Charles Darwin created a theory of the development of species and natural selection without any clear comprehension of genetics. That notwithstanding, he got it ostensibly correct. He had no idea that genetic codes were as unambiguous as they are turning out to be, but he nevertheless realized that there was a powerful force, functioning in science, that had an effect on the development of species.
Very much like the black box game, he was able to postulate a theory based upon nothing other than seeing how those symptoms played out or manifested in reality.
The fact that he couldn’t explain “how” had no effect on the credibility of the theory, because the phenomena were consistent nonetheless and seemed to reflect some process beyond the tools of the day to explain.
Evolution and natural selection were steps forward in that explanation, far superior to anything postulated at that time.
Genetics continues that process forward as it takes the symptoms of evolutionary development and transforms it into an explanation as fundamental to the development of life forms as atoms and sub-atomic particles are to an understanding of matter.
Evolution is to the origin of homo sapiens what cosmology is to the origin of the universe.
Nonetheless, despite the science, and as far back as we place it from 7 days 10,000 years ago to the last 2.5 billion years over 14.5 billion years, there still remains lurking in the human soul the fundamental question – why? – and by whom?
Assume the next development of a species in which organs are freely transplantable or replicatable based upon simple science.
Assume a time in which organisms live based on transplantable and replicatable gene therapy . . . but with our minds and our souls.
Is that another species entirely? Is it the same species? Who are we when we have the opportunity to live for 100 years or indefinitely? Are we homo sapiens or are we some other life form? What does that do to our view of reality? What does that do to our view of life?
Assume even more a time in which we replicate transplantable organs with gene therapy and implant organic silica for the cerebral transfer of information in nano seconds.
How does that alter the calculus of discussion? How does that change our life views?
Are we the same species or different?
How do we live our lives under those circumstances?
Do we feel more . . . or less? Do we care more . . . or less? Do we love more . . . or less?