Evolution Podcast - Supporting Research

Interesting what discussion is caused on these subjects of evolution, selective breeding and genetic manipulation. It is debated and a highly political subject to whether selective breeding and genetic manipulation is right for our ecosystems and also ourselves. This has been something that as humans have demonstrated and carried out for thousands of years. This includes the Baldwin effect. Baldwin effect describes of learned behavior on evolution. This happened when we selected wolves on their traits, which over time we bred to become more domestic and know as dogs.

"Cave Canem" (Beware of Dog), mosaic of a guard dog on the floor of the entrance hall to the House of the Tragic Poet, Pompeii, Italy, buried in the 79 A.D. eruption of the mount Vesuvius. Photo: Eduardo Kac.

This painted detail appears on an outer face of the wooden coffin of Khuw. The deceased leads his dog on a leash. From the tomb of Khuw at Asyut, Egypt. Twelfth Dynasty (1991-1783 B.C.).

Photo: Patrick Francis Houlihan

This was also tried with humans, when Nazi eugenics was carried out during the 2nd World War, as Hitler wanted to create this 'master race' of blonde hair and blue eyes. Hitler believed the nation had become weak, corrupted by the infusion of degenerate elements into its bloodstream. These had to be removed quickly. He also believed that the strong and the racially pure should be encouraged to have more children, and that the weak and the racially impure should be neutralized by one means or another.

Other points that were made during the discussion

• We have genes that we can smell as well as other animals, however they are 'turned off'. This is due to our ancestors being able to smell extremely well.

• We would not benefit from cloning.

• Are we making a mistake that we will later regret

• Fish genetics in tomatoes, you know what will happen to the tomato, but you do not know what will happen to the ecosystem that the tomato is in.

• If you mess around with anything it may destroy a ecosystem.

• Of all things that can be selected, what trait would that be? - possible relation to illnesses, viruses not really to do with intelligence.

• If we do come back in a thousand years, its more likely be because of genetic engineering and not so much natural evolution itself.

It will be interesting to see in the future to what extent we will go to, to make our selves 'better', internally and externally. Due to advance technology and understanding of genes we are now considering the possibles of designer babies, which could be genetically modified for beauty, intelligence or to be free of disease. There are major ethical issues behind these subjects, and when creating at art piece I want to create discussion on these subjects, rather than trying to show my view, as I do not think there is a right or wrong answer.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30742774