China’s CRISPR twins might have had their brains inadvertently enhanced

[The Stormbringer]

So you get a resistance to HIV and a greater level of intelligence? I'm not seeing any downsides yet, though I do recall them saying it would make them more vulnerable to some sort of illness, but I can't remember what.

I don't know why people are so scared about improving the human race. We should be trying (carefully, and with lots of testing and quadruple-checking) to make ourselves better than we are now. We're gonna need it.

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There are already too many people on this planet. And you want cancer and such to go away? Geez.

Clearly you've never had a loved one suffer from cancer, HIV, etc. or you wouldn't be wishing it on anyone.

[smityx]

Curious you'd say that -- would you have the same feelings for people around the world today with genetic disorders and congenital defects from having children too ?

No I would not. But we currently don't know what the long term (generations) effects of modifying/enhancing humans in this way may lead to.

[Techno-Druid]

No I would not. But we currently don't know what the long term (generations) effects of modifying/enhancing humans in this way may lead to.

Any long term effects would basically just involve the gene (or genes) passing down to offspring. Any effects caused by that gene edit/deletion itself can be studied in mice.

[Vash The Stampede]

There are already too many people on this planet. And you want cancer and such to go away? Geez.

I'd like death to go away entirely. The population of people in 1st world countries is decreasing and there's a growing aging population. Gene editing is something we need.

[Low Hanging Fruit]

Super intelligent humans created by any means may actually save the rest of us knuckle draggers from killing the planet and ourselves... or they could take over the world and enslave us all.

With greater abilities sometimes comes greater ambition.

[Powerogue]

While positive, we have to acknowledge that this shows just how little we understand about this stuff. We tried to create immunity to a disease, and wound up impacting the ability to form memories.

I still think the only way we'll truly come to understand this stuff and grasp firmly the reins of our own destiny is this sort of trial and error, but it certainly showcases the "error" part.

[Bryntrollian]

Or like happens with a lot of people who are too intelligent: They get mocked and or destroyed by the rest of society.

That is until they are all concentrated in a single nation that happens to be governed via authoritarian rule.

[Kokolums]

I am having a hard time finding a downside to less dumb people in the world.

Throw 10 million people into a city that are kind, humble, caring and lack confidence and you will create heaven on Earth. Throw 10 million people into a city that a bred exclusively for intelligence and you will create hell on Earth as they tear each other apart and fall into dysfunction. Basically, when you are dealing with massive human populations living close together, being smart isn't what makes it function.

[infinit]

While positive, we have to acknowledge that this shows just how little we understand about this stuff. We tried to create immunity to a disease, and wound up impacting the ability to form memories.

I still think the only way we'll truly come to understand this stuff and grasp firmly the reins of our own destiny is this sort of trial and error, but it certainly showcases the "error" part.

you actually believe they were not trying to enhance intelligence?

[Rustedsaint]

Intelligence is the cure for HIV/AIDS.

Wear rubber.

And don’t share needles

[Techno-Druid]

And don’t share needles

And don't eat meat from primates.

[Shadowferal]

I've met far too many intelligent people that have the thinnest skins...
*shrugs* Intelligence isn't everything these days.

[Dellis0991]

Superior ability breeds superior ambition. Whatever could go wrong?

[UnluckyAmateur]

The great part is, you can alter you DNA while you are alive too with the same process. This is how they have discovered how to reverse age and regenerate organs like eyes in mice already and human trials on age reduction are only a few years away

Fuck age reduction, can this shit save my hair?

[Asrialol]

So you get a resistance to HIV and a greater level of intelligence? I'm not seeing any downsides yet, though I do recall them saying it would make them more vulnerable to some sort of illness, but I can't remember what.

I don't know why people are so scared about improving the human race. We should be trying (carefully, and with lots of testing and quadruple-checking) to make ourselves better than we are now. We're gonna need it.

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Clearly you've never had a loved one suffer from cancer, HIV, etc. or you wouldn't be wishing it on anyone.

My mom had endometrial cancer, actually. My grandma had lounge cancer, my grandad had prostate cancer. Plenty of cancer in other words.

Didn't say I wished it on anyone. I believe 8-10 million people dies from cancer per year. Wouldn't be a good thing for the planet if they didn't.

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I'd like death to go away entirely. The population of people in 1st world countries is decreasing and there's a growing aging population. Gene editing is something we need.

You want people to live forever? What would we do then when the planet is dying, but we can't die? Suffer forever without breathable air? Will probably take a few generations to adapt, if that ever happens.

Where did you learn the population is decreasing? Doesn't sound right. Perhaps you mean the population growth is decreasing? Which is and has been expected.

[schwarzkopf]

I am having a hard time finding a downside to less dumb people in the world.

**fewer dumb people**

Felt appropriate to correct just that one... LOL

[Cæli]

Nice...though they also get no ribs and no sperm for their offspring in 10 generation, oops

[TheImperios]

Well, guess we'll all bow to our Chinese transhuman overlords in the next few decades or so.

[Puupi]

Fuck age reduction, can this shit save my hair?

Why do you care so much about your hair?

To me, losing hair is completely meaningless. Like, absolutely irrelevant.

[Tatsumaki88]

Just watched the divergent film again last night, interesting thoughts about the unintended consequences of altering DNA