WEIRDSVILLE – AT 11:15 A.M. ET:   Is this our future?  From London's Daily Mail:

A Chinese firm claims it is getting closer to allowing parents to pick the embryo most likely to succeed.

Researcher believe that 50-80% of what determines IQ could be inherited.

Now a Chinese firm is mapping the genes of people who are gifted in maths in a bid to isolate the genes that make them smarter that the average person.

Shenzhen-based BGI is mapping the genes of math geniuses, and appealing via its web site for more to take part in the controversial study.

B.G.I., formerly called Beijing Genomics Institute, is the world’s largest genetic-research center, and already has an initial batch of 2,000 DNA samples from high-IQ subjects.

Researchers then plan to compare these against a sample from the general population - and hopefully isolate what makes them special.

In theory, this knowledge could then be used to allow parents to pick 'smart embryos'.

COMMENT:  How cool.  What about an honest-government gene?  Or a strong national defense gene?  How about a gene that immunizes voters against Obama-style campaigns?  Or a gene that forces mainstream media reporters to play it straight?

Math is good.  Other things are important as well.

January 15, 2014