Genetic truths

There is no doubt that on earth, Nature has selected man alone to grow intellectually. If the intellectual development of human brain were to be a result of some genetic mutation, then the question remains as to how, in lakhs of years, such a mutation didn’t occur in a single other living being. So it must be realised that a `human brain at work’ enjoys special natural sanctity.

And also, wouldn’t opposition to research be undemocratic?

On the other side of the debate are the votaries of science who lose no opportunity to brandish it as a weapon to conquer Nature. Nothing can’t be more unscientific than to think in terms of conquest of Nature. Take for example, the mapping, decoding and engineering of genes. The simple basic fact is that whatever we all do is all controlled by our genes. And research is no exception. Even the genetically engineered human beings, which seem an imminent possibility, will function under the directives of their superior gene combination. Thus, genes will have their way anyway. There is, thus, no escaping our physical and intellectual subservience to genes. And genes are the creation of Nature. So, our claim of conquest of Nature is but a mere hollow arrogance.

But our subservience to Nature should not be seen as a sign of our inferiority to it. As a matter of fact, the question of inferiority simply doesn’t arise if we see ourselves as part of Nature. It is not for nothing that Eastern religions have acknowledged wholeness and not fragmentation as the universal reality.

But that is where most of us seem to have erred during the age of scientific revolution. We have fancied to see ourselves as independent from and of Nature. Once we come to terms with these realities, our self-created contradictory views will die their natural death and with it will die the `conqueror’s ego’.

The failure to achieve this oneness with Nature has paved the way for dangerous future possibilities. Thus, though it is the Nature which wants you to know about itself or simply doesn’t mind your unravelling its `secrets’, it will take no time to formulate its response to a recklessly ushered in biotech revolution. Maybe, some of us might well survive to witness that unfortunate day.

If that is to be avoided, we will have to follow a code of conduct before we unravel the code of genes. But that again will our genes decide. All we can say at the moment is let the genes of good sense prevail.