h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Greetings sir,

Re: your inquiry elsewhere about my gigantic and sweeping
generalisations on the subject of interfering with evolutionary
processes.

The first thought I had was of dog breeding that results in hip
dysplasia in larger animals and kidney failings in the miniatures.

As my imagination expanded on the theme it soon came back
to the monsters of Doctor Moreau in HGWells famous warning
about poking at Mother Nature via genetic manipulations.

By extension, though I didn't include it, there is the whole question
of genetically modified foods, seedless grapes and hormone stimulation
of both beef and dairy cattle.

On the whole, and on the evidence, I have come to believe that almost
every attempt to improve upon nature ends in monstrous failure.


~jwf~

There are also some successes, though, aren't here? I wouldn't count seedless grapes a disaster.

OK, you didn't say every, but almost every attempt.

'Interfering with nature' is what farming is. Agreed or not?

See Dan Dennett http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTepA-WV_oE

He's talking about the design of religions but also incidentally about the redesign of animals and crops over the millennia.

Will cogitate and respond.


~jwf~