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Numerous studies in the past two years show that CRISPR-based interventions can correct mutations and restore cellular and behavioral function in mouse models of brain diseases. Diseases caused by mutations in genes associated with brain functions - like alternating hemiplegia of childhood (AHC), Huntington’s disease, and Friedreich’s ataxia- have seen major improvements in mice that have had their brains gene edited.

This raises a fascinating possibility - what if this gene editing could go beyond correcting diseases? What if you could get an IQ boost of 20-30 points? For obvious reasons, this would be huge for people on a personal level, but it would also have political effects. What would society be like if everyone were 30 IQ points smarter?

Brain editing now ‘closer to reality’: the gene-altering tools tackling deadly disorders: Stunning results in mice herald gene-editing advances for neurological diseases.

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[-] I_Has_A_Hat@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago* (last edited 1 hour ago)

The news industry would collapse overnight as their entire customer base suddenly realizes "Hey! This is all just alarmist BS and straight up lies! Look at this, the headline isn't even CLOSE to depicting the reality of the situation. You'd have to be a complete fucking idiot to fall for this crap!"

[-] plyth@feddit.org 1 points 2 hours ago

If everybody could read and understand Marx, people would seize the means of production.

I am not clever enough to know if they would still be exploited by an elite. The way investment bankers spend their bonuses makes me think so.

[-] Feyd@programming.dev 7 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Or, we could just provide everyone with a good education.

[-] Vinny_93@lemmy.world 8 points 3 hours ago

If everyone gains 30 IQ points, nobody gains 30 IQ points. That's how indices work.

[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 2 points 3 hours ago

I mean, sure...

They readjust 100 once drift becomes noticable and it's not the average result anymore.

But an IQ tests are still quantifiable and a hypothetical where everyone would score 30 points higher on the current scale is still worthwhile.

[-] hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 1 points 2 hours ago

Kind of whataboutism from my side... But won't healthy (and enough) food for kids, education and opportunities provide an IQ boost? I guess we could do a noticeable increase if we wanted...

[-] belated_frog_pants@beehaw.org 7 points 3 hours ago

IQ tests are a scam and are rooted in Eugenics. They are also heavily skewed when the takers are poor and malnourished.

People arent born "stupid". They lack access to health and education.

[-] Pyro@pawb.social -1 points 3 hours ago

When getting on your personal yacht, how many attendees are needed?

[-] CitizenKong@lemmy.world 4 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Watch the movie Gattaca, there's your answer. Basically a two-class society between richt edited people and poor natural-born people who would be even more disadvantaged.

[-] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 1 points 2 hours ago

what could possibly go wrong

[-] deadbeef79000@lemmy.nz 1 points 2 hours ago

Flowers for Algernon

[-] inb4_FoundTheVegan@lemmy.world 4 points 3 hours ago

If we could magically snap our collective fingers and everyone become smarter? Sure, probably good for society.

But what's definitely incredibly toxic for society would be to pay-wall these sort of advances to the rich, creating a semi-human racial offshoot being constantly told that they are better, smarter and wealthier than any other human. Only new flavors of racism, apartheid and ethnic cleanings follow.

[-] FromPieces@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 hours ago

That is absolutely what would happen.

[-] givesomefucks@lemmy.world 1 points 3 hours ago

Curing neurological diseases isn't the same as bumping up IQ.

But 30 points is fucking huge...

Like, that's the difference between dead center "average" and a legal intellectual disability.

Because 30 points is where communication becomes hindered.

So if everyone got a 30 point bump, it would change absolutely nothing. The people being manipulated would be 30 points smarter, but so would the people manipulating them.

IQ just isn't a big deal, that's why they dropped the threshold for "genius" from 160 to 120 and added things like motivation and drive.

What really matters is the difference between people

this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2025
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