Ninth in the PE Series, Reviewing Chapter Seven

Want to see a video of pigs that glow in the dark? Click. "The pigs are transgenic, created by adding genetic material from jellyfish into a normal pig embryo." How do the pigs feel about this?

On another website, ScienceRay.com, commenting on the creation of human-spider goats whose milk can be treated to produce spider silk, a better question is asked: "Should planetary supremacy entitle the human race to inflict inhumane, unnatural acts upon any sub-intellectual life-form for financial gain?"

This and lots more information was shared in Chapter Seven of Pandemonium's Engine, Man Becoming His Own God? by Douglas Hamp. Learn more about Douglas and his presentations on his blogsite.

In the process of following leads given in his chapter, I came across some interesting quotations:
"The most powerful code is no longer a string of 1s and 0s." - "DNA Space. The Geography of the Genome," WIRED, June 2003
Definition of Life Sciences: "The science of using living organisms and/or their constituent parts to replace or augment products or processes. Life Science products include fuels, chemicals, lubricants, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, clothing, plastics and building materials." from https://www.biotechonomy.com
From the arstechnica.com website, quoted by Hamp on p 240:

Humanity is on the verge of becoming a new and utterly unique species, which [Juan Enriquez, Biotechonomy CEO] dubs Homo Evolutis. What makes this species so unique is that it "takes direct and deliberate control over the evolution of the species." Calling it the "ultimate reboot," he points to the conflux of DNA manipulation and therapy, tissue generation, and robotics as making this great leap possible.

We are already in the midst of minor improvements to the human body and mind; Enriquez gave examples of growing new tissues for successful transplant, programmable cells, and augmenting our abilities through robotics. As this trend accelerates, more and more aspects of the human experience, of the human life, will be capable of scientific manipulation. While some improvement may come post-birth, our understanding of DNA and biology may lead to something much bigger.

Hamp points out that chimeras are being invented. A chimera is a hybrid creature that is part human, part animal. Though many genomic discoveries in the biosciences are marvelous and helpful, others are dark and should never be permitted. He ends his chapter with this thought:

Man now possesses the power, via transgenics and transhumanism, to direct his own evolution. Tinkering with his code at the genetic level (DNA) is not only possible, but is currently being done. Strange animal hybrids are being made in the laboratory and even humans with animals are being experimented with; man is certainly open to improving himself in any way possible… Could the science of transhumanism and transgenics play a role in the rise of the Antichrist and the Mark of the Beast? Could technology allow Satan to create one from his own seed as Genesis 3:15 predicts? Satan's end game has been in the making now for many decades and will very soon be put into play.

That is a concept or definition of "seed" that I had not thought of. Several of the PE authors understand demonic "seed" as transhuman types of creatures, those not fully human but genetically altered. Yet, you do not need to have your DNA changed to belong to Satan and be his child. Just turn your back on God. You will be Satan's seed.

I've decided to "Keep Up with the Genome Advance of the Month" on genome.gov.