In the "Beautiful New World" of Oldes He Li Li classic novel, he fictitiously a differentiated class society, the top of the society is the Alpha (Alpha), the bottom is Epson EPSILON. The Epson's brain was numb by drugs, and they as slaves withdrew heavy and boring work, and there was no complaints. Until now, everything described in the book is still the material in today's science fiction.
However, according to the British "Times" report, the recent scientist has found the use of genes to thoroughly change animal sex. And this discovery is likely to let He Li Bi's fictional Epson becomes reality.
Humans have never stopped looking for a gene's footsteps, is a blessing? Slave gene - D2
This experiment that is expanded in the Ganges monkey is the leadership of Government Neural Biologist Barry Richmond by the National Psychiatric Institute. The experiment results show that the behavior of animals can be permanently changed, even if the original attributes of the animal can immediately become obedient.
Scientists are this by manipulating a gene called "D2" in the brain. By preventing the "D2" action, scientists cut off the contact between monkeys and rewards. The monkey that was cut off, for a long time, reluctant scientists to give them the mandate assigned, and forget to request any "remuneration".
At the "Natural Neurological Science" publication of October this year, Richmond issued the details of this study, especially how they made the monkey, willing to do "slaves".
In the experiment, scientists training monkeys in advance, allowing them to "engage in" work "" work "according to the color changes on the screen. In general, if the monkey thinks that your job can get a return (maybe a banana), they will work very fast and active, and the chances of error are also small.
However, Richmond and his research team found: Just control the "D2" gene in the monkey brain, the monkey will forget the expectation of the pay; they can make these monkeys to work quickly at any time, not There will be some complaints and lazy signs.
Scientists who participated in the experiment also pointed out that human beings also have the same gene!
"Most people are also excited by the expectations of remuneration, so working hard and seriously, whether this pay is a salary check, or a praise." Richmond said, "In the experiment, we found It is possible to remove the reward connection, and establish such a situation: repeated and hard work can continue without any payment. "Brain loop decided to work mad
Since this technology can shape "servic" in the brain, do the experimenter's motivation?
These scientists said that the initial goal of this study is to find ways to treat mental illness. "We have been doing decisions, and the factors we decided include: We think that there is more important to return, and how long we get this reward." Richmond said, "When will the will, people think that any return is It is not worth it, all work is too heavy. The people who suffer obsessiveCompulsiveDisorder, despite their constant work, but will never be satisfied with what they do. In the brain circuit, If this interference related to emotions and returns, we may be able to relieve these symptoms. "
Richmond pointed out that by controlling the permanent alteration of human behavior, it is currently too complicated in academic; even in theory, human beings that have been treated into "Epson" in this way will not be very good. jobs.
As an industrial slave, "they will lose judgment, if anyone on a production line, they can't understand that their efforts have been in vain." Richmond said half of joke, "For us, Ordinary returns to encourage everyone to be able to get more. "Who wants to redesign the human beings However, Richmond and other scientists have acknowledge that the method of controlling human body and spiritual characteristics will be found quickly. Scientists generally believe that this technology will first appear as a high-profit value-added service first in the test tube infant field.
Julian Seameus, the ethics of Oxford University, said, "There is no doubt, we will be able to affect behavior." He believes that human beings have a "spiritual trend" that enhances their own capabilities in genes. " It is not beneficial to them from genes from genes, but other changes may be beneficial. We must make a choice: For individuals, what kind of life is beautiful. "<< implanted gene cure disease> >
Test tube baby's father - Scientist Bob Edwards organized an Royal Association meeting to discuss Richmond discussions. At the end of the meeting, Embryomanipulation, the leader of the University of Chicago, Yuri Vinski, in his speech, "Design Baby: What will be on the future": "Patients with infertility have been put in a child So much time, money and effort, don't they have a healthy child? Why do they stop them from picking a baby according to the physical and spiritual reasons? "
The prospect of this technology has been quite important in the United States. In December of this year, Washington DC will hold a meeting, specifically discussing the "GERMLINE" genetic operation (GERMLINE "GeneticManipulation) Establish a legal framework.
The author of "Redesign Human" book, the Ethics Expert of the University of California, Gregory Stoke was invited to participate in this meeting. He pointed out that "I don't think this kind of technology will appear immediately. They still take at least many years. However, I think the development of this type of technology will not stop because of legislation." (Source: International Herald)
