3/11/2017 foxnews.com: GOP-sponsored bill may help companies obtain your genetic information

Shades of Gattaca; a movie in which children are conceived through genetic manipulation to ensure they possess the best hereditary traits of their parents.

Eugenics. While there are diverse explanations as to what the science of eugenics is, I'm going to go with: The selection of desired heritable characteristics through gene manipulation in order to improve future generations.

I've struggled with this post. While I understand the promise of eugenics, the elimination of disease as well as other undesirable afflictions such as learning disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia, etc, something in my gut says man should not tinker with 'natural selection' in the form of gene manipulation.

Throughout history man has taken his greatest achivements, achievements that held the promise of improving mankind's existence, and turned them into his most destructive forces. Consider:

Man learned to control fire, allowing him to cook food and obtain warmth and protection. Then he invented napalm.
Man invented the wheel, probably the most important mechanical invention of all time. The wheel now transports weapons capable of obliterating mankind.
Man developed flight and turned what were weeks and months-long trips into hours. Today aircraft are the most lethal weapon in man's warfare arsonal.
Man learned to split the atom, with the promise of abundant cheap energy. Then he created the atomic bomb.

I cannot dispute the pro side for gene manipulation, it is based on hard science. And if I felt that mankind would limit itself to addressing only disease and undesirable afflictions I might be of a different mind.

I cannot validate the con side, primarily based on moral, ethical and social concerns, which are subjective and dependant on ones point of view.

I can only go with my gut on this one. And my gut says for all the promise that eugenics holds, the prospect for both abuse and dire unforeseen consequences is overwhelming.

All that said, eugenics' 'Pandora's Box' has been opened. The hope that remains is the hope that mankind has the intelligence and discipline to use eugenics science wisely. Unfortunately, history does not bode well for that outcome.

For your movie viewing pleasure I suggest;         Gattaca         Blade Runner         Soldier         Star Trek Into The Darkness         Serenity