From: Jeff Davis (jrd1415@yahoo.com)
Date: Thu Oct 03 2002 - 14:48:02 MDT
Extropes,
I found this article some days ago, lost it, and then
found it again today. It seems to suggest a path to
intelligence enhancement.
Brain Size Is Linked to a Gene
>From the article:
"The gene's protein consists largely of units called
IQ domains, a name that has nothing to do with
intelligence but refers to two chemical units of
proteins that are known by those letters. But as it
happens, the number of IQ units seems to correlate
with an animal's brain size — "a proof of God's
existence since only someone with a sense of humor
could have arranged for the correlation," Dr. Woods
said.
The roundworm's version of the protein has 2 IQ
domains, the fruit fly's has 24, the mouse's 61 and
the human's — not so great a leap above the mouse's —
just 74 domains."
-------------------------
Since DNA sequences--and, as I recall, entire
genes--can now be 'manufactured', the opportunity for
germline modification in the direction of larger
brains seems clear. Whether this would result in
increased intelligence is anybody's guess.
Also, I wondered about the statement that the human
genome contains 74 of the 'IQ' domains. Whose genome,
or what sample of genomes--how many and from what
population--was used to arrive at this number?
Specifically, I wondered about variations in this
number across populations. Is there a spread with a
corresponding statistical distribution: a certain
proportion of 72's, 73's, 74's, 75's, and 76's?
Best, Jeff Davis
Aspiring Transhuman / Delusional Ape
(Take your pick)
-Nicq MacDonald
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