http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2010/09/19/mastering_our_own_evolution/?page=1
The human being is a truly awesome creature. We humans always seem to be gaining more and more power over ourselves and the world.
In this article, author Anthony Doerr looks at two books on the subject of human evolution. The first, called Designer Genes by Steven Potter, examines the fast-approaching possibility of genetic manipulation, through which parents will be able to choose the child they want: “a well-to-do couple hoping to have a child could potentially create tens of thousands of embryos. Screen them all, select the strongest, smartest, prettiest, and – bingo – designer children.”
The ability to literally pick and choose the DNA of your child is still science fiction to me. But it appears inevitable, and also incredible: in the book, Potter writes, “For the first time in the history of the planet, we now have a species able to control its own evolution.” In the article, Doerr keeps it short and sweet. The topic is engaging enough on its own. He asks questions to get the reader thinking, envisions the future, and ends paragraphs on very interesting notes. Nicely written, I think.
The second book is called Almost Chimpanzee, written by Jon Cohen. It’s not as interesting as the first, but Doerr takes a cool quote from there to end the article: “Humans will determine the fate of chimpanzees. Chimpanzees of course will have no say in the fate of humans. And that may be the single most conspicuous difference between the two species.” Will/when will the consequences of human potential ever/finally betray us?
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