The key thing about this project is that they aren’t trying to piece together some sort of ideal set of genes into a “flawless” set to present as a key to identify deviations from that set.
In contrast, the human pangenome reference contains nearly full genomic data from 47 people, representing different populations globally. This accounts for 94 human genomes, since each person carries two copies, one from each parent.
I’m unclear if they even exercised any discrimination in the selection of these individuals, or if they’re just a random sampling from their respective populations. The intent of the project seems to be pretty much a continuation of the original human genome project and an attempt to more completely document genes and their various expressions.
To be clear, I’m not ideologically opposed to genetic manipulation or even some degree of genetic engineering. I’m against establishing or enshrining a particular set of genes as any kind of baseline or default, that is where eugenics lies.
I agree, there should not be an enshrined or particular set of genes that are the default or marked as the perfect genes. I linked the article because I felt it was saying better than what I was trying to convey.
Fuck this reminds me of Gattaca, where your worth and standing in society is not determined by your skills, experience, drive or any character qualities and capabilities that shows your merit, but where everyone is judged basically by how pure their genes are.
But this topic is very intriguing to me since I see so many possibilities of helping advance humankind, but I am also starting to see the dark horror that this might unleash. Luckily I am not in genetics or any field near it, but I enjoyed dipping my toes and discussing some ideas with all of you. I feel like the real scientists and organisations involved in genome research and stuff have way better controls and understanding of the possible pitfalls or dangers and are doing work in these fields and I hope my current blind trust in these institutions won’t backfire or lead to a dystopian future
The key thing about this project is that they aren’t trying to piece together some sort of ideal set of genes into a “flawless” set to present as a key to identify deviations from that set.
I’m unclear if they even exercised any discrimination in the selection of these individuals, or if they’re just a random sampling from their respective populations. The intent of the project seems to be pretty much a continuation of the original human genome project and an attempt to more completely document genes and their various expressions.
To be clear, I’m not ideologically opposed to genetic manipulation or even some degree of genetic engineering. I’m against establishing or enshrining a particular set of genes as any kind of baseline or default, that is where eugenics lies.
I agree, there should not be an enshrined or particular set of genes that are the default or marked as the perfect genes. I linked the article because I felt it was saying better than what I was trying to convey.
Fuck this reminds me of Gattaca, where your worth and standing in society is not determined by your skills, experience, drive or any character qualities and capabilities that shows your merit, but where everyone is judged basically by how pure their genes are.
But this topic is very intriguing to me since I see so many possibilities of helping advance humankind, but I am also starting to see the dark horror that this might unleash. Luckily I am not in genetics or any field near it, but I enjoyed dipping my toes and discussing some ideas with all of you. I feel like the real scientists and organisations involved in genome research and stuff have way better controls and understanding of the possible pitfalls or dangers and are doing work in these fields and I hope my current blind trust in these institutions won’t backfire or lead to a dystopian future