[extropy-chat] Michael Crichton's big question

[pjmanney]

Michael Crichton has asked the following on Yahoo Answers:

"What will be the biggest benefit for human beings from mapping the human genome?"

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AirO9Bdr1beewKiHGU1w3f_sy6IX?qid=20061204091713AAOIgyF

Approximately 2000 people have answered already.  Usually I find Yahoo Answers to be the very worst of the Vox Populi.  There is no wisdom to be found in any of their crowds -- usually.  But in answering this question, there appear to be a surprising number of people who might call themselves transhumanists or H+ers if they knew the concepts existed.

Obviously, the way the question is phrased will bring out a larger number of positive answers than would "Is there a benefit from mapping the human genome?" which would bring out more people who could answer the question with "No."  But it bears taking a look at.

PJ