[ExI] Limits of human modification

[William Flynn Wallace]

On Mon, Nov 23, 2015 at 5:19 PM, Tara Maya <tara at taramayastales.com> wrote:

> I predict the top genes parents would want for their children would be the
> following four kinds:
>
> Health
> IQ
> Beauty
> Talent (if this is separable from IQ, such as musical or artistic talent)
>
> And the progression of genetic alterations would probably go something
> like this:
>
> First - eliminate known deleterious genes (cancer, fat, extra chromosomes,
> genetic diseases)
>
> Second - chose the better of two genes; if mom has gene for music in one
> location but dad is tone deaf, choose mom’s gene; if dad has gene for
> spatial reasoning but mom lacks, use dad’s gene in that spot; the beauty of
> this is that the child is still 100% genetic offspring of parents, so can’t
> even be said to be a mutant of any kind
>
>  Third - If neither of your parents has the “optimum” gene for a certain
> spot, but another relative… or another donor, related or not … has the
> gene… or it can be made directly (I don’t know the tech involved), then why
> not add it?
> ​Yes, why not indeed?  I notice that you did not mention mental disorders
> such as neuroticism, which afflicts a large segment of the population,
> depression, psychoticism, psychopathy and others.  Very few families are
> mentally 'clean' and healthy.  And dental:  put dentists permanently out of
> business - maybe even create a gene that enables a lost tooth to be
> replaced/regenerated.  While you are at regeneration, regenerate telomeres
> and reduce effects of aging​.  bill w
>
>
>
>
>
> Tara Maya
> Blog <http://taramayastales.blogspot.com/>  |  Twitter
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>  Goodreads <http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2951879.Tara_Maya>
>
>
>
> On Nov 23, 2015, at 10:52 AM, John Clark <johnkclark at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> On Fri, Nov 20, 2015 at 7:49 PM, Rafal Smigrodzki <
> rafal.smigrodzki at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> ​> ​
>> I think that the most appropriate test for permissibility of human
>> germline modifications should be a composite of predicted net impact on
>> social utility assessed by a subjective measure
>>
>
> ​In the entire history of the world the human race has never agreed on
> what is good and what is bad, and although CRISPER may change many things I
> doubt it will change that.
>
>
>> ​> ​
>> and an objective measure.
>>
>
> ​And of course there is no objective measure of right and wrong.​
>
> ​> ​
>> The subjective measure would be a test of well-being.
>
>
> My ​
> subjective measure
> ​ of well-being is to be smart and have smart kids, your measure may be
> different but there is no disputing matters of taste.​
>
>
>> ​> ​
>> The objective measure would be a suitable econometric instrument, such as
>> per capita GDP.
>>
>
> ​Choose any 2 economists ​
> ​and they will give you 2 mutually exclusive ways that they insist is the
> one and only way to increase the GDP. And that is even without CRISPER.
>
>
>> ​> ​
>> A first-generation IQ boost could become a net drag on the economy where
>> third-generation boost is needed for an entry job, so it might become
>> unacceptable.
>>
>
> ​
> And if one nation is able to prevent its people from receiving a IQ boost
> you can be certain that nation will soon be a footnote to history because
> other nations will not have such anti intellectual tendencies. But they
> probably couldn't enforce their
> Luddite proclamation because the children of those who went to the black
> market and defied their rulers edict would be smarter than those who
> followed the law and thus would soon be running the show.
>
>  John K Clark
>
>
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