The genetic genie is out of the bottle. Someone will clone a human being about as soon as it's possible. Can't stop them. These people either did it or they didn't.

I'm thinking that the genetic genie may be the one which does in Mankind. People write computer viruses just because they can, and wreak havoc across the entire world for the fun of it.

As the technology gets easier, I think someone will "write" a real virus which could devastate humanity. For the fun of it. Maybe modify the AIDs virus, which is a particularly unpleasant thing. And hold the world hostage.

Actually, the AIDS virus is kinda dumb, as it kills its host. But maybe some nut could induce changes which makes it easier to infect. Sort of a viral "Ice-9".

OR, something will get "loose". Genes jump, are remarkably versatile, and the law of unintended consequences could create an effect which could be devastating.

For instance, salmon have been created which grow 4 times as fast as normal. What would happen to the food supply if that gene jumped to other fish?

Would we wind up with a lot of big fish fast, and then no food supply? Or would we wind up with the same number, just living 1 year instead of 4?

Dunno, but I do think that cloning humans is the least of our worries. And DNA may be the end as well as beginning of Mankind.

Arf