Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

A Biohacker's Plan to Upgrade Dalmatians Ends Up in the Doghouse

posted by cmn32480 on Thursday February 02 2017, @04:57PM   Printer-friendly
from the teenage-mutant-ninja-doggies dept.

Phoenix666 writes:

Ishee, a member of what's called the "biohacker" movement, says he is hoping to use inexpensive new gene-editing techniques to modify the genes of Dalmatians. By repairing a single DNA letter in their genomes, Ishee believes, he can rid them of an inherited disease, hyper uricemia, almost as closely associated with the breed as their white coats and black spots.

In early January, Ishee sent the agency a sketch of his plans to fix Dalmatians expecting to be told no approval was needed. He didn't immediately hear back—and soon found out why. On January 18, the agency released a sweeping new proposal to regulate cattle, pigs, dogs, and other animals modified with gene-editing.

The federal health agency already regulates transgenic animals—those with DNA added from a different species. But what about a dog whose genome has been tweaked to repair a disease gene? Or to endow it with the gene for a trait, like fluffy fur, already found in another canine? According to the newly proposed regulations, such creations will also need federal approval before entering the marketplace.

Is it government overreach, or do such restrictions make sense?

Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
A Biohacker's Plan to Upgrade Dalmatians Ends Up in the Doghouse | Log In/Create an Account | Top | 48 comments | Search Discussion
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.

  • (Score: -1, Offtopic) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 02 2017, @05:51PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 02 2017, @05:51PM (#462030)
    You upmodded him..? Never thought I'd see the day...
    Starting Score:    0  points
    Moderation   -1  
       Offtopic=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Offtopic' Modifier   0  
    Total Score:   -1  

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday February 02 2017, @05:56PM

    by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Thursday February 02 2017, @05:56PM (#462032) Journal

    Why not? If the zombie corpse of Hitler popped out of the ground and started shouting "Der sky ist blue!" at me, I'm not gonna start believing it's orange with purple polka dots just because it's Undead Hitler telling me the sky is blue.

    --
    I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 02 2017, @06:39PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday February 02 2017, @06:39PM (#462046)

      AC you had to poke. Now MB is reincarnated zombie. Btw AH, in what universe do the undead speak coherently?

      • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Thursday February 02 2017, @06:51PM

        by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Thursday February 02 2017, @06:51PM (#462050) Journal

        I didn't say Uzzard's a (literal) zombie, just making the point that the truth is the truth, no matter the source. No one can be wrong 100% of the time.

        --
        I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...

      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @02:23PM

        by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @02:23PM (#462367)

        in what universe do the undead speak coherently?

        At the very least, the undead in Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn [wikipedia.org] speak coherently, including undead Hitler.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @02:04PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @02:04PM (#462354)

      Der Himmel ist blau, actually.

      • (Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Friday February 03 2017, @06:18PM

        by Azuma Hazuki (5086) on Friday February 03 2017, @06:18PM (#462516) Journal

        That just makes you a literal grammar Nazi :D I don't sprechen Deutsch, sorry.

        --
        I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...

  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Phoenix666 on Thursday February 02 2017, @09:44PM

    by Phoenix666 (552) on Thursday February 02 2017, @09:44PM (#462120) Journal

    I reckon that's a mark of integrity. When you can mod up somebody you mostly disagree with, it says you can rise above petty tribalism and give credit where credit is due. I salute AH for it. I hope others follow her lead.

    --
    Washington DC delenda est.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @03:32PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday February 03 2017, @03:32PM (#462421)
      That's kind of why I pointed it out. Didn't expect to get downmodded myself for it though, heh. Ah well, no karma lost because AC.