Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by Fnord666 on Monday December 04 2017, @11:14AM   Printer-friendly
from the what-could-possibly-go-wrong dept.

"Cease & Desist" has not worked:

Despite a warning from the federal government about do-it-yourself gene therapy, two companies say they'll continue offering DNA-altering materials to the public.

The companies, The Odin and Ascendance Biomedical, both recently posted videos online of people self-administering DNA molecules their labs had produced.

Following wide distribution of the videos, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week issued a harshly worded statement cautioning consumers against DIY gene-therapy kits and calling their sale illegal. "The sale of these products is against the law. FDA is concerned about the safety risks involved," the agency said.

Does the Executive Branch want the market to decide, or not?


Original Submission

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
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: 3, Interesting) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday December 04 2017, @08:25PM (3 children)

    by PinkyGigglebrain (4458) on Monday December 04 2017, @08:25PM (#605258)

    And what if your genemodding your own body also alters something like a cold virus or the e-coli in your gut into something really nasty? If it just kills you no big deal since it was your choice to mod your own genes but if it jumps to other people then it sucks for everyone else. It is kind of like drinking or doing drugs, if you get drunk/stoned in, and stay in, your own home then fine. But if you get drunk/stoned and then go for a drive you put everyone else at risk and eventually people die.

    There needs to be some safety mechanisms in place.

    --
    "Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Moderation   +1  
       Interesting=1, Total=1
    Extra 'Interesting' Modifier   0  
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   3  
  • (Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Monday December 04 2017, @09:08PM (1 child)

    by takyon (881) <reversethis-{gro ... s} {ta} {noykat}> on Monday December 04 2017, @09:08PM (#605295) Journal

    I'm not interested in safety mechanisms (also known as anti-science restrictions). I want innovation in bioengineering.

    People and companies already engage in risky behaviors that make diseases worse. For example, using too many antibiotics or using them incorrectly, or dumping medical waste products into rivers [theguardian.com]. Or hitting that Tinder/Grindr. By comparison, genemodding your own body is not likely to create a supervirus. Viruses are already great at mutating anyway. Altering a virus with the intent to make it more virulent could be an issue, and it's already leading to censorship or self-censorship [time.com].

    This technology will not be as easy to regulate as something like nuclear material, or even firearms (you can get some biological material through detectors, or just infect yourself). If the government wants to do something about this, they should pump more money into the CDC, NIH, etc. to create a universal flu cure or something.

    --
    [SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 05 2017, @04:57AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 05 2017, @04:57AM (#605511)

      its good to want.

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 05 2017, @03:33PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday December 05 2017, @03:33PM (#605667)

    another dumb ass authoritarian. whatdya know