Genetic Enhancments and society

[Keiko]

Originally Posted by NineDaysDead

Do you mean in 2008 TL11 Bio-Tech became available, at the prices listed in Bio-Tech? And it is now the year 2014?

In 2004 the first and earliest developments occur. From there they proceed rapidly, driven by a few brilliant scientists at firsts but swiftly spreading as other biomedical researchers pick up on the techniques with remarkable success (No horrible setbacks or major destruction at least not directly stemming from the various projects). The breakthroughs probably come first in regions with looser stances on bioethics relative to most.

The prices for different procedures and items are probably higher (I believe there are rules for higher monetary costs for advanced technology?) than listed for the items at their base TL. The game itself would start somewhere around the alternate 2014 that would result.

Some things I'd expect would be an increasing disparity between the rich and poor as the wealthy can now afford to make themselves (or at least their children) better people in an objective, measurable manner. The potential religious and ethical issues are endless. Then there's those two popular avenues for application of new technology: sex and crime, especially at the technology's lightning quick progress outpaces the relatively sluggish adaptation of the law and society.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Keiko

In 2004 the first and earliest developments occur. From there they proceed rapidly, driven by a few brilliant scientists at firsts but swiftly spreading as other biomedical researchers pick up on the techniques with remarkable success (No horrible setbacks or major destruction at least not directly stemming from the various projects). The breakthroughs probably come first in regions with looser stances on bioethics relative to most.

The prices for different procedures and items are probably higher (I believe there are rules for higher monetary costs for advanced technology?) .

There are, but if you use them there will be no social impact because the procedures will be too expensive to be used significantly. Nor is it necessary to use them. You've just got a society which which is TL 8 (Bio 11). Ain't no rule against that.

[David Johnston2]

Oh, and one obvious thing. Get ready for a new population boom in first world nations. But of course food production would go up as well.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

Oh, and one obvious thing. Get ready for a new population boom in first world nations. But of course food production would go up as well.

Why would that happen when technology and prosperity has always had the opposite effect?

Now you would simply create a bigger discrepancy between the haves and the have-nots with unplanned pregnancies of everyone equating to the have-nots.
The rich really will be better, at least genetically. Youth will be even more idolized than it already is, because today's children will drastically outperform today's adults.

[Flyndaran]

Originally Posted by David Johnston2

There are, but if you use them there will be no social impact because the procedures will be too expensive to be used significantly. Nor is it necessary to use them. You've just got a society which which is TL 8 (Bio 11). Ain't no rule against that.

Nepotism of the elite might actually start to make sense. Their kids will be objectively better than everyone else's.

[David Johnston2]

Originally Posted by Flyndaran

Why would that happen when technology and prosperity has always had the opposite effect?
.

It has not "always" had the opposite effect. At least, not immediately. A technology that significantly reduces the number of deaths per year while not simultaneously reducing the number of births per year will create a demographic bulge.

[Gedrin]

The source of the advancements would matter significantly, as would the availability of the tech to produce the new biotech.

No matter what the source, and at almost any public availability, the earliest adopters will be at the fringes of normal society. This includes technophiles, people who gain a disproportionate benefit (handicapped, injured), and, of course, criminals. By criminals I mean; pimps, mobsters, drug producers, traffickers, and terrorists.

Bio-terrorism will be particularly attractive, because a TL-8 society has none of the institutional experience that a TL-10 or 11 society has in dealing with the sorts of bizarre and vicious plagues that will be invented. Having the tech doesn't give you the systems expertise or knowledge of what does and doesn't work culturally. An adult in a mature TL-10 society has a lot better basis to act and make judgments in regard to personal biomodification. TL-8 adults lack this cultural experience. Same goes for quarantine, medicine as it relates to modded people, political issues, how to deal with immortals...it's a big list of things to deal with, and lots and lots of mistakes will be made in a short amount of time.

Oh, and don't forget the stupid, careless and accident prone might have access to the tech also, as experimenters, producers, or consumers.

It would probably cause more turmoil, disruption and chaos than introducing nuclear weapons to the cultures involved in the thirty years war.

[vicky_molokh]

Originally Posted by Gedrin

Bio-terrorism will be particularly attractive, because a TL-8 society has none of the institutional experience that a TL-10 or 11 society has in dealing with the sorts of bizarre and vicious plagues that will be invented. Having the tech doesn't give you the systems expertise or knowledge of what does and doesn't work culturally. An adult in a mature TL-10 society has a lot better basis to act and make judgments in regard to personal biomodification. TL-8 adults lack this cultural experience. Same goes for quarantine, medicine as it relates to modded people, political issues, how to deal with immortals...it's a big list of things to deal with, and lots and lots of mistakes will be made in a short amount of time.

This. Now that you've got genetic enhancements, gotta enhance the stuff that multiplies fastest. Nukes become obsolete, because now the world can haz viruses that act as symbiotes against most people, but become highly lethal to members of some specific gene line, which more-or-less allows regional/ethnic targeting.

[Gedrin]

It's much worse... At TL-10 or 11, you could have bio-weapons that target behaviors. Here are some examples:

Pro/Anti-monogamy: A weapon that triggers based on the number of sexual partners you've have while infected.

Pro/Anit-food: A weapon introduced to a particular foodstock that, while harmless to the food, is deadly to those who do/don't eat it.

Pro/Anti-fertility: The weapon contains a genetic counter triggered by childbearing with a timer and age gauge. Anyone who does/doesn't have X children by age Y dies.

Pro/Anti-object: The weapon is triggered/prevented by exposure to certain materials.

Pro/Anti-thought: The weapon triggers based on neurotransmitter levels. The TL-11 version targets specific thoughts.

In other words, you could make a weapon that kills on two conditions: A: "Doesn't think the way I think they should" and B: "Studies bioscience". Good luck.

[Keiko]

Thanks for your thoughts.