Is exposure to radiation actually as bad as we think?

Question

Human beings are constantly evolving, or as I like to say: mutating. This evolution or mutation is an extremely slow process. But I feel that the evolution/ mutation process can be speeded up using radiation. If you look at incidents such as Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Chernobyl, terrible as they may have been, they cause some interesting growths and mutations in many of the children who were born after such incidents. I believe that these mutations are evidence of quickened evolution.

So why not expose pregnant mothers and young children to high doses of radiation to enhance evolution and send humanity forward to a better place at a faster rate? Yes, people may die from such treatment, but I believe that the more the human race is exposed to high doses of radiation the more we will become immune to such ‘poisons’ thus making us a stronger creature.

Answer 1

Actually this method has been used in the past for a lot of micro-organisms and plants. Random mutagenesis was caused by limited exposure either to radiation of certain intensity for a specific period of time or to chemical mutagens.
Since such mutations are random the probability that you get lethal or "bad" mutations is high and the probability that you get a "clean" mutation leading to a desirable trait is very low. Thus you would have to destroy millions and millions of lives before you could even get something remotely "acceptable".

Science is developing and now mutagenesis is targeted. Different tools are used (genetic engineering) which allow direct targeting of biological pathways. However our knowledge of the human molecular mechanisms is not at all complete and "playing" even with the latest tools would be a disaster.

I must agree with another answer, that you don't quite get the concept of evolution. Most people don't. I'd recommend you to read a chapter about it from a good biology textbook like "biology" by Campbell and Reece.

Trying to genetically engineer humans towards a certain direction is unethical in my opinion and it is a very big topic of discussion. Personally I believe that genetic engineering should be applied in humans only for curing genetic diseases and only after the methods have been sufficiently developed and all the parameters sufficiently explored.

Answer 2

You've been watching The Hulk , Fantastic Four, and other movies like them right? Well, any way, no. High exposure to radiation will almost definitely kill. There is no good thing in that. Also if you think that the results of Hiroshima and the defects that the children got are good, then I don't think you're trying to help at. You do have a point with the part of being immune to other things. If you have a LOW exposure of radiation and some kind of drug to make you immune to dying from the radiation, maybe, just maybe, you might be able to help but in general, your idea is a bad one. Never ever try to alter humans beings. The results may not always be what you want. Just like in The Hulk and Ultraviolet.

Answer 3

You read too many comic books...

From your question i'm assuming you are reffering to nuclear radiation. This can cause cancer, and birth defects. Exposure to certain kinds of radiation can kill you very quickly.

It seems that you don't understand much about evolution either. There isn't a pre-determined path that evolution is following. Evolution is the non-random selection of randomly occuring mutations. It happens very very slowly, over thousands to millions of years. Alot of evolution is determined by an organisms adaptability to its environment and the effectiveness of its sexual selection. That's it in a very very small nutshell.

As for the term "radiation," i hope you realize we are constantly exposed to certain kinds of radiation on a daily basis. As a matter of fact the Sun is a source of radiation. We are suited to endure small doses of certain kinds of radiation. Exposing "pregnant women" to "high amounts" of nuclear "radiation" would be extremely irresponsible and you would end up killing ALOT of people very slowly and painfully.

Answer 4

exposure to radiation damages the DNA!
and if your DNA gets holes in it, you will become a new species or your body will reject the mutation and you will die! only one among Trillions will survive a mutation! (Survivial of the fittest) and if you get mutated, your are not human. Almost all comic superheroes are mutants and not human like spiderman, hulk, etc. Incidents of Chernobyl and Nagasaki and Hiroshima have only caused pain and suffering. Try Yoga and meditation(Rajayoga) to lead a better life

Answer 5

If you expect to make a persuasive argument supporting this claim, you will need to convince us that mutation caused by radiation really does "send humanity forward to a better place." Natural mutations are much more subtle than those caused by radiation poisoning and don't lead to debilitating and life-threatening conditions.

Answer 6

you're gonna get some backlash for that question i guess. but fair do's its you opinion. I don't know how the whole mutating thing made people's lifes any better or easier and the "evolution" there seems quite unnecessary. Evolution is supposed to happen naturally, which would prevent many deaths, so i think it should just be left alone!

Answer 7

Each CT scan is equal to about a day at the beach (in terms of sunbathing). I would say not to worry, you mention you've had these over 10 years, it's when they're done in a short time span it's a health risk (I think). The benefits outweigh the consequences of not being checked out, if your doctors seem to think it's okay to give you this many scans, you're probably fine xD

Answer 8

Of course not...it's a matter of degree. I get nuked every time I go outside during the daytime (the "Sun"), go to the dentist, use my microwave or TV, walk by my smoke detector, etc.

How come folks live in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Three Mile Island, Chernobyl...etc. if radiation automatically kills them?

Answer 9

What you're really asking about is the good of the individual verses the good of the whole. Yes, going around hurting people on purpose might speed up evolution, but it would suck for the people who get hurt.

Answer 10

of course it is . Imagine if the uranium radiation is hardly blocked by the thickest metal sheets, what will happen to us?
many radioactive scientists in the past have died due to radiation which causes cancer
actually the radioactive elements disturb our genetic elements