Technology Transforms Us

[Mousse]

This topic of genetic manipulation sounds bad, but while recognizing there could be negative unintended consequences, in some ways it's not much different than vaccines. If you could choose to have a child without defects, and was physically enhanced, this would become the new competitive standard of the human species.

Nature is the final judge of whether genetically modified folks are superior or not. Tinkering with genes opens the door to exotic defects we do not have now. Besides, stronger, faster, smarter is not always better. Neanderthals were stronger and faster than our ancestors. They lost to us because of the higher maintanence cost. They needed more calories to survive. Climate changes reduced the resources and they lost to weaker, slower but more efficient (required 1/2 -1/3 the food to survive) Homo Sapiens.

 

[ActionableMango]

My question is when genes are altered in an embryo, are those modifications passed forward or no?

That's a good point that I didn't think about. If the designer genes are passed on, then a couple who were themselves designed should still end up with a super-healthy, smart, fast, strong, attractive baby even if they choose to go "natural".

 

[Huntn]

Nature is the final judge of whether genetically modified folks are superior or not. Tinkering with genes opens the door to exotic defects we do not have now. Besides, stronger, faster, smarter is not always better. Neanderthals were stronger and faster than our ancestors. They lost to us because of the higher maintanence cost. They needed more calories to survive. Climate changes reduced the resources and they lost to weaker, slower but more efficient (required 1/2 -1/3 the food to survive) Homo Sapiens.

It's been shown that purebred dogs are generally less healthy or have more health issues than mutts. Admittedly, the breeding there is mostly about a specific appearance.

 

[Huntn]

… And Cows (reference thread title) :

Technically not a breakthrough at this point, but a new awareness, put VR goggles on a milk cow allowing them to see a nice green meadow and pipe in classical music, while they are actually trapped in a barn for the winter and they will produce more milk!

Cows enjoy VR and produce more milk

These cows enjoy green pastures all year round thanks to virtual reality goggles. Turkish rancher/dairy farmer Izzet Kocak says the headsets, accompanied with classical music, soothe the cows and…

www.scmp.com

 

[Huntn]

Agrivoltaics: Combining an electrical crop with your soybeans. Very interesting, heard this reported on Science Friday NPR. Of interest plants don’t need all of the sun they are getting, and when overexposed they sweat using water to keep their temps under control, using water. So the technology will reduce water consumption ob the farm. Arrays will be built that rotate out of the way for tractors, and shade the plants after they have had their fill:

Largest agrivoltaic research project in U.S. advances renewable energy while empowering local farmers

The global installed capacity of agrivoltaics, or the co-development of the same area of land for both solar power and agriculture, has grown rapidly from

www.solarpowerworldonline.com

The global installed capacity of agrivoltaics, or the co-development of the same area of land for both solar power and agriculture, has grown rapidly from about 5 MW in 2012 to approximately 2,900 MW in 2020. One of the largest driving factors for this growth is the need to continue to build solar projects to mitigate climate change in the face of dwindling available non-agricultural land. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), by 2030, utility-scale solar could cover almost 2 million acres of land in the United States. A recent Oregon State University study also estimates that converting just 1% of American farmland to agrivoltaics would not only meet the nation’s renewable energy targets, but also save water and create a sustainable, long-term food system. Additionally, agrivoltaics have been shown to increase crop production, solar panel efficiency as well as farmer income.

 

[satcomer]

Nature is the final judge of whether genetically modified folks are superior or not. Tinkering with genes opens the door to exotic defects we do not have now. Besides, stronger, faster, smarter is not always better. Neanderthals were stronger and faster than our ancestors. They lost to us because of the higher maintanence cost. They needed more calories to survive. Climate changes reduced the resources and they lost to weaker, slower but more efficient (required 1/2 -1/3 the food to survive) Homo Sapiens.

I tend t think climate change played a Huge part to Neanderthals dying out! I believe this why many Europeans tend to grow unwanted hair on their body! I tend to think a small number interbreed with a modern women near their final deaths!