Mairlyn's Photos - Aug 2 2025 - Sydney Sweenye's blue genes,jeans

 

CBC Radio has media analysis talk shows  - Elamin Abdelahmoud's Commotion each day takes on a popular culture event of the day.  He gathers other younger commentators/analysts and I get to hear "how people talk today" about various topics.  The occurrence of "um" and "like" in their conversation is rampant. I think they should get some elocution lessons to be on national radio. I did listen intently to their analysis of Sydney Sweeney American Eagle ad.  The eugenics word came up over and over. It is not surprising given her pale skin, blonde hair and blue eyes, with the supposed play on words of genes and jeans.  Or is the interplay jeans and genes?  Along with the tone  of her voice - some called it lighthearted, others say she's in on the joke, and engaging, I can hear a confident tone that arrives at being pompous.  We shouldn't be surprised that eugenics is making a comeback.  It originated out of the notion of improving genetic quality and maintaining white supremacy.  It had a big movement in the U.S.until the mid-20th century with scientific research supported by Carnegie, Rockefeller and others.  Eugenics programs faded away.  But the notion didn't leave - there were forced sterilizations of women inmates in U.S. prisons as recent as 2020.   All this genetics talk and concern over genes is compelling.  Genetics is a universal theme.  What was in the Globe and Mail this morning?  An article that scientists have identified the specific genes to led them to propose that the potato came about many millions of years ago due to a natural hybridization between early potato-like plants and tomatoes.   Hybridization seems to be everywhere - in  the physical world and in our minds.      Here's one of Marilyn Monroe's famous lines.

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Your Birthday Gift - Gene Hacking CRSPR

How to be a biohacker.  That was the topic on the CBC radio yesterday.  Can you imagine thinking you could be a genetic engineer by reading an article on the internet?  People carrying out genetic intervention activities are called biohackers. The person who started this is Josiah Zeyner who live-streamed dosing himself with homemade  DNA intended to genetically enlarge his muscles - this is called CRISPR.  These seem to be more stunts than science as he does these in front of reporters or live-streaming.  For example, he sterilized his body to 'transplant' his entire microbiome in front of a reporter and has attempted to genetically engineer the colour of his skin. Zayner isn't just an "internet scientist".  He has a PhD in biochemistry and biophysics.  So he's both a biohacker and possibly a professional.  There's potential here for science fiction consequences. What did the scientist being interviewed on CBC caution about this?  There is always a downside in evolution.  One thing is gained, but something else is lost.  In scientific experiments there has been a loss of immunity in the mice subjected to DNA reeingineering.   So this is my science fiction scenario.  A wave of biohacking has occurred decades ago.  Human life has been extended by at least 50 years.   There are hundreds of thousands - perhaps millions of 150 year olds.  However, they are living in isolated hospitals because they have no immunity, and they are both frail and demented.  There appears to be no end to their lives - no one is dying. With no expectation of them dying soon,  and society is collapsing under the medical costs, what will happen?  Will euthanasia be voted in as the solution to the problem in the plebiscite coming up?  So Zayner has achieved his goal. "I see myself as a scientist but also a social activist with some of the experiments I’ve done. Like, how can I do this experiment from a scientific way but also to make people think?" He certainly got me thinking! Here's more from the Augusta show.