In my most recent release “Resisting Command”, DNA manipulation plays a big part in the plot. It began with an idea.
What if there was a “genetic war” where two alien species vied for dominance through genetic manipulation? What if humans had been space travelers long before the twentieth century and spawned a whole new race of people that look NOTHING like humans?
My newest hero, who is featured in the book I’m working on now, has been genetically changed through DNA manipulation. He wants to be part of this alien race and rejects his human origins. It’s dangerous and almost gets him killed. Ultimately, he must face the truth. That he allowed himself to be used by an alien to avoid facing his reality.
To me, genetic splicing is all about control. We genetically change our food to feed more. We genetically enhance our animals-through natural selection or in the lab, the results are the same. Look what we’ve done with dog breeding? The idea that we can use a lab to “make life easier” has its good points and its dangers.
In a way, I agree with Dayna. We are arrogant. We often find new ways to interfere with nature, but we rarely know the consequences. But then, the strides we’ve made against disease and hunger are truly amazing and essential to our survival.
As with everything else, it’s a balance. In my books, I can explore the “what ifs” with the only long suffering being my characters. Real life scientists explore them with much larger implication.
All in all, I sometimes wonder if we know what we’re doing. I always think of the Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times.” We certainly do.
June 29th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I always kind of assume we DON’T know what we’re doing. When you’re out on the cutting edge of science, every step further is a leap of faith, isn’t it? Brace ourselves for the worst (blowing up the planets and everyone on it), hope for the best (curing all disease and living HEA).
June 29th, 2008 at 9:49 am
I think the thing that fascinates me is the way the scientific community resists changes. Perhaps that keeps us from blowing ourselves up. LOL.