Because Earth never faced an extinction-level Cyborg War, pretty much. I’m of the opinion that the primary reason for the Federation’s ban on genetic engineering is Earth’s enduring trauma from the Eugenics War.
So it’s nothing to do with eugenics itself?
Eugenics is a major part of that trauma, being part of the war. But banning all forms of genetic engineering across the entire multi-species alliance for centuries because it can go too far is a vast overreaction. Imagine if the nuclear reactors had been completely banned because of WWII, or if viral research was banned because of COVID, or if prosthetic limbs were banned because of Wolf 359.
You’re saying that banning eugenics is an overreaction to the eugenics war? Because there’s no evidence that genetic modification was banned in general.
I think they are saying that there is a difference between genetic manipulation and eugenics. While the latter is the former, the reverse is not necessarily also the case. Our concept of eugenics explicitly tries to perfect mankind, through genetic modification and selective breeding. This is the actually creepy part of doing it. People deciding for other people if their genome is worthy enough to be allowed to reproduce. Utterly incompatible with our understanding of individual rights.
It is also uncomfortably close to nazi ideology, with aryan / pureblood German genes being desirable, and other ethnic origins not so much, leading to sterilizations in the „best“ of cases, ethnic cleansing in the others.
That being said, there are those doomsday instructions in the American desert, for our successor civilizations on big slabs of rock, written in pictograms. And one of those rules explicitly tells them to perform eugenics, to ensure mankind never reaches our current population numbers again, so they may never have to fight over a shortage of resources. And to ensure those humans will live in harmony with our world.
Those doomsday instructions were in Georgia, and hillbillies blew them up a couple of years back.
Oh wow, that’s sad to hear, but not surprising I suppose. I hope they replace them in some way before shit hits the fan
I feel like you’re actively choosing not to read what I said, because literally the entire point of that post that I’m not saying that.
I’m saying banning all forms of genetic engineering is an overreaction to the Eugenics War. Not all genetic engineering is eugenics. Like any medical technology, when used wisely, it can be invaluable in helping people and improving their lives. The Earth was so traumatized by the results of eugenics that centuries later, they still mandate the entire Federation throw out the baby with the bathwater.
DS9 clarifies this a bit:
DNA resequencing for any reason other than repairing serious birth defects is illegal. Any genetically enhanced human being is barred from serving in Starfleet or practising medicine.
And in regards to the ban:
Two hundred years ago we tried to improve the species through DNA resequencing, and what did we get for our trouble? The Eugenics Wars. For every Julian Bashir that can be created, there’s a Khan Singh waiting in the wings. A superhuman whose ambition and thirst for power have been enhanced along with his intellect. The law against genetic engineering provides a firewall against such men
@michaelgemar @Taleya @startrek I’d guess that being several generations separated from her augmented ancestor introduced enough non augmented genes they make any remaining advantage in her genome not really distinguishable from random genetic advantages any person could have.
well by La’an’s birth there’s been no “interference” with her genetics. I know in Ad Astra she mentions carrying the augmentations, but we’re talking what, 200 years of distance. So spitball it as 8 generations. It would be fairly negligible at that point, so I don’t think it’s a rational fear on her part. It’s also highly likely that in the aftermath of the war Earth made damned sure the augments weren’t interbreeding, so you get standard human genomes just swamping it out.
Willing to bet that her genes got a thorough going over when she applied as well, and nothing flagged.
deleted by creator
The federation sure gets trigger happy with the banhammer at times, look at the synths.
Star Trek celebrates the diversity of humanity. The extremes of genetic engineering and (on the other side of the spectrum, perhaps) the Borg are symbolic of the corruption of that diversity.
For an in-universe explanation, I suppose you could just look at the degree to which cybernetics are tolerated. Rutherford-level cybernetics? No problem! Borg Queen-level cybernetics? Helm, warp nine, full reverse!
The Bynar are very tied in like the borg but it is all willing and for the most part they retain individuality at least down to the couples level.
Only reason the Borge are hated is the forced joining that removes individuality. The federation likely has no issue with the whole cyborg part.
I would argue the bynars are not doing it voluntarily either though. According to phlox in ENT, right after birth a surgeon removes a certain part of the newborn‘s brain, replacing and connecting it with their central computer.
And I would argue a literal newborn cannot give consent to this. The only difference to the Borg appears to be the larger degree of individuality, though that seems questionable too, considering how interlinked they are in the TNG episode.
Good points, however the federation still works with them…
True, i suppose the fact they only enhance their own species helps as well in making them palatable to the federation species.
Prime directive. The Federation can apply such ideals to their own citizens and to foreigners who ask for help, but not to foreign citizens who don’t ask. The Borg try to assimilate Federation citizens, so the Federation has a valid cassus belli for war. The Bynars aren’t attacking any other species, so the prime directive doesn’t apply.
Generally even ex-Borg, like Seven of Nine, aren’t disliked or mistrusted because of their remaining cybernetic implants. It’s almost always about their connection too, and implied complicity in, horrors and genocide.
Not a trekkie and writing from a real life perspective: genetic engineering cannot have the consent of the child whereas an adult may freely consent to become a cyborg. Moreover, genetic changes are permanent in the population whereas cyborg modifications end with the individual.
Those ideas coupled with the Federation having the legacy of the Eugenics Wars in the past probably motivate them to ban genetic engineering.
As many have pointed out, trauma from the Eugenics wars is a big reason behind the Federations stance on genetic engineering, but that’s just part of it. The Federation is a Utopian Meritocracy that celebrates diversity. Genetic Engineering undermines diversity and creates inequality in a society where everyone is granted an equal opportunity to rise and succeed. This is the other half of the equation as to why the UFP doesn’t like genetic engineering.
The Federation’s position on genetic engineering is not well considered
deleted by creator
