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Comment by devrandomguy | Hacker News Reader

The problem with not editing the germline, is that that could easily be used to implement a DRM scheme. The recipient of this sort of editing might have a very high chance of only producing disabled or dead offspring, as they themselves would have been, without intervention. They, and their descendants, would have to procure this same treatment in order to procreate.

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Orphan Black plot

I can’t imagine anybody in their right mind would create a genome that had a DRM. Furthermore, would you sign up for a procedure like that? Also it’s a violation of somebody’s human rights to stop them from reproducing!

What is really happening is that normal copies of the human genome are being incorporated. Which are then passed on to your sperm/ovum.

It's already done for some genetically-modified crops. I don't know about the state of practice for animals.

While the technology exists, so-called "terminator genes" have not been implemented due to opposition from anti-GMO activists and other groups: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_use_restriction_techno...

Huh, thanks for the correction.

On the other hand, if you make a fish-pig that lives off algae and tastes like bacon, perhaps "terminator genes" is a sensible protection to avoid accidental destruction of the biosphere? (The "terminator genes" could end up going both ways in terms of containing engineered species).

Starry-eyed young lovers will fall for a DRM scheme, if they can be convinced that it is for the children.

"Our award winning, holistic, proprietary life-experience program leads to superior outcomes, when compared to competing life experience programs. Doctors know it, children's services favor it. So, what kind of life experience does your future family deserve?" Enter perfect puppies.

At first glance, I read: "Starred-crossed lovers will run afoul of DRM scheme - to whit, a remix:

Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life; Whose misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife. The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children's end, nought could remove, Is now the two hours' traffic of our stage; The which if you with patented ears attend, What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.

There are enough sociopaths in the world, that nobody needs to sign up for a procedure like that.. its easy enough to buy genetic material, millions of people the world over are desperate enough for a better life that they will sell themselves and each other.

Boy do I have news for you https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_use_restriction_tech...

Honey... Monsanto patented the kids!

> I can’t imagine anybody in their right mind would create a genome that had a DRM. Furthermore, would you sign up for a procedure like that?

Most problems with the world are because there are a lot of people who don't make decisions based on a right mind. A few are because of insufficient information or insufficient technology to open up other choices, but most problems in economics and politics are caused by people being jerks to each other.

Have you kept up with what is going on with agri-business and GMO seed stock licencing lawsuits in the last few decades?

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