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Author Topic:   Genetic engineering to solve food crisis.
AnswersInGenitals
Member (Idle past 150 days)
Posts: 673
Joined: 07-20-2006


Message 1 of 10 (472279)
06-21-2008 3:08 PM


We are in an age of crises:
Global food crisis
Global energy and petroleum crisis
Fish stock collapse crisis
Global warming crisis
Global warming induced weather crisis
Deforestation and habitat loss crisis
Species loss crisis
Fill-in-the-blank crisis.
And, as our population continues to grow (at 1.2%/year) and the poor seek escape from their poverty (world per capita consumption is growing a 1.4%/year) these crises will only multiply and worsen.
But we are also in an age of genetics and genetic engineering. One of the most promising and actively pursued approaches to resolving these crises is to genetically engineer new varieties and even species of plants, animals, and microbes that produce more output for less input and thrive in the severest environments: drought resistant crops; salt water tolerant plants; nitrogen fixing crop varieties that require less fertilizer; plants and animals that produce food with less land or feed; and microbes that convert plant matter to energy rich fuels more efficiently. I would not be surprised to learn that there are groups researching ways to engineer fart-free cows.
Unfortunately, to have any significant impact hundreds of new varieties and breeds modified in hundreds of different ways will have to be engineered and this will take many decades, if not centuries, and impose unknown risks to the environment. The problem is that all this effort is attacking the wrong side of the equation. What we want to achieve is:
Production > Consumption
and all this research effort is concentrated on the Production side of the equation. All this expertise and resources need to be redirected to the Consumption side of this equation. The problem is not so much that there are 6.7 billion human consumers, but that there are over 600 million tons of human consumers. Tool much humanity, too little planet.
Instead of making hundreds of changes in hundreds of species, it is really only necessary to make one change to one species. If we could reduce human height from an adult average of 66 inches to an adult average of 22 inches, and thereby reduce average adult weight from 150 pounds to about 6 pounds, we will have more than solved all the above problems for many centuries to come. All of our area requirements will be decreased by a factor of 10 and our volume and mass requirements by a factor of 30. Food consumption will drop from 2500 calories/day to just 100 calories/day. A large city can be sited on 10 square miles instead of 100. Soccer fields and other sports venues will decrease in area by a factor of 10. A 9 hole golf course will fit into a good sized back yard. A mid-sized automobile will decrease in weight from 2 tons to 200 pounds and a two lane country road can be turned into a six lane super highway by just applying some white lane marker paint.
Perhaps the most compelling beauty of this proposed HUman Miniaturization Program (HUMP) is that for the few short generations that it takes to downsize the human population, there need be no consumption of our precious resources. Every time a Biggie dies, his car can be recycled to make two dozen cars for Minnies and his house can be dismantled and the materials re-milled to make 20 to 30 Minnie houses. The new saying will be: If you give a Biggie a fish, he can feed his family for a day, but if you give a Minnie a fish, he will feed his family for a month.
I know the HUMP concept will have broad support (particularly from Biggie broads attracted to the idea of a three month gestation period and no birth pains or stretch marks). Most of the research has actually already been performed and the required genetic modifications identified. This was done in a successful effort to cure slow growth rates and dwarfism in children by identifying and applying Human Growth Factor (HGF) hormone. HUMP will just apply this knowledge in the opposite direction. I'm sure that Christian Fundamentalists and other bible literalists will be amongst the strongest advocates for this program. They know that, according to the bible, this approach has already been used at least once. Genesis tells us that in the early days, earth was populated by a 20 foot tall race of Nofeelhim. This race was supplanted by humans, probably due to their exhausting their environmental resources.
So, what is my purpose in proposing this thread? Over the years I have come to have the utmost respect for the breadth and depth of knowledge and expertise of the members of this forum and so I believe this is an excellent platform to hone the details of the HUMP concept and develop the plans to bring it to fruition. I invite you all to join me in this great enterprise to effect a solution to mankind's most basic problems that will endure for millennia.
To Admin: I leave to your discretion as to where to place this thread. I personally believe it deserves a forum of its own.

Replies to this message:
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 Message 9 by anglagard, posted 06-22-2008 6:04 PM AnswersInGenitals has replied

  
AdminNosy
Administrator
Posts: 4754
From: Vancouver, BC, Canada
Joined: 11-11-2003


Message 2 of 10 (472300)
06-21-2008 5:17 PM


Thread moved here from the Proposed New Topics forum.

  
BeagleBob
Member (Idle past 5676 days)
Posts: 81
Joined: 11-21-2007


Message 3 of 10 (472338)
06-21-2008 7:57 PM


This is the most elegant and most horrible solution to human consumption I've ever seen.

Replies to this message:
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Coyote
Member (Idle past 2106 days)
Posts: 6117
Joined: 01-12-2008


Message 4 of 10 (472376)
06-21-2008 11:41 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by BeagleBob
06-21-2008 7:57 PM


Another modest proposal?
This is the most elegant and most horrible solution to human consumption I've ever seen.
It might be favorably compared to Swift's A Modest Proposal. As I recall that dealt with consumption as well.

Religious belief does not constitute scientific evidence, nor does it convey scientific knowledge.

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Taz
Member (Idle past 3291 days)
Posts: 5069
From: Zerus
Joined: 07-18-2006


Message 5 of 10 (472379)
06-21-2008 11:58 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by AnswersInGenitals
06-21-2008 3:08 PM


Jonathan Swift's A Modest Proposal is a must read for EVERYONE.
Added by edit.
I'd have to say that this is actually one of the best ideas, if not hte best idea, I've ever heard for the solution of the future population and environmental crisis. My first thought, however, is WHY THE HELL DIDN'T I THINK OF THIS?
Edited by Taz, : No reason given.

I'm trying to see things your way, but I can't put my head that far up my ass.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 1 by AnswersInGenitals, posted 06-21-2008 3:08 PM AnswersInGenitals has not replied

Replies to this message:
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no1nose
Junior Member (Idle past 5747 days)
Posts: 29
Joined: 06-11-2008


Message 6 of 10 (472407)
06-22-2008 5:37 AM
Reply to: Message 5 by Taz
06-21-2008 11:58 PM


Why not pump CO2 into the earth and make it bigger? Kill two birds with one stone.

This message is a reply to:
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AnswersInGenitals
Member (Idle past 150 days)
Posts: 673
Joined: 07-20-2006


Message 7 of 10 (472453)
06-22-2008 2:15 PM
Reply to: Message 3 by BeagleBob
06-21-2008 7:57 PM


Canines rule.
BeagleBob writes:
This is the most elegant and most horrible solution to human consumption I've ever seen.
It is not very big of you to belittle my proposal! Besides, what is so horrible about being 22 inches tall and six pounds? That's just about the weight and height of a cute little beagle.

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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no1nose
Junior Member (Idle past 5747 days)
Posts: 29
Joined: 06-11-2008


Message 8 of 10 (472474)
06-22-2008 4:09 PM
Reply to: Message 7 by AnswersInGenitals
06-22-2008 2:15 PM


Re: Canines rule.
Actually, according to Genesis some people think that the space for life in the universe was bound to the amount of life. The space for life on earth would grow with the population. Through original sin the size of the universe kept growing but the space for life became fixed. This is the root cause for the problems of overpopulation in an otherwise well designed universe.
Edited by no1nose, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
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anglagard
Member (Idle past 836 days)
Posts: 2339
From: Socorro, New Mexico USA
Joined: 03-18-2006


Message 9 of 10 (472481)
06-22-2008 6:04 PM
Reply to: Message 1 by AnswersInGenitals
06-21-2008 3:08 PM


A Modest Proposal Previously Purported
You do of course realize that this proposal has already been mentioned by (as opposed to in) Genesis in the Foxtrot album in the song Get 'Em Out by Friday
Specifically:
quote:
18/9/2012 T.V. Flash on all Dial-A-Program Services
This is an announcement from Genetic Control:
"It is my sad duty to inform you of a four foot restriction on
humanoid height."
[Extract from coversation of Joe Ordinary in Local Puborama]
"I hear the directors of Genetic Control have been buying all the
properties that have recently been sold, taking risks oh so bold.
It's said now that people will be shorter in height,
they can fit twice as many in the same building site.
(they say it's alright),
Beginning with the tenants of the town of Harlow,
in the interest of humanity, they've been told they must go,
told they must go-go-go-go."
However the idea of 22 inches as opposed to 4 feet is admittedly original.
Perhaps great minds do think alike.
Edited by anglagard, : more links for the musically innocent
Edited by anglagard, : fix bad link

Read not to contradict and confute, not to believe and take for granted, not to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider - Francis Bacon
The more we understand particular things, the more we understand God - Spinoza

This message is a reply to:
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Replies to this message:
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AnswersInGenitals
Member (Idle past 150 days)
Posts: 673
Joined: 07-20-2006


Message 10 of 10 (472482)
06-22-2008 6:39 PM
Reply to: Message 9 by anglagard
06-22-2008 6:04 PM


Re: A Modest Proposal Previously Purported
I just know that this proposal, so beautiful in its simplicity, so compelling in its concept, so irresistible in its logic, would quickly sweep the masses into its fold, attracting the multitudes of all ethnic backgrounds, religious persuasions, and metal defects. Now that we have a theme song, the only thing standing between us and total acceptance and victory is that we we need a banner with a really cute logo.
BTW, thanks for the heads up on the tune. Genesis! Are we really that old?

This message is a reply to:
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