Political Crossfire Forums

[EMUGOD]

DarkMerlin wrote: Not really. Evolution is not a process of improvement as people often think of it, but rather a process of change. It doesn't really "stop dead in its tracks," even if one thinks of it as a personal force. Equality does not mean that change via reproductive selection stops; merely that different traits will be selected for. The gene pool is not something that can be thought of as stagnating, and we certainly won't all die of disease without genetic engineering.

tell that to the exploding autistic population.

[Korimyr the Rat]

EMUGOD wrote: tell that to the exploding autistic population.

Ironically, it's exploding mainly in Silicon Valley.

Best theory I've seen so far is that one of the genetic factors which could cause autism is also strongly linked to strong mathematical performance. You put a lot of people strong in math in one area... and you end up with an autism epidemic.

It's comparable to malaria resistance and Sickle Cell anemia.

[DarkMerlin]

EMUGOD wrote: DarkMerlin wrote: Not really. Evolution is not a process of improvement as people often think of it, but rather a process of change. It doesn't really "stop dead in its tracks," even if one thinks of it as a personal force. Equality does not mean that change via reproductive selection stops; merely that different traits will be selected for. The gene pool is not something that can be thought of as stagnating, and we certainly won't all die of disease without genetic engineering.

tell that to the exploding autistic population.

From what I've read, this is most likely a matter of complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors (such as vaccinations, diet, contaminants in food and water like mercury), not at all a matter of "evolution stagnating." There is also the possibility that the increased autistic population has more to do with changes in diagnostic criteria, reclassifications, public awareness, and the incentive to receive federally mandated services. The same has been convincingly argued for many "developmental disorders" such as ADD/ADHD. I would also argue that even if autism is an evolutionary matter as you claim, it will eventually go away, since most autistics do not get the chance to reproduce.

Still, I don't think that you can really use this as evidence of "evolution stagnating." Like I have already said, these things are always far more complex than they seem.

[DarkMerlin]

Korimyr the Rat wrote: EMUGOD wrote: tell that to the exploding autistic population.

Ironically, it's exploding mainly in Silicon Valley.

Best theory I've seen so far is that one of the genetic factors which could cause autism is also strongly linked to strong mathematical performance. You put a lot of people strong in math in one area... and you end up with an autism epidemic.

It's comparable to malaria resistance and Sickle Cell anemia.

I have read some stuff that indicates that this has to do with fetal testosterone levels. High levels of fetal testosterone gives improved analytical and mathematical skills, while lower levels yield sociability, empathy, and communication abilities.

This somewhat jives with an interesting theory about the nature of ADD and TSDD (the less commonly known condition opposite to Attention Deficit Disorder called Task-Switching Deficit Disorder). The idea is that there is a kind of genetic spectrum of brain wiring that goes from open/unfocused/hunter to closed/focused/farmer ways of thinking. Most people fall in the middle, while those with ADD and TSDD are more towards the outside. At the extremes lies schitzophrenia (at the open/unfocused/hunter end) and autism (at the closed/focused/farmer end).

However, given that I have met people on both ends of this spectrum with high math abilities and analytical skills, I would guess that it is not one hormone (testosterone) but many that influences these basic biases in the wiring of our nervous systems, along with genetics, diet, and subtle environmental factors (such as minute tugs of gravity from different parts of the sky, i.e. astrology). Very interesting, however.

[mathurin]

i wouldnt mind badly, i think the farthest we will get is selective abortion to lower certain defects and risks, at least in the near future


anybody remember the movie GATTACA?

[The_Right_Honourable]

I am very much in favour of removing bad genes and making sure that no one lives below a certain quality of life (mentally and physically) but a Master Race?

Mankind is the Earths Master Race. I say impove ourselves. But why not create a retro-virus to spread this change? It would spread across the globe infecting and improving people.

Probably impossible but its a nice thought. Otherwise itll be just for us Westerners...

[bob.appleyard]

EMUGOD wrote: I was wondering, how would you personally react if a respectable organization was started with the intent of using genetic engineering to create a master race? and not a third reich "aryan" herrenvolk, but an actual superior, elite, race. we're talking human gods here, capable of anything you could imagine, and a little more.

Why would you want to do that? I see no purpose in it whatsoever.

[EMUGOD]

bob.appleyard wrote: EMUGOD wrote: I was wondering, how would you personally react if a respectable organization was started with the intent of using genetic engineering to create a master race? and not a third reich "aryan" herrenvolk, but an actual superior, elite, race. we're talking human gods here, capable of anything you could imagine, and a little more.

Why would you want to do that? I see no purpose in it whatsoever.

myself wrote: capable of anything you could imagine, and a little more.

Perfection. And, more importantly, Perfect Perfection. No victims but those of past unnecesarry ignorance. A utopian future available for everyone and anyone, but restricted to anyone who'd find reason to abuse it (all peple currently alive).

[George W Bush]

If Bush and his supporters have their way, this will never happen in America.
Which gives such countries as China and Russia the advantage.
Think of it: they dont have the "moral filters" to put their science initiatives through.
Now, think about what China and Russis consider superior human traits.
Now,what was the reason Bushies object to such science? Because it invalidates or threatens GOD?

[micfranklin]

Eh, let's just clone people like they did the sheep, not try to create a master race that can possibly turn against us, and call it a day.

[Baldur]

the problem is, if we did this, humans as a whole would be the "master race" because they created the "master race"