Fen's

Additive manufacturing(or 3D printing) has become more and more popular in recent years. Due to personal ideas, this technique could create individual objects from violins to pilotless aircraft. Now, the Gene Duplication Corporation decided to focus on the technology and use 3D printing to make tailor-made pets.

DeneDupe has previously devoted their research on the genetic engineering of animals. However, they start to research another technique, for example, printing an organ for transplant. Printing an organ is a easy way to help people. DeneDupe used a new skill to analyze the position and nature of every single cell in many kinds of animals. This technology not only creates an animal which we already knew, but allows making the new combinations of form, color and behavior from the client’s command.

However, they met a tough problem which unresolved will prevent progress with nerve cells, because nerve cells control different temperaments. Therefore, GeneDupe could provide pets which have special characteristics. Customers could make the pets which they like. There are still a few technical difficulties to overcome. They plan to produce custom-printed boyfriends and girlfriends for some people who cannot find soul-mates.


Q&A
1.    What are the ethical implications of this process?
A: In the article, GeneDupe would like to plan tailor-made pets. Maybe after a few years, they would start to produce tailor-made kids, husbands, wives and parents (well….actually, I doubt it.). But all of them are unnatural in the world. Humans  are special because they have their mind to think. This is so different between humans and animals. On the other hand, if the process is flawed in production, they would have many failed products. What should we do about the fail objects? Kill them? Or destroy them? That doesn’t sound like a good idea. I think there are still many problems to solve.

2.    Would you ever consider owning a printed pet?
A: No, I would not ever consider a printed pet. A printed pet couldn’t move and  play with me. Compared with the Nintendo Dog which is a pocket game, I would prefer the Nintendo Dog rather than a printed pet, because when I called the pet, the Nintendo Dog would give me many(some) reactions, but a printed pet wouldn’t.

3.    How will this technology affect the way we live in the future?
A: I think this technology will influence medical science. There are many sick people waiting an organ which they need. According to some researchers, human organs are close to some animals, for example, pigs. A few years ago, many scientists tried to find a way to use pig’s organ in medicism(or medical sciense). But works are continuing at present.