DISCLAIMER: My degree is NOT in biology (not in ANY aspect of it). I can only express OPINIONS of a largely uninformed layperson.
Science is a quest to understand a certain aspect of reality. In order to achieve that, it must be unbridled so that all is "on the table" and above all, it must be humble - appreciating how little it knows and that what it thinks it knows it probably doesn't ("I could well be wrong" is necessarily in order to learn what is right). It must appreciate what it is ASSUMING and the "worldview" or bias in which it "sees" things for learning and discovery to happen.
If learning happens, stuff gets discovered and understood.
Because 100% of human beings are sinful, it is an UNAVOIDABLE reality that some will try to use this new knowledge for evil, wrong. No scientist can prevent this.... no politician can prevent this. Religion, morality - they impact everything.
It IS possible - collectively - to minimize at least the USE of such evil applications. For 70 years, there have been TENS of THOUSANDS of nuclear bombs - in some cases each able to kill millions of people and collectively able to kill all human beings on the planet many times over. So far at least, it hasn't happened - even know the evil use of some discoveries were not only known but implemented - just not used. During World War Two, all sides had extensive stockpiles of chemical weapons, and it was 100% expected that such would be used. As desperate as some nations were in that war at least at times, NO ONE used them. I wouldn't take TOO much comfort in this (two atomic bombs WERE used..... some chemical weapons were used by third-world nations, even against their own people - the "box" was not completely, always closed) but it does show that sinful, fallen man CAN act a bit responsibly.... just because it we CAN has not always meant we DO. Again, don't take this TOO firmly.
As far as biological issues, people have been modifying Mother Nature for thousands of years. Many of the animals, fruits, vegies, grains etc. do not appear in nature.... PEOPLE modified things that do in order to come up with things we find more useful. Native Americans developing corn (Maze) is one of the most dramatic examples of this. If one is morally opposed to modifying nature - you better get rid of your pet and eliminate nearly all you eat. While Mary Shelly gave us a sound warning, the modification of DNA is not dangerous PER SE - it can actually be very beneficial. I even suspect that these protestors - if told their Downs Syndrome child could be "corrected" or the cancer they have be "cured" - they'd celebrate all this.
The issue, IMO, is not so much in trying to hinder understanding but in realizing the importance of MORALITY - an issue about which scientists are no better than you or me.
- Josiah
