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Happened to flick onto the "Wright Stuff" today for 5 minutes and was absolutely staggered by what I heard. Matthew Wright tends to have a rather high opinion of himself generally, and as far as I can make out he has no real reason to do so, but the monologue he had obviously thought through and presented today on the topic of genetic research was pretty special.
Responding to a story in the press (I have a link to the Guardian's version below) concerning what is pretty groundbreaking research into prevention of serious genetic birth disorders he threw in the term "Frankenscientists", brought up the eugenics programme of the Nazi's (even manageing to have a picture of Hitler flash up on the screen) and generally riled - almost foaming at the mouth - at all the contributions of science in general - you know the atomic bomb etc.
Apparantly "only" 1 in 200 children could potentially benefit from this treatment (so in the UK that would be around 4000 per year - hardly worth bothering with).
In the space of the 10 minutes I watched, open mouthed, as he suggested that sick kids should just die because that was natural, and that if we didn't stop this then the next thing would be super soldiers and everyone would be ordering genetically modified designer babies, because let's face it that's what always happens when science makes any progress.
Have I lost touch with "the public"? This programme and Wright himself, sets itself up as a sounding board for "ordinary" people (he even managed, with help from the Terry Christian, to have a pop at the "genetic inbreds" who were currently being humiliated on ITV at the same time by Jeremy Kyle ). Is this really the case? Help me here, is it really that case that general public opinion comes anywhere near what this guy is spouting?
Even the Guardian's article - while balanced and factual - has the extremely misleading "three parents" in the title. I guess even the Guardian has to sell print.
www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/ ... ee-parents
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Happened to flick onto the "Wright Stuff" today for 5 minutes and was absolutely staggered by what I heard. Matthew Wright tends to have a rather high opinion of himself generally, and as far as I can make out he has no real reason to do so, but the monologue he had obviously thought through and presented today on the topic of genetic research was pretty special.
Responding to a story in the press (I have a link to the Guardian's version below) concerning what is pretty groundbreaking research into prevention of serious genetic birth disorders he threw in the term "Frankenscientists", brought up the eugenics programme of the Nazi's (even manageing to have a picture of Hitler flash up on the screen) and generally riled - almost foaming at the mouth - at all the contributions of science in general - you know the atomic bomb etc.
Apparantly "only" 1 in 200 children could potentially benefit from this treatment (so in the UK that would be around 4000 per year - hardly worth bothering with).
In the space of the 10 minutes I watched, open mouthed, as he suggested that sick kids should just die because that was natural, and that if we didn't stop this then the next thing would be super soldiers and everyone would be ordering genetically modified designer babies, because let's face it that's what always happens when science makes any progress.
Have I lost touch with "the public"? This programme and Wright himself, sets itself up as a sounding board for "ordinary" people (he even managed, with help from the Terry Christian, to have a pop at the "genetic inbreds" who were currently being humiliated on ITV at the same time by Jeremy Kyle ). Is this really the case? Help me here, is it really that case that general public opinion comes anywhere near what this guy is spouting?
Even the Guardian's article - while balanced and factual - has the extremely misleading "three parents" in the title. I guess even the Guardian has to sell print.
www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/ ... ee-parents
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| Wright like the sound of his own voice and has been watching far too much US talks show TV.
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| For a more balanced view, you should have watched Horizon the other night. Perhaps you did.
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| Quote ="Rock God X"For a more balanced view, you should have watched Horizon the other night. Perhaps you did.'"
Excellent programme, and probably the best counter argument to such sensationalist hype.
I used to enjoy The Wright Stuff years ago, but found his increasingly condescending attitude and ego masturbation a turn-off.
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| It's a light entertainment TV programme and all he's doing is putting up an argument to get some ratings. However, there is a serious issue there up for debate and on genetics I don't think we've really had any sort of in-depth discussion as to where this should go. I can't see how we can just dive into genetic research without establishing guidelines, processes, ethical responsiblities etc., about the issue.
Perhaps there's somebody on here who is involved in this area who can give us an insight as to what the issues are. I'm not skeptical about the case for genetics but I'm not that aware of the risks/dangers that need to be considered especially when you start getting into patents and the like. It's not dissimilar to the work that [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_VenterCraig Venter[/url does, in that is prompts question which require detailed discussion and resolution before it gets out of control.
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| I didn't know Matthew Wright, never heard of him, so I have just googled him.
Now I know that he was a columnist at the [iSun[/i, then a gossip columnist at the [iMirror[/i, then moved on to Channel 5.
And we are asking if he should be taken seriously?
I shall now revert to not knowing who he is.
Thank you.
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| Quote ="Cronus"icon_thumb.gif Excellent programme, and probably the best counter argument to such sensationalist hype.'"
Yeah, I thought they got the tone just right: on one hand lauding the sheer brilliance of the men and women who have made such remarkable advances, on the other highlighting the need for checks and balances to ensure that certain techniques aren't used inappropriately.
Quote ="Cronus"I used to enjoy The Wright Stuff years ago, but found his increasingly condescending attitude and ego masturbation a turn-off.'"
I've only ever watched him once, and that was more than enough.
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| Quote ="El Barbudo"I didn't know Matthew Wright, never heard of him, so I have just googled him...'"
Ditto.
Quote ="El Barbudo"Now I know that he was a columnist at the [iSun[/i, then a gossip columnist at the [iMirror[/i, then moved on to Channel 5.
And we are asking if he should be taken seriously?
I shall now revert to not knowing who he is.
Thank you.'"
And ditto that too.
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| Quote ="El Barbudo"I didn't know Matthew Wright, never heard of him, so I have just googled him.
Now I know that he was a columnist at the [iSun[/i, then a gossip columnist at the [iMirror[/i, then moved on to Channel 5.
And we are asking if he should be taken seriously?
I shall now revert to not knowing who he is.
Thank you.'"
I agree, but the show seems to be pitched at a more serious audience than Loose Women or Jeremy Kyle's pantomime. The guest list often includes serious medical people and commentators (although todays offering didn't). My question is really that if this is pitched at the brighter side of average Joe public, then have I really lost touch with what average Joe public believes?
In this case I was so wound up that I didn't wait to hear what the phone in view was (which I suspect is tightly controlled anyway) as I didn't want to have to buy a new tv without my foot in it.
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| Splitting the atom was a great scientific breakthrough but was used for evil purposes.
Scientists generally are egocentric obsessives who do not consider the greater good. They do their research and then someone else comes along and misuses it.
As to genetic research - someone, somewhere, sometime will create and ethnic "bomb" that will target a particular race by virtue of their specific genotype. Instant holocaust. Given that China will surge ahead of us technology soon and they are distinctly different to us, we ought to worry.
Anyway, moving up a level in thought, IMO science has achieved many short-term gains for humanity but I see it as a long-term tool for destruction. We seem to be entering a phase were we will increasngly rely on science to bail us out from the disasters caused by environmental degradation, which is itself the result of excessive population sustained by technological advance. Ultimately, as a species, we will at some point in the future realise it would have been better not to develop science as it will have sown the seeds of our destruction - we are hunter gatherers and in the long-run that's the only way we could have survived as a species.
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| Quote ="McClennan"It's a light entertainment TV programme and all he's doing is putting up an argument to get some ratings. However, there is a serious issue there up for debate and on genetics I don't think we've really had any sort of in-depth discussion as to where this should go. I can't see how we can just dive into genetic research without establishing guidelines, processes, ethical responsiblities etc., about the issue.
Perhaps there's somebody on here who is involved in this area who can give us an insight as to what the issues are. I'm not skeptical about the case for genetics but I'm not that aware of the risks/dangers that need to be considered especially when you start getting into patents and the like. It's not dissimilar to the work that [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Craig_VenterCraig Venter[/url does, in that is prompts question which require detailed discussion and resolution before it gets out of control.'"
There is constant debate regarding the course and ethics of genetic research. Scientists are acutely aware of the implications and many are uncomfortable progressing work like this without an ethical framework in place, which there usually is. The same can be said for stem cell research. There is a growing perception (in my opinion) that scientists are heartless and will simply perform any experiment they see fit if they believe it advances their research regardless of the feelings of anyone else or the use to mankind as a whole. This simply isn't true.
There are always mavericks or publicity hunters in any walk of life who will try and make personal advantage by being "controversial" etc. That's just the way people work. They shouldn't be seen as representative of established science and their potential actions should not be used as an excuse to restrict the mainstream from doing extremely valuable work.
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| Well, a couple of days ago it was ...
Quote ="Dally" ... Strikes me that most people who VIGOROUSLY criticise religion are uninspirational, low-grade, slovenly people. Just an observation... '"
... and now it's ...
Quote ="Dally" ... Scientists generally are egocentric obsessives who do not consider the greater good...'"
You should get a nice British heterosexual white christian tory doctor to look at that jerking knee of yours.
(Without touching, of course).
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| Quote ="Rock God X"For a more balanced view, you should have watched Horizon the other night. Perhaps you did.'"
Spider goat had me fascinated. Not disimilar to the process of producing therapeutic proteins on an industrial scale using genes implanted in bacteria and yeast.
I don't work in genomic applications though, proteomics and translational medicine is where I operate. Proteomics will be the new revolution once the tools are in place.
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| Quote ="Dally"Ultimately, as a species, we will at some point in the future realise it would have been better not to develop science as it will have sown the seeds of our destruction - we are hunter gatherers and in the long-run that's the only way we could have survived as a species.'"
You really are a fooking idiot.
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| Quote ="Rock God X"You really are a fooking idiot.'"
Having recently had a refresher on statistical probability, I can say that unfortunately Dally is innevitable.
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| Anyway, moving up a level in thought, IMO science has achieved many short-term gains for humanity but I see it as a long-term tool for destruction. We seem to be entering a phase were we will increasngly rely on science to bail us out from the disasters caused by environmental degradation, which is itself the result of excessive population sustained by technological advance. Ultimately, as a species, we will at some point in the future realise it would have been better not to develop science as it will have sown the seeds of our destruction - we are hunter gatherers and in the long-run that's the only way we could have survived as a species.'"
So Evolution from Hunter gatherer to Modern humans to whatever we become in the far future is all doomed because Our brains are too big??
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| Quote ="Dally" ... Anyway, moving up a level in thought ...'"
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| Quote ="Rock God X"You really are a fooking idiot.'"
Like all humans you are programmed for short-term thinking - to survive daily. Part of the reason for many modern ills - including, obesity. However, one must extract oneself from that mindset from time to time to consider the broader, long term issues.
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| Quote ="Dally"Like all humans you are programmed for short-term thinking - to survive daily. Part of the reason for many modern ills - including, obesity. However, one must extract oneself from that mindset from time to time to consider the broader, long term issues.'"
I refer you to the answer I gave some moments ago.
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| Quote ="DHM"Spider goat had me fascinated. Not disimilar to the process of producing therapeutic proteins on an industrial scale using genes implanted in bacteria and yeast.
'"
I found the diesel thing quite interesting as well. Is it really possible that they could produce enough of this type of fuel to significantly reduce oil dependency? Obviously it's not a long term solution as it still produces carbon emissions, but it might be a useful stop gap given the situation in Iran and other oil-rich countries.
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| Quote ="Dally"Like all humans you are programmed for short-term thinking - to survive Dally. ...'"
"All humans" is probably stretching it, but it's no easy task
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| The sky is still falling then Dally?
How come it hasn't landed yet?
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| <Monty Python stylee>
What has Science ever done for us......?
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| What i hate is when a technological advance is patented then bought by a company who shelve it so that it doesn't effect profits.
Apparently someone invented a wheel on the landing equipment on a plane that turns at the exact same speed as the plane is travelling so when you hit the tarmac you don't get a flatspot and the tyres last a hell of a lot longer.
Someone(A big tyre company) paid the guy that invented it and shelved it and stopped other people making it.
Stories like that get on my nerves, i'm sure somewhere the cure for the common cold and cancer are in some database.
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