CONTACT CAROLINE
facebook
rss
tumblr
twitter
goodreads
youtube

  • Home
  • Write Away Blog
  • Books
    • Books
    • Trompe l’Oeil
    • Heart Land
    • Gothic Spring
    • Ballet Noir
    • Book Excerpts
  • Video Vault
  • Audio
  • Press
    • News
    • Print Interviews
    • Plays
    • Ballet Noir in the Press
    • Trompe l’Oeil In The Press
    • Gothic Spring In The Press
    • Heart Land Reviews
  • Contact
  • About
  • Resources
    • Writer Resources
    • Favorite Blogs
    • Favorite Artists



In Hope Of Better Tasting Tofu

Sep 11, 2015
by Caroline Miller
Amy Maxmen, Crispr-Cas9, Emmanuelle Charpentier, genetic engineering, Jennifer Doundna, Madam Curie, standards for genetic engineering research, The Genesis Engine
2 Comments

The other day my 94 year-old psychologist friend sat down opposite me as I was having lunch at the retirement center. I was munching dutifully on a slab of grilled tofu and a few roasted potatoes, nourishing stuff, but uninspiring. He looked at my plate with a blank expression. “The cooks here are culinary students who dropped out to graduate in upholstery,” he said.  I roared with laughter, though there was more truth than mirth in his comment.  

 Back at my apartment, I sat down to read, wondering why most institutions got poor marks for their fare. Hadn’t Watson been tasked with making recipes taste better? (Blog 7/16/2015) While thinking about Watson, I was forced to sit up in my chair: “Engineered humans are a ways off—but nobody thinks they’re science fiction anymore.”( The Genesis Engine,” by Amy Maxmen, Wired, August 2015, pg 63.) Apparently, researchers have found a way to improve humans but not tofu.

The article was long and complex, dealing with a new gene splitting technique called Crispr- Cas9. ( Ibid pg. 58.) In short, Crispr-Cas9 allows bio-engineers to “gene edit.” On the dark side, we’re talking about “designer babies, invasive mutants, and species specific bio-weapons,” (Ibid, pg. 58) On the bright side, the technique promises a new wave of medical miracles that might include a cure for blindness, aids, and cancer. (Ibid pg. 58).  

 Understandably, each time we tinker with nature, we find ourselves at an inersection where good and bad consequences can occur. Splitting the atom is one example, but there have been others, less dramatic, which have had an impact on our lives. Genetic editing in agriculture has reduced the need for petrochemicals, but GMO’s aren’t for everyone. Altering the genes of mosquitoes may now be possible. With a snip and a tuck we might prevent them from becoming carriers of malaria. Or, we might eliminate mosquitoes, altogether. How bats might feel about that is worth considering, however. (Ibid pg.61-62)

Also in question, is who should we allow to engage in gene altering. At the moment, there are no rules and anyone with cash and an untried idea could wreak havoc on the environment. (Ibid pg. 64) (Blog 6/2/15). Because there are no guidelines, scientists are beginning to clamor for them. One requirement might be to limit the conduct of research to areas where a species under investigation isn’t native, preventing it from causing damage to its surroundings should it escape the laboratory. Another idea would be to enable a mutant gene to be remotely turned off. (Ibid, pg.63)

 Of note, the leaders in this field are women: Jennifer Doundna, an American and Emmanuelle Charpentier, French. Like, Madame Curie, what they discover could alter the course of human evolution. Looks like our species could be in for a bumpy ride. Given what’s at stake, is it too much ask for better tasting tofu?

mutants

Courtesy of giraffreman.com

Social Share
2 Comments
  1. Christine Webb September 11, 2015 at 4:52 pm Reply
    ... or chocolate fudge that's as healthy as blueberries?
    • Caroline Miller September 11, 2015 at 5:23 pm Reply
      And with the same amount of calories. Yeah!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

*
*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Subscribe to Caroline’s Blog


 

Book Reviews

What critics and bloggers have to say about

Heart Land

Gothic Spring

Trompe l’Oeil

Ballet Noir

Blog Post Archives

Recent Blog Posts

  • The Power Of One June 19, 2025
  • If Not Now, Matriarchy Will Come June 12, 2025
  • Sacred Values Or Survival May 29, 2025
  • Our Better Angels May 22, 2025
  • Return Of The King? May 15, 2025

Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Banner art “The Receptive” by Charlie White of Charlie White Studio

Web Admin: ThinPATH Systems, Inc
support@tp-sys.com

Subscribe to Caroline's Blog


 

Contact Caroline at

carolinemiller11@yahoo.com

Sitemap | Privacy Notice

AUDIO & VIDEO VAULT

View archives of Caroline’s audio and videos interviews.


Copyright © Books by Caroline Miller