Scientists have used gene editing to produce artificial electrical synapses in mice, where they can be targeted to make the animals more sociable or reduce their risk of OCD-like symptoms.

Submission Statement

This is a lab result on mice, so likely still years away from treatments available to humans.

Still, here’s a thought to ponder. If gene editing treatments to make people smarter, kinder, and more sociable were widely available, do you think some people would feel threatened ?

Those traits and others correlate with political persuasions. Some people might argue that the population being smarter, kinder, and more sociable is worse for society, in order to protect their political power base.

I am all for making people smarter, but I draw the line at personality. I think you should never interfere with people’s personalities. If there are any issues with someone’s personality, then nurture them to be different. If it is possible to change their personality when they are adults, then let them do that. There is no reason to change it before that.