. We could fix so many of our problems, and so inexpensively! If it was definitely safe and definitely effective, I wouldn't hesitate to fix my own metabolism and the genetic contributors to my eating disorder, and that's only my biggest problems; I can think of many more.

When I used to play The Sims, I'd change up my Sims once in a while to give them new hairstyles and outfits, representing transitions in their little virtual lives like career changes or relationship changes. If I could go back to the create-a-Sim menu to change them on an even more fundamental level, like altering their personality or anatomy; I'd probably do that too. Having the option leads to thinking of justifications for using it. I imagine it would be much the same with home-based gene editing; it's possible that people might alter themselves as often as they change their hairstyle.

Samir Mehta | July 8, 2020
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