The Bizarre Future of Genetic Engineering for the MassesJoshua Krause But does 3D printing stand alone in this regard? Are there other emerging technologies that might democratize fields beyond manufacturing, such as medicine or energy production? Surely, we could benefit from devices that allow the every man to diagnose their own ailments, or cheaply produce all their energy needs. But what about genetic engineering? What if everyone could access the tools required to modify DNA, and do so in the comfort of their own home? Before any of us have had the chance to question the ethical implications of such a device, it has already to been invented. The Singularity University, which was founded by Ray Kurzweil and Peter Diamandis, and is funded by mega corporations like Google, has unveiled a device that can create millions of strands of DNA from scratch, and they think it will allow DNA to become a consumer product. Buckle-up, youre about to see ego and hubris at its finest (skip to the 2-minute mark if you dont want to listen to Kurzweil blather on about The Singularity). This machine means that anyone with a wad of cash and a major in genetics could make all kinds of genetic horrors, like splicing different plants and animals or creating new viruses. And that just accounts for what people might do deliberately. We also have to consider the potential for mistakes to be made on a wide scale. In short, this device could change the future of life on this planet, and they treat it with all the levity you would find in an Internet startup. I dont want to sound hypocritical, though. Im a big supporter of technologies like 3D printing. I understand that it might fall into the wrong hands, and I accept that as the price we have to pay to live in a free society. So to be ethically consistent, I have to take the same stance with this technology. It has great potential. It could take the power away from those biotech companies that have the gall to place patents on the human genome. It could sidestep the medical cartel, and bring cheap genetic diagnosis and treatments to the masses. But it could also unleash unspeakable horrors onto our planet. And, ultimately, it cant be stopped. No human technology has ever been suppressed indefinitely. It always finds its way onto the marketplace, one way or another. I just wish the folks at the Singularity University wouldnt blindly hurl this technology onto the world, without stopping to consider the devastating consequences. Joshua Krause is a reporter, writer and researcher at The Daily Sheeple, where this first appeared. He was born and raised in the Bay Area and is a freelance writer and author. You can follow Joshuas reports at Facebook or on his personal Twitter. Joshuas website is Strange Danger . 