In science fiction movies, examples of genetic mutations that cause ordinary people to acquire superpowers are uncommon, such as Spider-Man who can fly over the wall, the Titanic Hulk, Wolverine with steel and iron bones, and Storm Girl who can control the weather. So, in the real world, can genetic mutations give ordinary people superpowers?
Genetic mutations give us superpowers?
In fact, human genetic mutations are happening all the time, which promotes human evolution. Most of the mutations occurred without any external influence. They were just errors in the DNA replication process, and these errors were replicated and finally survived. Some mutations may be the result of external influences, such as radiation.
So, can genetic mutations give us superpowers? Maybe it's really possible. Scientists have discovered that some genetic mutations do allow people to gain abilities that surpass ordinary people.
For example, mutations in the LRP5 gene can make human bones harder. Researchers at Yale University in the United States have found that when the LRP5 gene is mutated, human bone density is greater and the bones become stronger. Fatim Dreyer of Johannesburg, South Africa suddenly suffered from facial paralysis when he was 21 years old. During the examination, the doctor found that his skull was thicker than ordinary people, so he was judged to be suffering from bone sclerosis. After examination, the doctor found the cause of his illness-LRP5 gene mutation. This mutant gene makes Dreyer's bones several times thicker than ordinary people, so that he can not fracture after the car accident. However, people with this disease have very poor hearing and sometimes endure fatal intracranial pressure.
Another example is the ACTN3 gene mutation that can make a person a great athlete. ACTN3 mutant gene is also called "sports gene." This gene mutation involves the speed of muscle movement. When the mutation occurs, when a person is running or doing other sports, the muscle has the ability to bend quickly, thereby increasing the person's speed. . A 2008 study showed that many of the world's top runners and athletes have this mutant gene. It is said that Bolt, the world record holder for men's 100-meter dash, also carries this mutant gene.
In addition to harder bones and good running, genetic mutations can also make people naturally strong muscles without pain, etc. These are the results of natural mutations. With the development of science and technology, scientists can also use CRISPR technology to edit genes and enable people to acquire corresponding "superpowers." CRISPR technology is a gene editing technology, which achieves precise modification of genes by knocking out or inserting genes in DNA.
Genes can be changed without wanting to change
So it seems that humans might really be able to gain superpowers through genetic mutations? It's not that simple.
Natural genetic mutations are random and will not mutate according to our will. And many genetic mutations can make people suffer from certain diseases, such as Dreyer mentioned above, while giving people "superpowers".
Bolt is the world record holder for the men's 100-meter dash. It is said that he has the ACTN3 mutant gene.
Some people might say that CRISPR technology can be used to modify genes. This technology can indeed modify genes, but modifying human genes is not an easy task. Our appearance, figure, hair and eye color are all determined by genes, and each feature is the result of multiple genes working together. Take the color of the eye as an example. The colored part of the eye is the pupil. This part is composed of the cornea and iris. Since the cornea is transparent, the color of the eye is actually the color of the iris. The color of the iris is related to the amount of melanin precipitation. The more melanin, the darker the eye. So far, scientists have discovered as many as 16 genes related to eye color. Among them, there is a gene that controls melanin pigmentation, and this gene is also related to our skin color and hair color. In other words, if you change your genes to make your eyes blue (there is very little melanin in the blue iris), then your skin tone may become paler and your hair will become lighter. If only the eye color, skin tone and hair color change, there is nothing to worry about, but modifying genes related to melanin deposition may cause people to suffer from certain diseases, such as insufficient melanin deposition in the iris. Albinism. Changing the color of the eyes is just so difficult to manipulate 16 genes. It makes people become like Spider-Man who can use spider silk to swing between tall buildings. There are more genes that need to be changed. In terms of current human technology , This is almost impossible task. Therefore, it may be difficult to obtain superpowers by changing genes.
If sci-fi movies become reality
Assuming that humans can possess superpowers like those in science fiction movies, what will the world be like? This is a difficult question to answer, but the research of scientists may give us some inspiration.
Researchers at Stanford University in the United States have done an experiment to detect how having superpowers affects people's moral decision-making through virtual reality simulations. Experimental results show that when people possess superpowers, they tend to consciously assume the responsibility of helping others. So, is the world of superpowers only "helping others"? of course not.
In 2013, researchers at Newcastle University in the United States found that when a pair of staring-eyed posters were hung on the wall of the canteen, the phenomenon of wasting food and littering was significantly less than before the posters were hung. Researchers believe that when exposed to the public, it is often difficult for people to abandon morals and laws to restrict their behavior. When not being supervised by others, people are more likely to do bad things. Similarly, if a superpower can use superpowers unconsciously, then he is more likely to do bad things, such as his superpower is invisible. This means that the world of superpowers also coexists with superheroes and supervillains.
More importantly, superpowers are not only the difference between heroes and villains, but also the difference between similar and different. The researchers believe that this distinction may lead to extinction of humans.
First of all, we have to make sure that the superpowers are not humans. There are still controversies among scientists about the division of species. Some biologists believe that the ability to produce reproductive offspring together is one of the important conditions for judging whether two organisms are the same species. The genetic similarity between humans and gorillas is about 96%, but humans and gorillas are not the same species and cannot reproduce together. If humans acquire superpowers through a large number of genetic mutations, then people with different superpowers and ordinary humans will also become independent species. This may split the human world into genetic islands, which may eventually lead to the disappearance of the human species, and those superpower groups whose populations are not enough to maintain the existence of the population may also disappear. The best outcome may be that people with different genetic mutations gather together. As the so-called "things gather together", different groups of "humans" live together on the earth.
However, there are some special examples in nature. Biologists have discovered two different crows. Although they have been identified as different species, they can not only crossbreed, but also give birth to reproductive offspring. Therefore, it is still possible for different superpower owners and ordinary humans to reproduce together.
These are just some of our guesses about the world of superpowers. It is still hard to imagine what a society of people with various superpowers is like. Maybe they will work together to create a better world, or maybe they will Relying on one's own superpowers to compete for territory, human society has fallen into a long-term melee.
