For the scientists among the Litopians

[Rachel Caldecott]

Yes or no answer if possible. If a gene drive can be used to eliminate a trait, can it be used to encourage one too?

 

[Marc Joan]

Yes.

 

[Barbara]

I would have thought so.

Oh, let's hope so ...

And if it really can be done, could someone please encourage my 'willingness to go to work' gene. It's getting harder and harder to get up.

 

[Nikky Lee]

It has been done: World’s first gene-edited babies created in China, claims scientist

I remember reading the story last year and thinking that Gattaca is just around the corner.

 

[Barbara]

Oh, and Rachel. Your novel is set in the future so I recon you can pretty much invent anything and make it work. Who knows what humanity will have discovered and where tech will have taken science.

 

[Emily]

That's really fascinating @Kirsten .

MRI studies have suggested that autism is caused by a mental tree with too many branches around the control hum, whereas adhd and schizophrenia have too few branches around the control hub

I wonder what the mental tree would look like when someone would have autism and ADHD?

 

[Chase Gamwell]

So...if you're writing a book that has to do with genetics, I'd very much suggest the book "Genome: An Autobiography of a Species in 23 Chapters" by Matt Ridley. It's old now - over ten years - but it gives a really good basis about each chromosome, what they're for, and other genetic interests.

The simplest truth is that almost anything is possible with regard to the human genome. Gene therapy is becoming a thing, and eventually that'll allow us to edit people on a cellular level. We're in for a crazy future, that's for sure!

 

[Barbara]

I've been doing some research into psychopathic behaviour and came across an article the other day. The short of it was that just because we have a certain gene, it doesn't necessarily mean it's being read. Environment (upbringing, social environment etc) plays a role whether or not someone turns psycopathic or artistic or ... How accurate this article is, I don't know, but it might be worth exploring. It could give you a nice little conflict in the novel: someone turns on a particular gene in someone else, but because the person who is 'being switched on' is living among telepathic animals, this gene can't flourish. It might give Flo a jolly nice inner conflict: the gene has been turned on, but her environment tries to silence it, or vice evrsa, or ....

No idea, just a thought, and fodder for some research (read: headache)

I can't find the aricle anymore, but you might find someone among this lot who is willing to do a Q & A with you:

#title#{%22news%22:{}}

 

[Rachel Caldecott]

I've been doing some research into psychopathic behaviour and came across an article the other day. The short of it was that just because we have a certain gene, it doesn't necessarily mean it's being read. Environment (upbringing, social environment etc) plays a role whether or not someone turns psycopathic or artistic or ... How accurate this article is, I don't know, but it might be worth exploring. It could give you a nice little conflict in the novel: someone turns on a particular gene in someone else, but because the person who is 'being switched on' is living among telepathic animals, this gene can't flourish. It might give Flo a jolly nice inner conflict: the gene has been turned on, but her environment tries to silence it, or vice evrsa, or ....

No idea, just a thought, and fodder for some research (read: headache)

I can't find the aricle anymore, but you might find someone among this lot who is willing to do a Q & A with you:

#title#{%22news%22:{}}

Thanks honey. I'm actually working on a 'sequel'. In a way I'm hoping that it will be a stand alone book. I've taken on board what my husband said about suspecting agents where a bit hesitant on the story where the 'norm' is interspecies telepathy and most people are vegan/vegetarian. He thought that was too big a stretch for them, and that a lone telepath might be more exciting. So I'm fiddling around with ideas. So far Isla (Flo's granddaughter) is now, as far as she knows, the last telepath, and the HSL has won and been "curing" telepaths mercilessly. Her quest is to find something that will address the balance and save telepathic ability. If not, the lack of compassion (due to inability to communicate) in the new world, will bring back the excesses (abuse of nature) of the past that nearly destroyed the planet in the mid/late 21st century. So I started looking at gene drives (to breed out of existence malaria, for example) and wondered whether a gene drive would be possible to breed back Telepathy into humans. (After all it was a mutant gene that caused it all in the first place.) Not sure if that makes any sense to you because you read the first book (albeit not quite the final draft).

 

[Barbara]

So far Isla (Flo's granddaughter) is now, as far as she knows, the last telepath, and the HSL has won and been "curing" telepaths mercilessly.

Like that idea.

a lone telepath might be more exciting

The 'lone gunman' always appeals, I think. Quite a 'romantic' notion.