When did the Federation outlaw genetic engineering

[miraclefan]

Timo wrote:

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Dunno - sometime after ST:NEM, perhaps?

Timo Saloniemi

After ST:NEM? the ban was already there in earth law before even ST:ENTERPRISE!

[Aquehonga]

CorporalClegg wrote:

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No it isn't. Anyone who thinks this likely fails to see the big picture.

What Big Picture might that be?

Perhaps Arnold Layne could tell us.

[Timo]

You seem to be overstating the case here...

In "Dr. Bashir, I Presume" the supposed "flat ban on eugenics" is described thusly:

"DNA resequencing for any reason other than repairing serious birth defects is illegal. Any genetically enhanced human being is barred from serving in Starfleet or practicing medicine."

That's the long and short of it, as far as we know - even though the long of it is likely to be much, much longer outside our limited access to evidence. Here, the first half of the ban is on a specific technique, not on eugenics as such. And the second half doesn't ban supermen, it only prevents them from holding specific positions.

I could easily see the above law being consistent with "Unnatural Selection" in that research is perfectly allowable, even when application is not.

What "Cold Station 12" has to say on the subject is that Earth did indeed ban genetic engineering of apparently all sorts - resulting e.g. in the death of Archer's father. However, that ban might easily have been declared unconstitutional once the UFP was founded. Phlox and the Denobulans practice genetic engineering at the time, at any rate, as stated in "Borderland"; humans might have to yield to the will of the majority there.

Timo Saloniemi

[CorporalClegg]

Aquehonga wrote:

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Perhaps Arnold Layne could tell us.

Was that supposed to be funny?

[Aquehonga]

CorporalClegg wrote:

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Was that supposed to be funny?

Where would the humor be in that shameless, & sophomoric, namedropping of mine?

I'n not being sarcastic, I was just namedropping as I noticed your TrekBBS moniker.

Name dropping is obnoxious. I couldn't resist the splurge.

My bad



I still say Fed's ban on this stuff reeks of a neurotic stupidstitious OCD-like mentality.

ST takes itself way too seriously sometimes. To an absurd, obsessive & pathological degree,

[Dusty Ayres]

Aquehonga wrote:

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Where would the humor be in that shameless, & sophomoric, namedropping of mine?

I'n not being sarcastic, I was just namedropping as I noticed your TrekBBS moniker.

Name dropping is obnoxious. I couldn't resist the splurge.

My bad



I still say Fed's ban on this stuff reeks of a neurotic stupidstitious OCD-like mentality.

ST takes itself way too seriously sometimes. To an absurd, obsessive & pathological degree,

This whole thing smacks of the Butlerian Jihad for me, only it's biology and not technology that's prohibited. Anybody see the similarities besides me?