Genetic Aesthetic: The Futures of Shaping Life to Our Tastes

Abstract

The domestication of plants and animals differs from symbiotic relationships in its literal redesign of one lifeform by another. The shaping of lifeforms with the domestication of both animals and plants from canines to corn via selective breeding, hybridization and now genetic engineering confirms how evolution is governed more by culture and less nature. The focus here is on the theme of design in which we are fully involved as witnessed in our developing numerous breeds for our ends ranging from food to flowers. We created unnatural colors, floppy ears, and no procreation without intervention each of which run counter to what was heretofore natural order. Each of these alterations and innumerably more are artificial and entirely unnatural from a standard Darwinian perspective with market forces now determining the directions that were the province of evolutionary forces. The patenting of life forms, genetic mapping and gene splicing have only accelerated what was already a process of artificial selection. The piece concludes with discussion on the biases that have implications for life on this planet from our meddling with myriad species everywhere. Our preferences for the warm and furry over the cold and slimy is addressed suggesting that futurists should take the lead along with environmental scientists and bioethicists in critically assessing these biases in the context of the enormous complexity which comprises the web of life.