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comment by mk
mk  ·  2570 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Octopuses Do Something Really Strange to Their Genes

It begs the question if we could get increased plasticity out of our brains through a similar mechanism.





OftenBen  ·  2569 days ago  ·  link  ·  

And those changes wouldn't be passed on to the next generation, right? Depending on how the change was made.

From my limited understanding of the mechanics behind this, we could (in theory)introduce changes in fully developed adults that allow them to neuro-adapt better than baseline, without passing those changes on down the germ line.

It certainly adds a new dimension to the designer baby debate. Why alter your child when they are a few cells in a petri dish, when they could choose certain modifications as an adult of their own free will?

mk  ·  2569 days ago  ·  link  ·  

In theory, sure. That said, who knows what kind of psychology would come with this 'neuro-adaptation'.

I also wonder what role these edits play in disease resistance and aging.

OftenBen  ·  2569 days ago  ·  link  ·  

I doubt that squid live long enough to develop brain cancer or Alzheimers.

Are there methods of measuring what I might loosely call 'mental degradation' or 'mental illness' in animals?

mk  ·  2569 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Mice and rats develop cancers; I don't think they get Alzheimer's unless we make them.

Definitely lots of cognitive tests for rodents. The Morris Water Maze is a standby for testing memory.