Redesigning Humans: Is It Inevitable?
Airing on
Probe Radio
July
19-23 |
Dr. Ray Bohlin — There is a general unease in the wind. People are a little
squeamish concerning the coming revolution in biotechnology. There
is a sort of stand-offish fascination where we wonder at the
possibilities for curing genetic diseases and even for making
ourselves smarter, prettier, or stronger. Yet we shrink from the
potential horror of the world we might create for ourselves with no
hope of turning back.
We have faced such forks in the road before. Every new technology
has presented fantastic benefits and uncertain costs. Gunpowder,
electricity, the combustion engine, atomic energy, etc., have all
offered tantalizing either/or tensions. Some of these tensions we
still live with, such as the threat of nuclear weapons and
encroaching pollution from combustion engines.
But for the most part we have been able to develop a stable
coexistence between the potential for good and the potential for evil.
Weapons have become more precise, minimizing unnecessary collateral
casualties, the combustion engine has become cleaner and more
efficient, and atomic weapons so far have been remarkably
harnessed.
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| MEET THE AUTHOR |
DR. RAY BOHLIN
"The church in America remains largely unaware of the developing genetic technologies. We are also ill-equipped to deal with monumental ethical considerations that these technologies will bring. Fortunately the furor over human cloning has largely died down. Apparently, cloning humans is much more difficult than previously thought. Not so genetic technologies. That race is still on."
Ray is president of Probe Ministries. He earned his B.S. in Zoology from the University of Illinois, an M.S. in population genetics from the University of North Texas, and his Ph.D. in molecular biology from the University of Texas at Dallas. Passionate about Intelligent Design, Ray is a research fellow with the Discovery Institute. He and his wife Sue have served at Probe for 35 years, the longest of all active staff.

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Related Articles:
Can Humans Be Cloned Like Sheep?
A scientist trained in cloning techniques, Ray looks at the cloning of Dolly the sheep from a Christian perspective, examining the value of cloning in general and humans in particular.
Putting the Brakes on Human Genetic Engineering
Michael Gleghorn argues that a biblical view of man should impact how reproductive technology and genetic engineering are applied to humanity.
Human Genome Project
Ray takes a brief look at the accomplishment, purpose and consequence of the Human Genome Project.
Probe Answers Your Questions:
"At What Stage of a Pregnancy is a Fetus Able to be Genetically Engineered?"
"Cloning Could Help So Many People!"
"Is Cloning Inherntly Evil?"
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