62 réponses à ce sujet

[The Ascendant]

Does creating Biotics count as genetic engineering? They exposed element zero to foetus' while they were developing, not to mention that the reason why all Asari are naturally Biotics is because the Protheans spent years of research to implement it in their DNA.

[Commander Rpg]

Hey! Good band.

Ol' Chuck is always one of my favourite artists, whoever he sung and played with, and despite some ideas I totally don't share. May he rest in peace.

[Ieldra]

Human genetic engineering has existed in ME since ME1, in spite of the attempts by ME2 and ME3 to do away with it by ignoring it. If a situation exists where it could be useful, it would be interesting to see it touched on again, but only if they deal with it competently and do their research rather than spamming prejudices and preconceptions and getting things all wrong.

 

As for the state of things IRL, with current technology it should not be hard to manipulate traits that depend on one gene, and legislation in several countries doesn't forbid it, but I'm not sure if it has actually been done. For many such traits, PID and selection would be more effective and less controversial for now, and for most others, the combination of genes that might influence them remains unknown. As with so many other things in biology, the human genome is something of a mess, with gene combinations, gene switches and epigenetic mechanisms that evolved through random mutations rather than systematic design that could be understood, which makes things extremely complicated. I think human genetic engineering will unavoidably happen - we understand the basics and we have a core of technology - but it may take some time yet to acquire the knowledge about what exactly you have to do for an intended effect without causing adverse effects.

[Silvery]

Terraforming in ME is supposed to be hideously prohibitive, hence why garden worlds are so cherished and protected.

 

True, but we are in a new galaxy and who is to say everyone would want to follow the rules from the Milky Way and the council there. The Ark might have some kind of council type group as leadership but still who says we could not try and justify more rogue decisions to colonize better. 

[Silcron]

I would like to see it.

Given our mission something like manipulating the respiratory system to allow the explorers to breathe in different atmospheres would cool, and a way to explain why unless in space we can choose not to wear helmets (I hope this option is not just available but hopefully you can toggle it for each character like in ME1).

Another thing would be improved eyesight (I've worn glasses since I was 4, and I'm looking into having surgery. This one is kind of personal). Also improved sense of smell, in case the explorers may smell a predator they can't see.

You don't exactly need humans with batwings on their backs, but some things make sense.

[Killroy]

Another thing would be improved eyesight (I've worn glasses since I was 4, and I'm looking into having surgery. This one is kind of personal).

Hold out hope, bro. In a few years you'll be able to get your retinal lenses replaced with artificial ones that will give you 60/20 vision, 3x better than "perfect" vision.
 

"The painless procedure, identical to cataract surgery, would take about eight minutes and a patient’s sight would be immediately corrected and they can do away with contact lenses and glasses."

[Iakus]

Why not?  HEck why not go three different routes

 

Harmony, Supremacy, and Purity! 

[The Ascendant]

True, but we are in a new galaxy and who is to say everyone would want to follow the rules from the Milky Way and the council there. The Ark might have some kind of council type group as leadership but still who says we could not try and justify more rogue decisions to colonize better.

God I hope not. I had enough of those idiots in the Milky Way. If they are aboard the instant we leave the Milky Way, they are going out the airlock!
We don't know why the Pathfinder is in charge of this expedition, according to the game they are the new guy, unlike Shepard who already had a name and reputation. Seems a bit odd that a noob would be in charge of a monumental task of exploring and colonising another galaxy.

[Killroy]

Why not?  HEck why not go three different routes

 

Harmony, Supremacy, and Purity! 

 

One and the ssssame.

 

[9TailsFox]

I don't remember Miranda having much problems from people because she genetically engineered. I think humans have no problem at all.

[Killroy]

I don't remember Miranda having much problems from people because she genetically engineered. I think humans have no problem at all.

 

It's not like Miranda was a public persona. She was part of a terrorist network. And she had problems with being genetically engineered. If she wasn't comfortable with it why would everyone else be?

[Master Warder Z_]

Its actually already in place and pretty common.

 

Every soldier in the Alliance has gene treatments, and the Alliance even has a gene firm on call to provide said treatments.

 

Civilians even have access to that tech, its not touched upon much, but neither is it nonexistent.

[Iakus]

Its actually already in place and pretty common.

 

Every soldier in the Alliance has gene treatments, and the Alliance even has a gene firm on call to provide said treatments.

 

Civilians even have access to that tech, its not touched upon much, but neither is it nonexistent.

It is.  But only to a limited extent, as shown in the codex:

 

Genetic Engineering 
In the 22nd century, manipulation of the human genome became commonplace.  Techniques for genetic engineering advanced to the point where the rich could custom-build fetuses that grew into stronger, smarter, and more attractive adults.  In more permissive regions, custom-designed life forms and "uplifted" animals occupied an ill-defined niche between "property" and "sapient being".

Travel to planets with unique forms of life brought an awareness that Earth's biodiversity could be lost if it spliced and hybridized to gain useful alien qualities. The Sudham-Wolcott Genetic Heritage Act was passed by the Systems Alliance Parliament in 2161.  It imposed sharp restrictions on controversial uses of genetic engineering, but provided government subsidies for beneficial applications.

 

SCREENING AND THERAPY: Most governments provide free assessments and corrective therapy for genetic diseases in prospective parents.  This has nearly eliminated everything from cystic fibrosis to nearsightedness.  The earlier screening and therapy is performed, the more comprehensive the results.  Though ideally performed on artificially fertilized zygotes in a lab, procedures are available for embryos in the womb and newborns, out of respect for personal beliefs.

 

ENHANCEMENT: Improvements of natural human abilities is legal, but adding new abilities is not.  Treatments to improve strength, reflexes, mental ability, or appearance are permitted; adding a tail or the ability to digest cellulose is not.  Some genetic enhancement is provided for free to Alliance military recruits, but the average citizen must pay for the privilege.  The process can take years to reach fruition in an adult.

 

ENGINEERING: Artificial hybridization of genes from compatible non-human species with human genetic code is illegal.  Creation of designed life is broadly legal (and mainly used for terraforming and medical applications), but sentient creatures are heavily regulated, and creation of sapient life is outlawed by both the Systems Alliance and the Citadel Council.

[Killroy]

^See, that's all interesting stuff that should actually be in a game instead of just text buried in a codex.

[wright1978]

Yes I'd like to see it explored further.

[ArabianIGoggles]

Hold out hope, bro. In a few years you'll be able to get your retinal lenses replaced with artificial ones that will give you 60/20 vision, 3x better than "perfect" vision.
 

"The painless procedure, identical to cataract surgery, would take about eight minutes and a patient’s sight would be immediately corrected and they can do away with contact lenses and glasses."

They'll charge an arm and a leg for it too.

[Killroy]

They'll charge an arm and a leg for it too.

Hopefully. I don't want a bunch of filthy commoners having the same amazing vision tech as me.

[ArabianIGoggles]

Hopefully. I don't want a bunch of filthy commoners having the same amazing vision tech as me.

I already have 20/20 eyesight.  Would that mean if I were to get this surgery I'd basically be superman?

[Killroy]

I already have 20/20 eyesight. Would that mean if I were to get this surgery I'd basically be superman?

Yeah. If Superman lost all of his powers and had 60/20 vision.

[SKAR]

You've provided no proof. Saying "watch an HBO show" doesn't support your claims.

Not this again. Designer babies are happening as we speak. There is a vice special on it. Research is being done. Why is it so hard to believe? It's not right but I guess we should've expected the day would come when humans start playing God.

[Killroy]

Not this again. Designer babies are happening as we speak. There is a vice special on it. Research is being done. Why is it so hard to believe? It's not right but I guess we should've expected the day would come when humans start playing God.

 

The only thing coming remotely close to what you're talking about is choosing the gender of the baby, and that's not even a flawless process yet. You saw some sensationalist "news" piece on HBO and are confusing things they said are possibilities down the line with things they said they're currently doing.

[Lady Artifice]

I definitely think it should be touched on, but I don't know how much I think it should inspire a sense of controversy. I guess it would make more sense to me for it to be treated as more or less normalized in the setting, and any moral or ethical objections treated as a minority, even eccentric, perspective. 

 

I'd support giving the protagonist a wide range of possible reactions to that reality, but no way to actually influence it's frequency within the story universe. 

[KamuiStorm]

Sure why not, I do believe that already exist to a degree openly in the verse. It could add a bit of tension to an already stressful situation and could due to how taboo some view such things could split the ark into two factions. Just imagine asari cat women, krogans infused with bull dna, salarians with kangaroo genetics(imagine a Roger version of a salarian, whose roger? Google Roger kangaroo, mofo is jacked.) Etc. It'd be pretty sweet or we could just invent devil fruits in mass effect. Imagine our pc being a rubber wo/man.

Dude can you imagine if Shepard was like monkey d luffy? "Oh whats that reaper scum?!" -stretches arm and pump smacks the reapers-. Okay I'll stop now..

[Khrystyn]

We don't know why the Pathfinder is in charge of this expedition. According to the game they are the new guy, unlike Shepard who already had a name and reputation.

 

Seems a bit odd that a noob would be in charge of a monumental task of exploring and colonizing another galaxy.

 

Yes, it will be interesting to see how believable the protag's background will be.

 

Your comments remind me about the limited background that Shepard had at the very beginning of ME-1. For an experienced starship commander and an N7, the prologue 'Shakedown Run' showed that Shepard had to have explained to him/her: the stealth system, the turians, what are Spectres, that that are no human Spectres, that Spectres work for the Citadel Council, and that the mass relays, the ship drives, and the Citadel were all based on prothean technology. Shepard was treated as a newbie, when I felt Shepard should have been the one telling others about all of that stuff. I hope the new N7 will be more informed at the beginning. I'm really looking forward to it.

 

 

Regarding the concept of genetic alterations being included in some aspect of the new ME story line, I don't have a problem with it per se. As with any part of any sci-fi story, I just want the science to be interesting and push the line in a way that hasn't been done before; a new wrinkle. This is a tall order for any story to pull off successfully. I've been thrilled with all of the stories I've seen in the Trilogy - it's been very enjoyable to play and study, even with the warts. I want more from the series, and I see no legitimate reason to worry in this 'agonizing' time period of speculation.

 

Here's a wikipedia article on genetic engineering as it has already been used in Science Fiction. I found it to be an interesting read.

[9TailsFox]

It's not like Miranda was a public persona. She was part of a terrorist network. And she had problems with being genetically engineered. If she wasn't comfortable with it why would everyone else be?

She had no problems with being genetically engineered, opposite - longer life spawn, probably health in general, biotic, smarts, looks. She had problems with her dad being a dick, and having no mother.