Expert: Walter Hintz - 7/20/2011

Question
Hello,
In Bruce Sterling's Schismatrix stories, he describes a wonderfully complex future society filled with Shapers(humans devoted to genetics and eugenics) and Mechanists(devoted to mechanical-/cyborg-/computer- enhancements/mind-uploading etc.). Now, I am aware that for humans to adopt a Mechanist approach might not work as the result would likely  no longer be human, but genetic enhancement via genetic engineering and/or eugenics would be relatively fine in this regard. Now, I was wondering how much of an enhancement would be possible? For example, I would imagine that we could eventually attain, say, extra senses such as infra-red or ultra-violet vision since some wild animals have them, or perhaps photographic memories, but I am wondering what level of extra intelligence might be attainable, and so on. Any  appreciated.

Geoff

Answer
Hi Geoff
In other words you are asking if we can alter evolution, To alter or change sensory mechanisms would require a change in receptors and in the interpretive areas of the brain. What we have now is the result of millions of years of evolution. Can we change this by tinkering with genes. In my mind this would ber unlikely. It certainly would not take place through artificial selection.