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David Weigel | May 29, 2006

Ronald Bailey reports back from the front lines of the human enhancement debate.

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|5.29.06 @ 1:21PM|#

related article

apparently in Britain, a number of abortions have been performed for minor foetal abnormalities, such as club foot and cleft palate. presumably, genetic treatments such as those Ron discusses could eliminate even the need for surgical correction of these conditions someday.

interestingly about the mitochondria: since most organisms (including humans) have matrilineal inheritance of mitochondria, the offspring that result from eggs rejuvenated by the method describe would technically have three genetic lineages, or parents, because mitochondria have their own complement of DNA. There have apparently been transfers of mtDNA to the nuclear genome, so it would probably be advisable to get the donor cytoplasm from a female relative of the mother, say a sister so that the mtDNA would be identical, or nearly so, to that the egg would have received from the mother in any case. however, some genetic diseases are known to result from defective genes that are housed in the mitochondria.

|5.29.06 @ 4:23PM|#

biologist should also note that it has been documented that mitocondria from males has been found to be transfered durring fertilization...and this is in the wild not some wierd product of lab experiments.

|5.29.06 @ 8:25PM|#

Count on the Republican Party to vigorously resist any effort to enhance the innate intelligence of future voters. Karl Rove and his ilk are keenly aware that John Sutart Mill was right about stupid people and conservatism.

|5.29.06 @ 8:48PM|#

John in Nashville:

You'll get no argument from me there, but I don't think the NEA-backed Democrats have much interest in actually educating future voters either.

Gee, perhaps if only we had a private education system that people could participate in...

|5.29.06 @ 8:58PM|#

Oh, and it surprises me that people know the quote but not the meaning, but John Stuart Mill was referring to people who voted for the Conservative Party of England, not people who subscribe to the modern philosophy of "conservatism".

|5.29.06 @ 11:42PM|#

We do have a private education system that parents who are willing to pay tuition can participate in. Has anyone suggested otherwise?

Moreover, as to Mill's comment, of course it was spoken in context of then-extant political parties; however, if the shoe fits . . . Many timeless quotes become so because the sentiments expressed therein extend beyond the immediate circumstances.

nmg|5.30.06 @ 11:56AM|#

I love it when the technocrats claim with a straight face that their public school system in no way hinders a parent's choice of education for their kids. Nope. None at all. It's just a painless, non-intrusive adjunct to the fully functioning free and open private school network. Yep.

nmg

|5.30.06 @ 7:22PM|#

joshua corning: I said most organisms, not all organisms. therefore I implicitly stated that in some cases males contribute mitochondria to future generations.

not only are you unable to spell, apparently you're unable to read.