If you ever listen to Thiel/Weinstein talk about the current lack of growth in much of the sciences, you may be inclined to believe that we are woefully overcautious in our medical experimentation currently. The FDA does a critical job, but many believe (including myself) that it is too overoptimized for avoiding bad headlines. The balance of risk is perhaps not appropriately there.
When you look at China, there exists a number of more wild experiments. Sean Parker looked at the CRISPR twins as a "Sputnik" moment in science. While that procedure has numerous valid criticisms, how can we in the west constructively move towards accepting more risk to promote more innovation?
I believe that China has a larger appetite for more risk in science, but they may not have a culture/politics that optimizes for "Screw the established thought! I have this new crazy idea!" kind of mentality which is potentially integral for medical advancement.
How can the west promote further scientific innovation to break out of this stagnating hump? No political party is currently having this discussion. Republicans may be more likely to deregulate and get out of the way, but simultaneously want to defund the NIH and NSF (critical sources of funding for basic research). Democrats may be more willing to spend on research, but do not consider the threat that regulations can have on innovation (ex. Company tries something innovative, something goes wrong, democrats may easily mark it into the narrative of corporate greed experimenting on patients. Bernie Sanders was one of the few senators who voted against the 21st century cures act).
Honestly, I think that China's being a good influence on the scientific community by doing experiments like this and the CRISPR kids from last year. The west is too beholden to social conservatism and hopefully, competition will help free us from it.
A good friend is a Chines ex-pat, and her sister is still in China, her sister is a gynecologist and during the one child policy days it wasn't uncommon to have the authorities bring in women who were full term and force the sister abort the baby.
As my friend would say, "My home country has absolutely no regard for human life."
The reason the twin's guy was punished is because he talked about what he was doing. I'm sure what China is doing to "undesirables" or "prisoners" is probably on par with what Mengle, and unit 731 was doing to people.
To think the Chinese are confining themselves to animal experiments would be foolish.
Where did I say we were good, please point it out, because I missed it.
When did I say I was white, again please point it out because I missed it.
We've proven that humans as both individuals, and as a species are capable of horrible atrocities. The behavior of humans, in groups, is dictated by the people in charge. The people in charge in China have proven themselves, repeatedly, to not value human life. I used one example in my post. Do I really need to list the systemic things the group of men running China have done to other citizens of China. I didn't think so.
As a group the men running China have a much different view on human life than the many of the governments around the world. What they support and encourage as a group I willing to bet, is probably beyond what most people in the world would consider acceptable. That's not to say the some parts of governments, and large companies aren't pushing the boundaries, not to mention well off individuals who are personally looking for an edge.
If you ever listen to Thiel/Weinstein talk about the current lack of growth in much of the sciences, you may be inclined to believe that we are woefully overcautious in our medical experimentation currently. The FDA does a critical job, but many believe (including myself) that it is too overoptimized for avoiding bad headlines. The balance of risk is perhaps not appropriately there.
When you look at China, there exists a number of more wild experiments. Sean Parker looked at the CRISPR twins as a "Sputnik" moment in science. While that procedure has numerous valid criticisms, how can we in the west constructively move towards accepting more risk to promote more innovation?
I believe that China has a larger appetite for more risk in science, but they may not have a culture/politics that optimizes for "Screw the established thought! I have this new crazy idea!" kind of mentality which is potentially integral for medical advancement.
How can the west promote further scientific innovation to break out of this stagnating hump? No political party is currently having this discussion. Republicans may be more likely to deregulate and get out of the way, but simultaneously want to defund the NIH and NSF (critical sources of funding for basic research). Democrats may be more willing to spend on research, but do not consider the threat that regulations can have on innovation (ex. Company tries something innovative, something goes wrong, democrats may easily mark it into the narrative of corporate greed experimenting on patients. Bernie Sanders was one of the few senators who voted against the 21st century cures act).
How can the west move forward?