auntblabby wrote:
CrazyCatLord wrote:
I'm not so sure that it will never be possible. Research has shown that the transplantation of neural stem cells, as well as the treatment with synthetic molecules such as neurodazine, can induce neurogenesis and repair neurological damage in adults (
link). It might be possible at some point to improve the connection between the frontal lobe and other brain areas in autistic people.
how does one know that it wouldn't be like what was hinted at in "flowers for algernon" where the experimental brain operation was undone by the bad instructions in the DNA in the first place? as long as the DNA has coding for mental addlement that is being transmitted, wouldn't any operations be eventually undone? wouldn't it be better if the DNA itself was changed?
As far as other organs are concerned, you are correct that changes might be undone by your DNA as cells die off and are replaced by new cells. One would have to use a genetically tailored retrovirus that "infects" a wide range of cells and alters their DNA, and pray that this doesn't trigger an immune response.
But brain cells last for a lifetime (or until senile dementia sets in). There is very little adult neurogenesis after age 25, at which point the brain is fully developed. For the most part, you only make new synaptic connections from that point on, but your neurons remain the same. So if the adult brain was altered by the introduction of stem cells that differentiate into new neurons that establish a better link between the frontal lobe and the rest of the brain, I think this would also be a lasting change.
07 Mar 2012, 2:57 am
