Decided NOT to take a DNA test

[reboun]

I was thinking of taking a DNA test but I decided not to because of a couple of reasons:

- I don't think they are safe at all because you donate your DNA to people you don't know. It is not certain that they will use your DNA elsewhere. They even have the chance to clone you.

- Too expensive for my budget.

[Vessna]

I was thinking of taking a DNA test but I decided not to because of a couple of reasons:

- I don't think they are safe at all because you donate your DNA to people you don't know. It is not certain that they will use your DNA elsewhere. They even have the chance to clone you.

- Too expensive for my budget.

These are all valid concerns especially the financial part. Although our science likely has the ability to clone humans, it is considered unethical and hasn't been officially done/confirmed. I personally wouldn't mind if I get cloned since my clone would not have any of my memories and unlikely to have the same personality. And hey, the purpose of evolution is to grow, survive, and reproduce. If cloning is a way to preserve my DNA, why not.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Do you honestly believe that it's possible to clone someone with a bit of saliva?

[Vessna]

Do you honestly believe that it's possible to clone someone with a bit of saliva?

As long as the epithelial cells are intact in saliva (the source of DNA), it's doable. Unlikely though, but not impossible.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

As long as the epithelial cells are intact in saliva (the source of DNA), it's doable. Unlikely though, but not impossible.

Extremely unlikely with the technology we have available. I would be more concerned about the privacy of my data or that it will be sold to third parties (pharmaceutical companies, for example) than about cloning.

[Vessna]

Extremely unlikely with the technology we have available. I would be more concerned about the privacy of my data or that it will be sold to third parties (pharmaceutical companies, for example) than about cloning.

Current technology allows gene transfer from a somatic cell to a donor egg with an empty nucleus. It's been done successfully on animal models. I agree about privacy being a major concern, not so much Pharma, but private insurance companies.

[Petalpusher]

Im preetty sure they are not going to want to clone you, specifically. Even if they could.

It's funny however because some people would pay millions for that.

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

Im preetty sure they are not going to want to clone you, specifically. Even if they could.

It's funny however because some people would pay millions for that.

Dictators and absolute monarchists, for example? For the current ones it's too late because of the age difference they would have with the eventual clone, but for their successors or heirs the ideal would be to be cloned at birth. Perfect for all kinds of alibis or to have the puppet clone assassinated in a possible coup d'état while the original is enjoying his offshore in the Bahamas.

[Beowulf]

I don't see the problem of having a clone of yourself, if i had one of me i would make him work and clean the house for me :)

[Brás Garcia de Mascarenhas]

I don't see the problem of having a clone of yourself, if i had one of me i would make him work and clean the house for me :)

Until the day he escapes from your domestic slavery, kills someone and the DNA left at the crime scene leads back to you.

[Beowulf]

Until the day he escapes from your domestic slavery, kills someone and the DNA left at the crime scene leads back to you.

I didn't thought about that lol.

[Petalpusher]

Dictators and absolute monarchists, for example? For the current ones it's too late because of the age difference they would have with the eventual clone, but for their successors or heirs the ideal would be to be cloned at birth. Perfect for all kinds of alibis or to have the puppet clone assassinated in a possible coup d'état while the original is enjoying his offshore in the Bahamas.

Possibly but i was thinking more about all sorts of transhumanism shenanigans, harvesting organs, increasing life span or just transfering yourself into a brand new body eventually, as backup.

The concern is completely unfounded with 23andme anyway, they don't even extract your full genome.

With that said if they want to raise my car insurance contracts based on some snp's, my knees are shaking.

[Vessna]

Dictators and absolute monarchists, for example? .

There is no current technology to create an adult clone. It's possible to create a cloned embryo that would have to be implanted into a surrogate, and then go through stages of in utero, birth, growth and development like a regular human. There is no apparent benefit of cloning tbh, it's like having a child. Since a lot of personality is nurture and environment, dictator's clone probably not going to develop the same personality and worldview.

[Vessna]

Possibly but i was thinking more about all sorts of transhumanism shenanigans, harvesting organs, increasing life span or just transfering yourself into a brand new body eventually, as backup.

The concern is completely unfounded with 23andme anyway, they don't even extract your full genome.

With that said if they want to raise my car insurance contracts based on some snp's, my knees are shaking.

It's easier to clone a tissue/organ than a human, not to mention the ethical part of raising a child just to harvest organs.

[Dušan]

I was thinking of taking a DNA test but I decided not to because of a couple of reasons:

- I don't think they are safe at all because you donate your DNA to people you don't know. It is not certain that they will use your DNA elsewhere. They even have the chance to clone you.

- Too expensive for my budget.

It is not expensive at all.

I think the real reason is that it will be proved that you have Balkan Slav genetics as descendant of Bosniak immigrants to Turkey, and you are far away from Turks.

[reboun]

I think the real reason is that it will be proved that you have Balkan Slav genetics as descendant of Bosniak immigrants to Turkey, and you are far away from Turks.

It is not a major concern for me as a lot of Turkish people also have Balkan Slav genetics.

[vandor]

I will take it when I'm in mood. Otherwise it's like 10-12 bottles of red wine, so I have some priorities xD

[reboun]

Do you honestly believe that it's possible to clone someone with a bit of saliva?

Yes. It is difficult but not impossible AFAIK.

[vandor]

Yes. It is difficult but not impossible AFAIK.

How would it hypothetically harm you?

[Sovanz]

Do you honestly believe that it's possible to clone someone with a bit of saliva?

I think it's possible, I do think the U.S government or area 51 has secret technology that still unknown to the public.

So yes I think they can. Your Saliva literally has enough biological information about you to be cloned.

[gixajo]

Yes. It is difficult but not impossible AFAIK.


If someone had the ability to clone you, they would also have the ability to go to your house and obtain your DNA directly from you, and of better quality than they could obtain from a saliva sample that was passed around from airport to airport for two months and obtained in an amateur way by the person themselves.

And if one day an authoritarian government governs us and they are interested in having the DNA of all citizens, they will force you to do it anyway.

But yes, it is true that when you think about it, all of this is quite disturbing.

I have an unused AncestryDna Kit at home...Do you want it? :)

[~Elizabeth~]

I recommend Family Tree DNA's "Family Finder" autosomal test. It is now $59.

https://www.familytreedna.com/

https://www.familytreedna.com/products/family-finder

[Vessna]

I don't see the problem of having a clone of yourself, if i had one of me i would make him work and clean the house for me :)

Wouldn't it be easier to get a robot to perform domestic tasks? With the way AI is progressing, we might have some simple domestic robots soon. More humane than enslaving your cloned self :D

[gixajo]

Wouldn't it be easier to get a robot to perform domestic tasks? With the way AI is progressing, we might have some simple domestic robots soon. More humane than enslaving your cloned self :D

A clone with a programmable brain would be Ok.

Infinite possibilities would open up with this, from simple domestic slaves, to soldiers or sexual slaves.

Or to use your clone as a simple "organ farm", like Asimov's Tleilaxu or the movie GATTACA.

[vandor]

If someone had the ability to clone you, they would also have the ability to go to your house and obtain your DNA directly from you, and of better quality than they could obtain from a saliva sample that was passed around from airport to airport for two months and obtained in an amateur way by the person themselves.

And if one day an authoritarian government governs us and they are interested in having the DNA of all citizens, they will force you to do it anyway.

But yes, it is true that when you think about it, all of this is quite disturbing.

I have an unused AncestryDna Kit at home...Do you want it? :)

DNA may be literally obtained in millions of way during some medical examination, if someone would need to do it they would easily do it another way instead of some small group of people who want to find out own ancestry.

[vandor]

A clone with a programmable brain would be Ok.

It sounds evil as fk

[gixajo]

It sounds evil as fk

I edit and added after this:


Infinite possibilities would open up with this, from simple domestic slaves, to soldiers or sexual slaves.

Or to use your clone as a simple "organ farm", like Asimov's Tleilaxu or the movie GATTACA.

Yes, the possibilities can also be disturbing and sinister.

[gixajo]

DNA may be literally obtained in millions of way during some medical examination, if someone would need to do it they would easily do it another way instead of some small group of people who want to find out own ancestry.

That is, in fact in the G25 there are many samples of populations obtained from sampling for medical purposes.Some were French, and France has one of the most restrictive legislations regarding DNA in Europe, or had them at that time.

It is as easy as obtaining it from a common routine blood sample, not to mention from voluntary blood donors.

Have any of them read the conditions of use that can be made with their blood?

Even with millions of COVID tests whose samples are taken with nose scrapings or saliva, they could have tested 90% of the European population.

And on top of that, this type of test has been repeated ad nauseam, so if a sample was not valid they could have 3 or 4 from the same person, and from tissues or saliva of their choice.

[rothaer]

I was thinking of taking a DNA test but I decided not to because of a couple of reasons:

- I don't think they are safe at all because you donate your DNA to people you don't know. It is not certain that they will use your DNA elsewhere. They even have the chance to clone you.

You donate your DNA every time you leave your used cup and cutlery in a restaurant.

Most people in developed countries do not even repruduce themselves sufficiently because they find rising their own children too laborious. And then you think anyone could be interested in making the extraordinary effort to clone you? :joker000:

Come back to reality. The world is crowded with 8 billion humans und the number grows quickly. Nobody is in particular interested in you and your DNA. In contrast, if you want anyone to handle your DNA you will be charged.


- Too expensive for my budget.

It doesn't sound like a relevant reason.

[Vessna]

A clone with a programmable brain would be Ok.

Infinite possibilities would open up with this, from simple domestic slaves, to soldiers or sexual slaves.

Or to use your clone as a simple "organ farm", like Asimov's Tleilaxu or the movie GATTACA.

I don't think it'd be okay from an ethical point of view. Also, not sure how we would program a biological brain, technologically it's more difficult than programming a machine. It's more realistic to create a human-like robot and it's already being done. I think it's just a matter of time before AI/robots become our reality, similar to cell phones and the internet.

Speaking of Asimov, I was very impressed by his short story The Last Question. Not sure if anyone is into science/sci-fi but it's a nice short read.

[rothaer]

A clone with a programmable brain would be Ok.

Infinite possibilities would open up with this, from simple domestic slaves, to soldiers or sexual slaves. (...)

A tempting idea. :p


I don't think it'd be okay from an ethical point of view. (...)

For coming back to seriosity: Yes. In fact a clone is not different to a common human. Only the "production" differs.

I'd appreciate a clone of myself for another reason. It could theoretically become the way to eternal life. We could rebuild the ageing body and if we once manage to transfer all memories to the new body, what exactly would then distinguish that from oneself?

[Vessna]

A tempting idea. :p



For coming back to seriosity: Yes. In fact a clone is not different to a common human. Only the "production" differs.

I'd appreciate a clone of myself for another reason. It could theoretically become the way to eternal life. We could rebuild the ageing body and if we once manage to transfer all memories to the new body, what exactly would then distinguish that from oneself?

And that's where the problem lies...it's possible, in theory, to digitalize our consciousness, with memories and experiences preserved. But currently there is no technology, even in theory (at least I am not aware of it), to transfer these memories into a living biological brain, unless we create some sort of human-machine hybrid. There are two great books by American astrophysicist Michio Kaku "The Future of Humanity" and "The future of the mind" that explore these topics in detail.

[rothaer]

And that's where the problem lies...it's possible, in theory, to digitalize our consciousness, with memories and experiences preserved. But currently there is no technology, even in theory (at least I am not aware of it), to transfer these memories into a living biological brain, unless we create some sort of human-machine hybrid.

I'm also not aware of anything close to that right now.


There are two great books by American astrophysicist Michio Kaku "The Future of Humanity" and "The future of the mind" that explores these topics in great detail.

Interesting. I'll keep that author in mind.

Maybe we could continue "living" with a kind of such hybrid "hardware". But the first aim would be to manage a transfer from one biological brain to the other. As for an interface we may think of a mashine-like one but maybe that is an unnecessarily long diversion and maybe a biological interface could be a short cut. Every night we sleep the hippocampus empties itself by transferring the content into the common brain memory. However that exactly works, it could be a road map for a biological transfer. Admittedly, this is now just some brainstorming.