In genetics it is well known that a specific genotype is able to affect multiple unrelated phenotypes (the term for this is "pleiotropy"). Intelligence is not close to being understood, and there is no agreement about how to quantify it. But we do know that the brain is very complex, and that the genes that control how the bran develops and how the brains functions can express proteins that have more than one function or, in the case of regulatory genes, serve different regulatory functions in different tissues and/or life stages. Because of this, mutations that affect intelligence are very likely to show significant pleiotropy.
So, I do not think that it will be possible to introduce mutations of this kind that will only improve intelligence. An "enhancement" is likely to be more of a "trade-off". I don't think that it would be ethical to introduce any type of mutation if this is the case.
But I don't completely rule it out. If future research does show that there are specific mutations that can considerably enhance some aspect of intelligence without having an impact on other traits, and if technology progresses to the point in which we can genetically manipulate a zygote with very high precision, then yes. I think that the descendants of the descendants of our descendants should explore that option. It is way too soon now.
CoinOperatedBoi@lemmy.ml 2 years ago
It will be explored whether it ought to be or not. We have the means to audit alleles on eggs and selectively discard ones with certain traits. And we know enough about genetic intelligence, as imprecise a term as that is, that it will be selected for if able.
However, this phenomenon will be largely divided by class, as we have had the ability to massively boost intelligence through proper nutrition for generations, and yet those improvements too have been split along class lines.