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> Why not figure out what various genes do and rewrite their implementations from scratch? Figuring out what various genes do is a major function of research,

> Why not figure out what various genes do and rewrite their implementations from scratch? Figuring out what various genes do is a major function of research, and will be for quite some time. > Moreover, we could also try to use redundancy and/or error correcting codes to stop evolution of reimplemented genes. Have you thought about taking some courses in cellular or molecular biology, genetics or biochemistry? These are not impossible classes, and they would give you a real appreciation for how existing biological mechanisms work, and in some cases why they must work the way they do. And you'll get to take organic chemistry, which is an incredible experience!

amichail 18y ago
Are you saying it is impossible to essentially stop evolution for most genes? If so, why? The goal is to have a human race where everyone has the same DNA sequence except in a few sections pertaining to intelligence, personality, and facial features.
- maxharris 18y ago
  No, I'm not saying that. But we don't know quite how, and to do that, you need to go to school (or a textbook, if that works for you) to learn about this stuff. Otherwise, you end up asking questions that don't quite make sense to scientists, or lack relevance for contemporary research. That is not a put-down - I had some of these same questions/thoughts/ideas before I took any classes.
  - amichail 18y ago
    Please elaborate on how my questions don't make sense to scientists or lack relevance for contemporary research. So what if what I propose is not feasible anytime soon? Thinking about the distant future could make for interesting discussion.
    - maxharris 18y ago
      Stopping all changes in genes isn't possible, at least currently. If you could figure out a way of doing this without killing yourself, you'd have a surefire way to prevent cancer and diseases caused by retroviruses (such as Hep C and HIV, among others.) > So what if what I propose is not feasible anytime soon? When uninformed people write about the future, they usually end up being either dead wrong if they make specific predictions, or they say things that are so vague that they're useless. How would anyone be able to predict RNA interference in 1985? You could predict all sorts of (useless, wrong) things, but you almost certainly would not have been able to predict something fundamental and useful like RNAi. Smart people focus on the details, and stick to what's within reach. If you're not up to that, you can always be a science fiction writer - but not a great one like Isaac Asimov, who had a PhD in biochemistry before he became famous.
maxawaytoolong 18y ago
And you'll get to take organic chemistry, which is an incredible experience! That's a bit of a cruel prank you're pulling!
- maxharris 18y ago
  Not true. We have an incredible chemistry department at Wisconsin! [This is not a plug - many of the undergraduate physics courses here are awful.] This was my 2nd semester organic professor: http://www.chem.wisc.edu/users/tyoon http://www.chem.wisc.edu/users/tyoon He's amazing, and if you learned organic chemistry from him, you'd say the same thing. At any rate, how can anyone be interested in deep questions like the orginal poster's question without also being interested in at least a basic understanding of the chemistry of life?

amichail 18y ago

Are you saying it is impossible to essentially stop evolution for most genes? If so, why? The goal is to have a human race where everyone has the same DNA sequence except in a few sections pertaining to intelligence, personality, and facial features.

maxharris 18y ago
No, I'm not saying that. But we don't know quite how, and to do that, you need to go to school (or a textbook, if that works for you) to learn about this stuff. Otherwise, you end up asking questions that don't quite make sense to scientists, or lack relevance for contemporary research. That is not a put-down - I had some of these same questions/thoughts/ideas before I took any classes.
- amichail 18y ago
  Please elaborate on how my questions don't make sense to scientists or lack relevance for contemporary research. So what if what I propose is not feasible anytime soon? Thinking about the distant future could make for interesting discussion.
  - maxharris 18y ago
    Stopping all changes in genes isn't possible, at least currently. If you could figure out a way of doing this without killing yourself, you'd have a surefire way to prevent cancer and diseases caused by retroviruses (such as Hep C and HIV, among others.) > So what if what I propose is not feasible anytime soon? When uninformed people write about the future, they usually end up being either dead wrong if they make specific predictions, or they say things that are so vague that they're useless. How would anyone be able to predict RNA interference in 1985? You could predict all sorts of (useless, wrong) things, but you almost certainly would not have been able to predict something fundamental and useful like RNAi. Smart people focus on the details, and stick to what's within reach. If you're not up to that, you can always be a science fiction writer - but not a great one like Isaac Asimov, who had a PhD in biochemistry before he became famous.

maxawaytoolong 18y ago

And you'll get to take organic chemistry, which is an incredible experience! That's a bit of a cruel prank you're pulling!

maxharris 18y ago
Not true. We have an incredible chemistry department at Wisconsin! [This is not a plug - many of the undergraduate physics courses here are awful.] This was my 2nd semester organic professor: http://www.chem.wisc.edu/users/tyoon http://www.chem.wisc.edu/users/tyoon He's amazing, and if you learned organic chemistry from him, you'd say the same thing. At any rate, how can anyone be interested in deep questions like the orginal poster's question without also being interested in at least a basic understanding of the chemistry of life?