Sci-fi by pervaiz salik

Author:pervaiz salik
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Futuristic, Space, possible futures
Publisher: pervaiz salik
Published: 2018-08-12T00:00:00+00:00

Story 24: Character Traits

Scientists had mapped the human genome. Now, some five decades later, a more fundamental problem had to be solved: character traits. As I did my research, I recalled my professor's words, words that had led me to follow this particular career.

“You see, a cat not only looks like a cat, but it also behaves like a cat: chasing mice, landing on its feet, saying ‘meow’. What accounts for this behaviour? You may say (rightly) the DNA or the cat’s physical structures are responsible. But no two cats – even identical twins – behave identically. There must be something more.

“Similarly, in humans, some people are more assertive or more cautious or more trusting than others. We say it is the environment or their unique set of experiences that account for it, but this is vague. Each experience has an impact on the brain, subtly altering its structure and connections. We can now make such changes to the brain by physical manipulation of stimuli. However, this is a cumbersome and lengthy process.

“But suppose we could make these changes directly, by altering the genome itself after the initial development period. Then we will have solved the problem of how to change a person's character traits. Just think of the possibilities: a soldier or a firefighter who knows no fear; a public official who has the trait of total integrity; a traffic controller who is both cautious and quick-thinking.”

For a long time, I had been trying to alter the genes responsible for a particular trait – without much success, I must add. Altering even a single gene had multiple effects on other traits. Some unintended physical characteristics also changed.

I found the solution to character traits by accident. One day, I added an extra piece of DNA to a fish and noted that it had become more aggressive as a result. I did the same with my human subjects with very satisfying results. These extra pieces, now known as Extra DNA Trait Implants (or EDTI, for short) attach themselves to one end of the DNA molecule; thus, no disruption of normal functions usually takes place.

Now, a year later, I have developed aggressive EDTI, submissive EDTI and perseverance EDTI. Very soon all these products (and many more) will be available on supermarket shelves, to be taken orally. Just help yourself to your favourite character trait – and help me to become a trillionaire.

[Notes:

1. Traits: psychological or personality characteristics. According to Eysenck, there are three fundamental dimensions of traits: introversion vs. extroversion, neuroticism vs. stability, and psychoticism vs. socialization.

2. DNA: the genetic substance found in all advanced living organisms, responsible for the form, characteristics, development and inheritance of the individual.

3. Genome: all the genetic information about an organism including the nature and structure of each separate gene and the base sequences that characterises the DNA of any individual or species.]

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