Genetic Engineering

Exactly what I'm thinking...
Also, what if the opposites happened? An experiment gone wrong? And they have a defect mutation instead? Will they let them go free, help them? I doubt it...

I believe in a future full of mad genius and super science so I'm all for it.

Actually by the time we do start actively doing something like that in the military, we won't really have a problem with random mutations as gene-mods will be fairly old by then.

Well, if you're breeding them for war anyway, you could always "modify" them so that they are naturally unintelligent in things not dealing with following orders, then just put them on standby until they are needed again. I dunno, freeze 'em or something.



simple: people fear death. Hell, I do too, and I'd rather live with a potentially infinite lifespan if it means learning all the universe can teach us. Besides, there is no such thing as true immortality. Science CAN advance to the point that we find a way to "cure" aging, but it doesn't change that people die if they are killed.

Odds are, we'll find a way to fix the environment before we figure out how to stop aging...or we'll leave for a new planet. Honestly, I'm betting on the second one.

Dumbing down troops is a stupid idea, improvisation is a very helpful thing to have in a combat situation, otherwise it breeds a lack of creativity in tactics and unit use I've already stated that cloning people for combat is a bad idea because they could all make the same mistake at once, dumbing them down, in any way, is another way of duplicating those types of mistakes.

I don't see why not. Anytime they outgrow something they pass it on to the general populace. Thats how we got microwaves, radar, and other technology. Now, let say America is doing this while the rest of the world is unable. Then they "obsolete" guys can travel freely since the scenario would look like this

Generation 1 (obsolete)
Generation 2 (currently serving)
Generation 3 (being born/grown)

Once Gen. 3 is released from the academy the previous Gen. would be move to obsolete status and their genes would be added to a library for the general populace to pick and choose from.

There are several scenarios that could be used when it comes to the next generation

Scenario 1: No natural births, pure cloning/test tube babies (subject donate sperm and eggs instead of impregnating the woman) while only manipulating certain genes to prevent disease,defect (leaving genes related to appearance and similar things up to nature) Academy starts as soon as age 2.

Scenario 2: Natural Births and like spartan society Academy starts around age 8-10

Scenario 3: Soldiers are cloned and grown while the general populace goes about it business and soldiers are sent to academy when possible (age 2+). When a generation of soldiers are obsolete their genes are added to the "library" for the general populace. Obsoleted soldiers are decommissioned into the general populace or take commanding roles (taught to command in the field and in the academy) those who aren't promoted are given non combat oriented roles (medics, mechanics, researchers).

The whole thing is a mixture of ideas and I would have to seriously sit down and think hard for a while before I could have a concrete idea.

But that's the FUN in it, though.
Remember, infinity is long, and longevity teaches an interesting lesson:

When life is no longer constrained by our body's measly 100 or so timespan, one becomes aware of just how much life there is, and how little of a difference a life lost makes.

Right, which one of these we go with will determine the outcome. The Spartan-IIs of Halo were treated as regular service members despite their unique backgrounds, one of them was shown in the Halo graphic novel as having retired from the military and was currently in the reserves while living a married life. Captain America lives a normal life since he was taken out of the picture for 40+ years, except that he likes to continue serving in the form of a superhero. I can't think of any other super soldier projects the normal people would get the reference too... I think however they would treat any type of super soldier as a normal person for purposes of retirement and what not.

whenever i hear the words genetic engineering, it reminds me of i don't know, Zombies, Mr.47s and X-mens. and Unfortunately a lot of people die in those shows.

besides, immortality wouldn't exist, not for humans.

why don't we just live our lives as it is, death is a fate that we all must go through, why bother wasting all this time escaping from it when we can just sit back enjoy our lives while we can

Who cares about immortality, I want super strength, that way things don't weigh as much to me so when I do have to do stuff I fell like I'm doing less.

Genetic engineering has its pros and cons, but for the purpose of this topic, I shall look at it from the issue of the rich-poor divide.

Assuming that genetic engineering is legalized in a number of countries, it would be the rich families that can afford to take advantage of such technology, making their children more intelligent, more resistant to diseases, etc. On the other hand, the poorer families, perhaps even the less developed nations, will be placed at an even greater disadvantage since they are most unlikely unable to afford the use of genetic engineering.

Not really what I was going for. Its more of a question of as a society where everyones children are genetically altered instead of those that pay for it. I'm not really going to get into how this would occur but, just skip that detail in your head and just think if its right for us to play god with ourselves.

Wont happen anytime soon, too much of a religious issue for it to become commonplace in most countries... It will probably become legal in places like Mexico/South America first followed by Europe.

I definitely agree with this sentiment. Certain implementations of genetic engineering will definitely widen the class gap that is currently at an all-time high. I highly doubt that just because they come out with some amazing new type of tech in regards to it, that the very poor will be able to afford it anytime soon, if ever. I don't think it'll be like some sci-fi novel, but there will definitely be a distinct difference in access, which will serve to further seperate humanity.

Well an insurance agency would probably be the source of gene-mods for poor children, it would be a precautionary measure and not much else, you wouldn't be getting too much else other than disease, mutation, and defect protection from it.

considering how devoutly Catholic Mexico and South America is, I kinda doubt it.

but with the lack of connection between their church and state there is by far a better chance that it will happen there than anywhere else; at least anywhere that can afford it... Avantgarde medical procedures are always first performed in Latin America...

This is moving a little bit too far in the "is it possible, how/will it happen" area.

Just imagine it like this. We all live in a single country and that country is technologically advanced enough that genetic manipulation is as commonplace people having birth in our current society. People think nothing of it since its so common. The society of our country has the general view that its acceptable for us to use genetic manipulation to improve the human species beyond what nature intended. The military uses cloning to create the perfect soldier for specific roles such as pilots, and etc. When the cloned "children" are sent to the academy its likely that a few will show even more ability than the rest those would be granted higher ranks when they graduate such as Corporal, Sergeant, and possibly Lieutenant while the the best of the older generation is granted that ranks of Major, Colonel, Brigadier General , General (same equivalent ranks in the other branches). Those that aren't promoted will be place in the reserves or national guard, boarder patrol, coast guard and such.

The general populace won't have to join the military but, at the same time will get the benefits of their work as technology is passed down to us now so will the genes of those soldier will be added to a library they could choose from. So the rest of society acts as normal (well, as normal as we could be). The process of passing on the previous generation is to keep the general populace from falling behind the military and setting up an imbalance. Though a possibility is to have the "parents" donate the egg and sperm and then altering the embryo. Allowing the child to grow in a controlled environment and once its born its given to its parents to raise . The schools they would go to would be similar to the academy the soldier go to but, while the academy focus's on things related to combat and the other things they need (physics, mathematics, etc) the schools would teach the Science, History, English ,etc. They would teach the same subjects but, different aspects of those subjects. The military would be under the control the the general populace (Such as how the Jedi in Star Wars were under the command of the Senate).

As being a country people would immigrate to our prosperous society. As the spartans only allowed certain people to become true Spartans (thus undergo the training) this country would require the immigrants to go through a period to gain citizenship. Once they become citizens (similar to how the Spartans did it) then they would be accepted into our society and could partake in the processes we use. Though once a citizen they wouldn't be allowed to leave our country to prevent other countries from taking advantage of us.

Yeah but that is like 100+ years of effort assuming our current society doesn't crash and burn, or perhaps because our current society crashed and burned. I've been wondering the last 10 or so years what would happen if we had a chance to start over, to rebuild the government....I think I'll start a thread on it, what say you, yes or no on starting a thread about starting a new government?

I think that some people would still want to give birth to their children I imagine it would be quite popular, for first time parents, but I do imagine them still doing a great deal of work in order to make sure it was an uncomplicated birth.