7 replies to this topic

[rwac]

Suppose there was a treatment by which the next generation could be made smarter.

Would everyone agree to make their babies smarter?

What would the consequences of such a discovery be?

[e Volution]

No real generally agreed upon definition of smart or smarter. Too broad a question to apply realistically in the real world. More likely if it ever eventuates is something specific like genes increasing working memory X% over average, or a larger visual cortex, etc.

There is probably an inverse correlation between sexual partners and IQ, I guess it depends on what you want from your genes.

[rwac]

I was mainly thinking about this study in which administration of prenatal progesterone resulted in children with a higher numerical ability.

http://www.ncbi.nlm....1437068/?page=1

[hooter]

Religion would cease to exist.

[corb]

Would everyone agree to make their babies smarter?

I think a lot of people will, even though generally people of average intelligence are envious of people smarter and more talented than them.
Religious crazies will of course be against it, but I don't think you were asking about extremes like them.

Honestly, I think most parents would be more interested in the procedure's safety - I wouldn't risk my children's safety for something like that, there are a lot of sub 140 IQ people who cant' do anything besides selling/marketing/etc white collar jobs and they do alright for themselves.

[buckwheats]

couples can already "adopt" cryopreservered embryo's. I'm not sure how easy it is yet to know which ones are destined to be smart though, but maybe in the future the education and tests scores of the donors will be easily accessible.

now that I think about it.. i wonder why there isn't some organization hiring surrogates to carry "genius" embreyo's. seems like that could be a really good investment, but of course you have to raise the kids really well and everything, and keep the diets of surrogates optimal, etc. I imagine a plurality of legal issues is preventing that sort of thing right now.

[RPD]

There are so many types of intelligence and so many degrees of being an idiot savant. :-)  

(been there, done that)

Now older and having more respect for the reality of effective limits I am on a "moderation in all things" kick.  

Heck. That at least appears for the moment to be more intelligent also. 

[RPD]

Thanks for the link, rwac.

"Intelligence and prenatal progesterone: a reappraisal." was very interesting.
I wonder if there are any dietary sources of progesterone or its predicates that a pregnant woman could choose if she craved them?  

Anybody with a clue on that?