12/12/08 It should have been a snowday

In the article, Will Stem Cells Finally Deliver, researchers announce new findings with stem cell research. The article announces that scientists have discovered 2 different ways to alter stems without creating an embryo. The first way, is by created iPS cells, clone cells, which can be created using adult cells. These cells than can be alterted, and re-inserted into the body to perform the tasks that the original cells could not do. The other way, is a complete breakthrough in scientific study. A researcher at harvard discovered that instead of creating clone cells and altering them, that he could simply alter the cells already within the body. His research proved positive when he altered the cells in mice that (because of the modifications) cured type one diabetes in the mouse.

Keeping this article in mind, I would like to raise the question of should mankind even be taking this so far? At what point do we stop trying to change or prevent nature? Does Darwins theory of natural selection still apply? Should it? Will this new technology be used only for medical purposes, or will we start choosing our own genetic modifications? Does of all mankind have a right to perfect themselves to live a longer life? And, to take a point of of view from silence dogood, when do we stop trying to prolong life and start trying to enhance our quality of life?

12/9/08

http://warner.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/04/first-the-bad-news/?ref=opinion

This OP-ED is written by a mother who is concerned about the effect of the world's events on her young daughter. She believes that by not informing her daughter about events such as 9/11 and the Holocaust, her daughter will believe the world to be a better place, and be a better because of it. When her daughter asks about such events, the mother either ignores her, or blatantly lies to her. She believes this is good parenting.
The mother continues to blame schools for teaching about the Holocaust, as well as the wars, and other past events that are infortunately in our history. She says she tries to correct what the schools teach her daughter at home, but she is afraid that in this world, her daughter will never have only pure thoughts.

In my opinion, I think this mother is ludicrous. The only way to change or overpower the evil in this world is through knowledge. To learn about sad, and horrible events may be scarring, but it is the truth, and every person should be aware of what is happening, and be taught that even though it was wrong, it happened. This girl may never know that anything bad happens in life, and she will be completely oblivious to the world around her. This kind of igonorance is what causes discrimination, and hate, that powers the wars, and violence in this world.

The Flight of the Penguins

http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/10/08/rescued.penguins/index.html

In this article the animal activists rescued 373 magellanic penguins that were stranded after searching for food. They flew the penguins on a C-130 military plane back to an animal shelter, where the penguins were cared for and fed. Then they were released back into the wild in Brazil. According to scientists, these penquins would not have harmed the poluation of the magellanic penguins, so man was not preventing an extinction. As much as I love penguins, my question is does man-kind have the right to intervene in nature? Should we interrupt and change the lives of other living beings without even thinking twice about it? Will our actions cause a butterfly affect? What if these penguins, now introduced to care and being looked after, do not hunt as hard, disrupting the food chain, because they think that man will come and save them again? What if these penguins will now become easier prey for other animals, and mess up the food change? Do we have the right to do as we please without thinking about the repercussions?

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