We need a conversation about the future of human genetic enhancement • Hacker News Board

Re: We need a conversation about the future of human genetic enhancement

#11

Post by nickbauman » Wed, May 04, 2016, 4:11 PM UTC

RogtamBar wrote: post #8

nickbauman wrote: post #3

I always have this thought with any kind of gene splicing activity: "Let's change this very, very large, very, very old system that we don't really understand by just tweaking this one value that we're pretty sure does X ... and put it back into production. What could possibly go wrong?"

Human biology is a rather robust system. https://westhunt.wordpress.com/2016/01/09/survival-of-the-fl... >"Let's change this very, very large, very, very old system that we don't really understand by just tweaking this one value that we're pretty sure does X ... and put it back into production. What could possibly go wrong?" In a good number of cases, what some nucleotide does is pretty obvious. There is a safer appr…

The Ashkenazi Jew intelligence being higher is probably a myth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_Jewish_intelligence

Re: We need a conversation about the future of human genetic enhancement

#12

Post by nickbauman » Wed, May 04, 2016, 4:14 PM UTC

x1798DE wrote: post #6

nickbauman wrote: post #3

I always have this thought with any kind of gene splicing activity: "Let's change this very, very large, very, very old system that we don't really understand by just tweaking this one value that we're pretty sure does X ... and put it back into production. What could possibly go wrong?"

I don't think that really makes sense because biological systems are constantly being recombined naturally. You're not introducing anything new, just creating a new combination. Every act of sexual reproduction is "tweaking" on two existing models in production that "work" as is. It's more akin to putting out a new library or programming language (designed thing) into the internet (complex ecosystem).

Mcclintock aside, nature doesn't vault the spices barrier when recombining. So putting a fish gene into a plant (arguably the earliest use of GMOs in our food) is not something that could be considered "recombined naturally".

Re: We need a conversation about the future of human genetic enhancement

#13

Post by RogtamBar » Thu, May 05, 2016, 1:51 PM UTC

nickbauman wrote: post #11

RogtamBar wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Human biology is a rather robust system. https://westhunt.wordpress.com/2016/01/09/survival-of-the-fl... >"Let's change this very, very large, very, very old system that we don't really understand by just tweaking this one value that we're pretty sure does X ... and put it back into production. What could possibly go wrong?" In a good number of cases, what some nucleotide does is pretty obvious. There is a safer appr…

The Ashkenazi Jew intelligence being higher is probably a myth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_Jewish_intelligence

A myth.

How do you then explain the glaring over-representation in sciences, scientific awards received and so on? (about 10x)

And that coincidentally Ashkenazi Jews outscore others on intelligence tests?

Are they all cheating? Is that what you are trying to say?

Re: We need a conversation about the future of human genetic enhancement

#14

Post by nickbauman » Mon, May 16, 2016, 12:33 AM UTC

RogtamBar wrote: post #13

nickbauman wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Ashkenazi Jew intelligence being higher is probably a myth. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashkenazi_Jewish_intelligence

A myth. How do you then explain the glaring over-representation in sciences, scientific awards received and so on? (about 10x) And that coincidentally Ashkenazi Jews outscore others on intelligence tests? Are they all cheating? Is that what you are trying to say?

Not at all. The world Ashkenazi population has maintained cultural emphasis in the intellectual pursuits for centuries. I should know. I grew up with them. Their reverence for intellect and the life of the mind borders on the holy. If only more of us cared in the same way.