Memories may be passed down through generations in DNA in a process that may be the underlying cause of phobias
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Fascinating article. This adds credence to the transhumanism idea of significantly increasing intelligence and skills through biological/genetic manipulations. What an amazing time it will be when such capabilities exist.
Increasing intelligence and skills by changing DNA are exciting ideas. It's the potential for personality changes that I haven't fully wrapped my mind around yet. Sam Woolfe wrote an interesting article called Using Hebbian Theory to Change Your Personality around the plasticity of the brain. In it, he mentioned personality features that appear immune from modification. With modified DNA, it would seem alterations could be limitless. Unlike the training Woolfe mentions that leads to long-lasting personality changes, the future could hold drugs or wireless signals as the initiators (instigators?). I'm not sure how I feel about that potentiality. No effort required to change who we are? The implications are a little scary.
I can think of plenty of maladjusted people who could greatly benefit from personality changes. But your point is well-taken. After all, who makes the decision that someone's personality should be changed? The government could easily establish laws that force a personality change (or could even do it wirelessly without our knowledge). Presto - we have Aldous Huxley's imaginary drug soma from Brave New World.
That's a good article. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting additional insight into this topic - How epigenetic memory is passed through generations: Sperm and eggs transmit memory of gene repression to embryos. FTA: