Social Question

JeanPaulSartre's avatar

If we could alter our DNA so that we could live like plants, wouldn't that be an improvement?

Asked by JeanPaulSartre (5785points) March 26th, 2010

We retain all our other human properties, but no longer need to eat food, but could draw nutrients from the soil, sun and water. We would use photosynthesis, and consume CO2. Do you think this would be better? (Environmental pluses? Plant flexibility?)

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40 Answers

Simone_De_Beauvoir's avatar

It would be better for Earth – so I’m all for it. We have taken enough advantage of our planet.

rpm_pseud0name's avatar

I could not live without a bacon cheeseburger.

JeanPaulSartre's avatar

@rpmpseudonym Those would no longer taste good. But the sun would feel incredible!

majorrich's avatar

I think there was an article in popular science about isolating the chlorophyll gene and the possible ramifications of grafting it to the human genome. Imagine, solar powered people!

majorrich's avatar

of course, having to eat fertilizer may not be real pleasant (-:

JeanPaulSartre's avatar

@majorrich lol – Maybe we could send down roots…

rpm_pseud0name's avatar

Just so you know. I eat healthy. When I say bacon cheeseburger. I eat them maybe once a month & it’s made with turkey bacon, morning star soy burger, low fat cheese, mustard, lettuce, pepper, onion & pickle. To me, it’s the best tasting thing there is.

slick44's avatar

wow where did you come up with this?

majorrich's avatar

I could literally take root in my recliner. Hmmm… sounds better all the time.

slick44's avatar

Thats fasinating, what an imagination you have. bravo

Simone_De_Beauvoir's avatar

@rpmpseudonym Not that we’re discussing food choices on this q, but turkey is by far the least able animal to be factory farmed ever – that’s why it requires more antibiotics to be pumped into it before being slaughtered

majorrich's avatar

I thought I remembered discussing this somewhere. It was here all the time! heh heh heh. Greenies. Under the right conditions, we would consume more carbon dioxide than the oxygen we would need. Wars could be fought with Roundup Bombs! LOLlollollol

JeanPaulSartre's avatar

@slick44 Thanks! How’d those jello shots turn out?

slick44's avatar

lol was that you? shitty. im sticking to the bud and crown. come on over

Nullo's avatar

Plants don’t produce as much energy as people require to function normally, what with our muscles and brains and complex nervous systems and such. We would all be * ahem * vegetables, at best.

@rpmpseudonym Now take that and swap the turkey for pork, and the soy for beef, and then you’ll have something.
Sure they can get pretty close to the burger flavor, but soy can never mimic the texture of beef.

majorrich's avatar

We would be Hybrid Humans. Multi fuel capable.

rpm_pseud0name's avatar

@Simone_De_Beauvoir, is that what that taste is? I like it.

DarkScribe's avatar

We would need to arm ourselves against the vegetarian hordes.

DarkScribe's avatar

@majorrich I could literally take root in my recliner.

Do you realise that in many parts of the English speaking world, “root” is a euphemism for engaging in an act of sexual intercourse?

mattbrowne's avatar

Most reptiles have to shut down at night. Humans can eat when it’s dark and still log onto Fluther. But why not have both energy sources.

ucme's avatar

Yeah some women would be a penis fly trap,nasty.

lonelydragon's avatar

That would be awesome, and so convenient! At lunch time, all we’d have to do is go outside and hold our arms up to the sun. And no one would ever go hungry again.

wildflower's avatar

Feeding ón Sun rather than food doesnt Sound too bad, but i hate the idea of what it’d dó for mobility and traveling…..(and no, the irony of my username isnt lost ón me)

majorrich's avatar

My recliner is so comfortable its almost better than sex!

Simone_De_Beauvoir's avatar

@rpmpseudonym Sure thing – don’t tell anyone when you’re ever in a hospital unable to fight off an infection with the regular round of antibiotics

Coloma's avatar

It’s already perfect!

When god, the universe, nature decides to create shift, shift will happen.

I do believe that everything is exactly as it ‘should’ be right now.

Simone_De_Beauvoir's avatar

@Coloma Humans do a lot to alter the earth – so our depleting resources and global warming and all else is all how it ‘should’ be?

DarkScribe's avatar

@majorrich My recliner is so comfortable its almost better than sex!

I gather that your significant other does not read this forum? (Or are you very good at ducking?)

majorrich's avatar

Yup. 23 years of experience. She always goes right so I move accordingly. Besides, she throws like a girl. lol

Coloma's avatar

@Simone_De_Beauvoir

I never disputed that the earth and environment did’nt have it challenges, nor, that we should not do our part, however that shows up for the individual.

I only commented on things being ‘perfect’ as they are, in terms of there is no need for humans to be palnts, if nature decides to rearrange some of it’s species, it is quite capable of doing so. Therefore…we are humans and not plants, this means it is perfect now.

I think it would be very helpful if we all remembered to ask, if we are unclear on of anothers meanings.

JeanPaulSartre's avatar

For argument’s sake – lets say that it’s either we alter our DNA or become extinct – just to keep the discussion going.

Coloma's avatar

Well….it would probably be a 50/50 crapshoot as to which alterations/adaptaions made the grade and those that fell short before the shift. lololol

Simone_De_Beauvoir's avatar

@Coloma I wasn’t unclear.

majorrich's avatar

I imagine we will have to go nekkid most of the time because more surface area to be exposed. I think we fat guys will be at a distinct advantage. (-:

Nullo's avatar

Which brings up another issue: If we were to go the hybrid powerplant route, we’d have to worry about all of the “eating” that goes on when, say, we’re out jogging. Or in a lit room.

The food pyramid would be a nightmare.

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