As you pointed out, the genie IS about of the bottle... and an almost infinite capacity to "explore possibilities" seems to be part of human nature. At one time, the intent behind the efforts of an evil empire like Monsanto was to end world hunger which is (to my way of thinking) a noble enough goal... but then the intent gets misappropriated.
So that leaves us trying to....? What? Control the fruits of our natural curiosity? Somehow teach a better value set? Making the notion of controlling the world socially and tangibly unattractive?
Don't really have any answers, just more fuel for the fires of discussion....