Creationism

After watching the movie Prometheus, I got to thinking about the creation and manipulation of life. It would be impossible for humans to "create" life in the pure sense of the word. Even if we were to create some new species through genetic manipulation, it would be that--manipulation of life. The building blocks are there. And so, at the incredible rate we are advancing scientifically, I see it as very possible, if not probable, that we will be able to harness the power of building within the near future (be it ten years or a hundred). That leads to several questions.

Why would we build? Two of the three reasons I can think of were included in Prometheus, as it happens:
     1. to use for comfort and entertainment purposes;
     2. for war;
     3. because we can.

Who wouldn't want a genetically modified smart-dog that could understand you? Or go to a zoo and see a saber-tooth cat?

However, that's not what interests me. Would we, if we could, build humanoids? These would be very different from robots. Computers obey, animals respond. It would be insanely dangerous for humankind. But then again, that's a question of morality and not science, and so it is moot (there are many scientists currently attempting to find out how to stop the aging process--imagine the ramifications of 7 billion people who could live "forever"). So, we would build some humanoids, and my bet is we'd send them to war.

Although, if I were in charge, which I sure as hell won't be, I'd do this: make them asexual. That, of course, might well be impossible. Castrate them at birth (would it be called "birth"?)? Create a eunich army? Civil rights groups would be up in arms, and soon, I imagine, we'd have two different races of people inhabiting this planet.