Human Genetic Enhancements: A Transhumanist Perspective

1. What is Transhumanism?

Transhumanism is a loosely defined movement that has developed gradually over the past two decades. It promotes an interdisciplinary approach to understanding and evaluating the opportunities for enhancing the human condition and the human organism opened up by the advancement of technology. Attention is given to both present technologies, like genetic engineering and information technology, and anticipated future ones, such as molecular nanotechnology and artificial intelligence.1

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Posted by  on  07/02  at  01:35 AM

So would it be possible for genetic enhancement in a normal person. Or would the change have to happen in earlier stages of life?

Posted by director  on  07/02  at  09:06 AM

Changing the genome before, or right after, conception would get the changed genes into every part of the body. For some future changes that would be necessary. Those changes would also be inheritable. But most of the things we want to change only require changing a few of the bodies tissues in small patches. That is the goal of most human gene therapy today. This "somatic gene therapy" isn't inheritable, which most people and doctors prefer. Somatic gene therapy has the advantage that the person being changed can generally be consulted, unless it’s a serious condition being treated in a child. Successful genetic enhancement will therefore be through somatic therapy on adults in the coming decades.

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