Genetic Technology.

[USAlex]

Genetic Technology. No question mark on that, because it's already here. But: Should there be world wide rules? What should be their extent? How can we promote science and health, without sacrificing ethics?

[Indonesia]

You could always connect both science/health and ethics. At least it's philosophical... there's always a connection to everything.

[UK]

Genetic technology should probably only be used for the better of the people who are already alive, in my opinion. For example, with it illnesses like diabetes could be (almost) completely eradicated.

Stem cells are a big no-no in my opinion, mainly because of my ethics. Creating a new baby because you're first one is terminally ill and needs stem cells similar to its? What happens to the new baby or will it just be a living medicine booth for the ill child?

World-wide rules should definitely be instilled. I'm just thinking of voluntary euthanasia in Britain, where most people go abroad to Switzerland so they can die, because Switzerland allows euthanasia. Worldwide rules could help to keep people in their countries and hopefully keeps the raging debates down if the world has the same rules.

Cloning?

[USAlex]

UK. About the Stem Cells. Such a problem is now happily null and void! Scientists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (USA), in collaboration with scientists in Japan, found a way to take normal cells, like skin cells, and revert them back to stem cells! This was a while back, I think...but didn't get as much press as it should have.

;D

Ah, and I completely agree about World-Wide rules. Otherwise there is almost no point to creating rules in just one nation.

...

Cloning. Hm. Depends on what exactly the situation is. Although, I see no ethics problem inherent in cloning itself, as a process. It's just like twins. However, currently our understanding of how to do cloning isn't perfect, and often the clones die young (I'm talking about animal clones here). So it would be unethical to do any such thing with humans until the process is better mastered.

Genetic modification and Cloning of plants, animals, etc...? Sure, why not, if the science is sound? It has the potential to do great good for areas where food is low. (ex: genetically modified rice which gives a larger and faster growing crop, which is put to use in such areas).

[Indonesia]

cloning... just asking but is it going to be 'artificial meat' then and not... organic?

[USAlex]

I guess people would be able to choose. Having such technology would certainly be useful though.