I hope that it has been a good week for everyone!!  The thing I would like to talk about in this blog is one that I really think will be a game changer in current and ongoing human evolution.  It starts with  the news out of China a few weeks ago.  A researcher there has genetically modified two human babies prior to fertilization to prevent both from becoming HIV positive because one parent has HIV. This sounds like a rather simple issue but it is huge….  Sounds great on the surface, but what does it really mean?  The researcher modified the germ-line, another words, before conception, at the sperm and egg level.   And the way that I understand it, these two babies will carry this modification for the rest of their lives and will be able to pass it along to their offspring, who will pass it along to their offspring, who will….  So, the picture becomes a true, possible permanent change in the human genome. These two kids will look like us, but have never existed in the history of humans.  Let me say this again, their genomes, have never existed in the history of humans, until now.  That in and of itself is pretty amazing but it gets better.

CRISPR (clustered regularly inter spaced short palindromic repeats)– the gene editing technique that allowed the “precision” to do this can be applied to all kinds of conditions and diseases caused by your genetics.  Now imagine you are planning a family and you want a child to be stronger, have denser bones, or to run faster, for example.  Well…. The genes to edit for this are all known.  See the You Tube video link for an explanation:    https://youtu.be/uaNHUTIbqdo

If you have the money and political clout, who is going to stop you?  Who is going to stop you from permanently altering the human genome for your own child’s benefit or your countries benefit?  And when your child grows up and has kids, what will these passed along alterations, potentially change in the next child, etc.….  If you are wondering like I was about this, take a look at some Science Fiction on the subject.  You might have seen a few of these already but here is a short list of some of my favorites.  Remember that every technological change that has occurred in our world was once just Science Fiction.

There are many,many more examples in popular culture (movies, TV, books, magazines) of stories about the good and bad of genetic modification. My point in writing to you dear reader about this is that sometimes the things that truly change the world are what seem on the surface small.  They make little waves and are soon pushed aside in the noise of everyday life.  I believe the events that happened in China about 9 months ago, present today as twin new born girls, are one of those things. Life on this planet as we know it has changed, it might not be readily apparent yet, but it has. I used to think that the next big evolution inhumanity would be a machine interface of some kind, but now I am not so sure.  It might still be part of the picture but “genetics” will play an immense role.  And of course, this could be looked at as good or bad.  It will really depend on other forces that have the potential to drive it.  As a recent example, there is a push by the Religious Right to end research on fetal stem cells.  Some of this research has to do with curing HIV. If you limit this area of research, then a real-life example is what I just talked about.  Since the Chinese Genetics researcher has shown that he can prevent the transmission of HIV, how many others will take this approach, because fetal Stem Cells are out of reach?  What will be the consequences??  Are we ready for the changes coming to our world??   

Well I have to say that the last couple of weeks have been good!!  The skiing has been great and I really cannot complain. I guess if I did though, the only fly in the ointment is that I have to work a little bit and take a class or two?! What is that about??  Oh well, I do have to work at the day job in order to pay the bills and keep doing what I want and love to do.  And let me say it again the skiing has been great!!  I love Colorado, where else can you get in skiing at two or three different resorts and disciplines in the same day?!  Really there are not too many places on earth that would allow that kind of access just due to the logistic of time and travel.  And if that was not enough, to come home, back to Fort Collins, and the next day do a fantastic bike ride or trail run?!  So cool. Now of course it does not always happen that way due to weather or having to work but these past few weeks it has been…. Just fantastic!!

A question that I get a lot, is why don’t I play golf?  And the answer I give is “I don’t have time.” Between all the other outdoor activities that I like to do, the problem becomes one of just not having enough time. I feel this is a good problem to have. One of the best decisions I ever made was to leave Texas and move to Colorado.  There are a lot of good people down there in Texas, but just not the opportunity.  Especially for the outdoors.  Teddy Roosevelt became president a little too late to help with land preservation in the state of Texas. 

Well that is going to be about it for me this week.  Need to get back out there and do some more skiing. Hope your weekend is a great one. Remember your commits and questions are always welcome.  Take care my friends and see you “Out There!!”