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If you could alter genetic makeup of your baby would you do it?

colton said:
I'm guessing we're simply using different concepts of race. I'm open to new ideas if you want to explain the idea you're talking about.
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Speaking in generalities about race based on people's phenotype is not a definition you can use in any sort of scientific discussion, as there is no actual definition, which puts the concept of race in humans purely in the realm of being cultural and societal, which can speak in more generalities.
 
b_line said:
Lol. You literally called me racist last time we talked about this because I asked you to explain heritable traits like pigmentation and hair color. I get that you think race diesnt exist, but if you can look at a person with fairly near certainty and say "that dude is from Scandinavia" or if you can trace a persons migrational heritage in their DNA, how do you explain that in a world where race does not exist?
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What is the genetic basis for the existence of "Scandinavia"?

Again, I understand that we are all the same creatures, but I just want to hear how you explain the differences in the billions if humans on this earth without the concept of race, or race by another name. And to say "we are all the same" is a copout, because we are quite obviously not.
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We differ more based on environmental and/or societal factors than genetic ones. The scales of both aren't comparable.

For example, my ridiculous ancestors thought it would be cute to mate with neanderthals, and now I have super bad allergies because of it. My predisposition to being allergic to pollen is scientifically proven to be greater than people from africa. Traits like this are why I still buy into the race concept.
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As one who studied health predispositions I'm willing to bet your allergies are more reflective of your environmental upbringing than your predispositions based on your lineage.
 
Darkwing Duck said:
Speaking in generalities about race based on people's phenotype is not a definition you can use in any sort of scientific discussion, as there is no actual definition, which puts the concept of race in humans purely in the realm of being cultural and societal, which can speak in more generalities.
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ilu
 
Darkwing Duck said:
Speaking in generalities about race based on people's phenotype is not a definition you can use in any sort of scientific discussion, as there is no actual definition, which puts the concept of race in humans purely in the realm of being cultural and societal, which can speak in more generalities.
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So because there are fuzzy boundaries and because generalities don't hold, you say DNA doesn't play a major role in one's looks? Sorry, that doesn't seem scientific to me (and I'm a scientist). What am I missing here?
 
dalamon said:
What is the genetic basis for the existence of "Scandinavia"?




We differ more based on environmental and/or societal factors than genetic ones. The scales of both aren't comparable.



As one who studied health predispositions I'm willing to bet your allergies are more reflective of your environmental upbringing than your predispositions based on your lineage.
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Maybe, but my neanderthal DNA definitely predisposes me to allergic reactions. It still is a factor that people without neanderthal DNA do not have. It's different. Not the same.
 
colton said:
So because there are fuzzy boundaries and because generalities don't hold, you say DNA doesn't play a major role in one's looks? Sorry, that doesn't seem scientific to me (and I'm a scientist). What am I missing here?
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I said race doesn't exist in humans biologically, not that DNA has no effect on one's phenotype.
 
Darkwing Duck said:
Phenotype does not equal race.

Got two friends who are roommates who have been asked on multiple occasions by multiple if they're brothers...or twins. One is half-Asian and the other European descent with curly hair.

So, that definition is completely unusable in that particular instance.
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Fixed
 
dalamon said:
What gene would control "race"? Are you referring to melanin content? Because even that doesn't determine race. Race has no genetic basis
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Most "traits" are controlled by sets of genes not just a single gene. And there are more physical differences than simply melanin. Take the creased or non creased eyelids for example, a trait among many groups of Asians. I'm sure you know they're is more than that but I did expect the holier than thou response so you didn't disappoint. The question was hypothetical. Stretch your imagination and put away your condescension long enough to consider it based on current social norms maybe. Or don't. Whatever is easiest for you.
 
LogGrad98 said:
Most "traits" are controlled by sets of genes not just a single gene. And there are more physical differences than simply melanin. Take the creased or non creased eyelids for example, a trait among many groups of Asians. I'm sure you know they're is more than that but I did expect the holier than thou response so you didn't disappoint. The question was hypothetical. Stretch your imagination and put away your condescension long enough to consider it based on current social norms maybe. Or don't. Whatever is easiest for you.
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But not all Asians, which is why the racial thing fails.
 
colton said:
Ok, but this thread is about modifying your kids' DNA in order to change their looks.
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And a question was raised to change "race," which is what brought about this particular conversation. Since race doesn't exist biologically, it had to be explained that you couldn't change someone's race through DNA.
 
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fishonjazz said:
Fixed
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And you'll find countless similar examples. So much so that's absolutely no possible way to define race. What's this "prototypical" person of a race when you try to specify a characteristic, the genetic pool, both in the phenotype and genotype, ends up being incredibly unique and diverse that renders "race" undefinable and when you try to generalize the characteristics, there are more exceptions than definites. You just can't define a race in humans. There are lots of "Asians" without the epicanthic fold, lots of very light skinned "black" people, lots of "white" people with nappy hair. The list goes on and on and on and on.
 
Darkwing Duck said:
And you'll find countless similar examples. So much so that's absolutely no possible way to define race. What's this "prototypical" person of a race when you try to specify a characteristic, the genetic pool, both in the phenotype and genotype, ends up being incredibly unique and diverse that renders "race" undefinable and when you try to generalize the characteristics, there are more exceptions than definites. You just can't define a race in humans. There are lots of "Asians" without the epicanthic fold, lots of very light skinned "black" people, lots of "white" people with nappy hair. The list goes on and on and on and on.
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Maybe you can't always define race. Often times I can though.

My wife and I recently had a baby and before she was born I already new that would not come out looking like what I consider to be an African American or Asian or native American looking child. And you know what's a amazing? I was right.
 
Darkwing Duck said:
And a question was raised to change "race," which is what brought about this particular conversation. Since race doesn't exist biologically, it had to be explained that you couldn't change someone's race through DNA.
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This is idiotic. You're trying to apply a scientific definition of race to what the OP--and myself and indeed I'd guess nearly everyone else in America--views as "phenotypical traits and impressions of probable geographic ancestry". You are quibbling over a definition and/or using a definition that we are not. Or are you saying that "phenotypical traits and impressions of probable geographic ancestry" do not exist? Or that changing someone's DNA could not alter those traits?
 
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