Church wants to clone Neanderthals

[Haggis_McMutton]

I'm talking about synthetic biologist George Church, of course.

Pretty interesting article: http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/george-church-explains-how-dna-will-be-construction-material-of-the-future-a-877634.html

I always thought the great challenge to our definition of personhood and consciousness would come from creating general Artificial Intelligence, but maybe we'll have to deal with Neanderthals first (turns out they might be smarter than us, we don't really know)

[AndyDufresne]

The NOVA program on PBS had a nice episode on "Decoding Neanderthals:"

http://video.pbs.org/video/2323758207/


--Andy

[thegreekdog]

If you were a woman, would you agree to bear the neanderthal child?

[Neoteny]

Would you agree to Neanderthal the bear child?

[thegreekdog]

In an effort to make every thread an abortion thread, would there be a provision of the agreement indicating that the woman in question could not abort the baby? If so, would that trump her right to privacy?

[AndyDufresne]

Are there already not such agreements for surrogate mothers who willfully give up such rights?


--Andy

[thegreekdog]

Are there already not such agreements for surrogate mothers who willfully give up such rights?


--Andy

Good question and one I don't know the answer to.

However, I'm pretty sure contractual language cannot remove constitutional rights.

[AndyDufresne]

You are right I think you can't remove constitutional rights, but cannot someone waive their rights (e.g. a right to a jury trial, to remain silent, etc). I think that is where the meat is, you always still have your rights, but you can choose when to waive them. But I am not the lawyer, you are, so you should tell me. Ha.


--Andy

[Timminz]

Now I'm no lawyer, but I would assume that if a surrogate were to have an abortion, then she would be in breach of contract, and would therefore not get paid.

[thegreekdog]

Now I'm no lawyer, but I would assume that if a surrogate were to have an abortion, then she would be in breach of contract, and would therefore not get paid.

YES! That is the answer.

Also, at this point, I'm out of law school and have done nothing but tax law for almost a decade... so my other legal skills are novice at best.

[BigBallinStalin]

I smell a movie. Neanderthal gets cloned, learns the ways of our people, is experimented on, escapes, declares, "I NEVER WANTED TO BE RESURRECTED!!! AAARRRGGHHHH!!!", then he jumps off a building.

Unfortunately, he lands on President Obama, who is also crushed to a pulp. The movie was decent until it offended 30% of the poli. cheerleaders of the US. About 30% found that amusing, and 40% didn't care, but no one cares about them.

[thegreekdog]

I smell a movie. Neanderthal gets cloned, learns the ways of our people, is experimented on, escapes, declares, "I NEVER WANTED TO BE RESURRECTED!!! AAARRRGGHHHH!!!", then he jumps off a building.

Unfortunately, he lands on President Obama, who is also crushed to a pulp. The movie was decent until it offended 30% of the poli. cheerleaders of the US. About 30% found that amusing, and 40% didn't care, but no one cares about them.

[BigBallinStalin]

Something darker and actually funny.

[DoomYoshi]

The NOVA program on PBS had a nice episode on "Decoding Neanderthals:"

http://video.pbs.org/video/2323758207/


--Andy

One of the most disappointing shows ever. After how ever many years and presumably 100s of episodes, there have been like 2 good ones. I only know of one, and I am assuming there is another one.

[AndyDufresne]

Something darker and actually funny.

The Neanderthal Man (1953)

show: color

--Andy

[Haggis_McMutton]

Once the Neanderthal lobby gets working those depictions will be considered as insensitive as blackface is considered today.

[BigBallinStalin]

Can't joke about rape, can't joke about neanderthals. What the f*ck.

[AndyDufresne]

Once the Neanderthal lobby gets working those depictions will be considered as insensitive as blackface is considered today.

It has already started. The NOVA special I linked to has scientists discussing the popular images of Neanderthals. It is only a stones throw away from a Super PAC methinks.


--Andy

[thegreekdog]

Something darker and actually funny.

The Neanderthal Man (1953)

show: color

--Andy

Neanderthalsploitation?

[Neoteny]

You guys. Geico already did this.

[TA1LGUNN3R]

I'm talking about synthetic biologist George Church, of course.

Pretty interesting article: http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/george-church-explains-how-dna-will-be-construction-material-of-the-future-a-877634.html

I always thought the great challenge to our definition of personhood and consciousness would come from creating general Artificial Intelligence, but maybe we'll have to deal with Neanderthals first (turns out they might be smarter than us, we don't really know)

Smarter and stronger, iirc. Just think, once the Neanderthal population becomes large enough, it'll galvanize H. sapiens to unite and instead of fighting amongst the species we can actually fight outside the species. Yay!

-TG

[notyou2]

Neanderthalism is alive and well throughout the globe.

[Haggis_McMutton]

I'm talking about synthetic biologist George Church, of course.

Pretty interesting article: http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/george-church-explains-how-dna-will-be-construction-material-of-the-future-a-877634.html

I always thought the great challenge to our definition of personhood and consciousness would come from creating general Artificial Intelligence, but maybe we'll have to deal with Neanderthals first (turns out they might be smarter than us, we don't really know)

Smarter and stronger, iirc. Just think, once the Neanderthal population becomes large enough, it'll galvanize H. sapiens to unite and instead of fighting amongst the species we can actually fight outside the species. Yay!

-TG

So, if they're smarter and stronger how the hell were we the ones to survive? luck?

[notyou2]

I'm talking about synthetic biologist George Church, of course.

Pretty interesting article: http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/george-church-explains-how-dna-will-be-construction-material-of-the-future-a-877634.html

I always thought the great challenge to our definition of personhood and consciousness would come from creating general Artificial Intelligence, but maybe we'll have to deal with Neanderthals first (turns out they might be smarter than us, we don't really know)

Smarter and stronger, iirc. Just think, once the Neanderthal population becomes large enough, it'll galvanize H. sapiens to unite and instead of fighting amongst the species we can actually fight outside the species. Yay!

-TG

So, if they're smarter and stronger how the hell were we the ones to survive? luck?

We don't taste as good to the dinosaurs.

[TA1LGUNN3R]

I'm talking about synthetic biologist George Church, of course.

Pretty interesting article: http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/george-church-explains-how-dna-will-be-construction-material-of-the-future-a-877634.html

I always thought the great challenge to our definition of personhood and consciousness would come from creating general Artificial Intelligence, but maybe we'll have to deal with Neanderthals first (turns out they might be smarter than us, we don't really know)

Smarter and stronger, iirc. Just think, once the Neanderthal population becomes large enough, it'll galvanize H. sapiens to unite and instead of fighting amongst the species we can actually fight outside the species. Yay!

-TG

So, if they're smarter and stronger how the hell were we the ones to survive? luck?

I remember reading a couple of articles a few years ago that theorized, from what I recall, that (1) some pops. interbred (this is where green eyes and blonde haired northern europeans are supposed to come from-- like me) and/or (2) H. sapiens were more fertile, producing more offspring on a regular basis. Neanderthals had lower birth rates and longer gestation periods.

Basically we won by being promiscuous. Score!

-TG