Scientists find way to make us slaves

[Guest guest]

ALDOUS HUXLEY may have got it right. In Brave New World, his classic

futuristic novel, the author envisaged a society divided into castes

from Alpha at the top to Epsilon at the bottom.

The Epsilons were content to plod on with tedious tasks, their

brains numbed by drugs. Until now this has been the stuff of science

fiction.

However, experiments conducted on rhesus monkeys have shown for the

first time that animal behaviour can be permanently altered, turning

the subjects from aggressive to " compliant " creatures.

The scientists did so by blocking the effects of a gene in the brain

called D2, which cut off the link between the monkeys' motivation

and perceived reward. Humans have an identical gene.

The project was led by Barry Richmond, a government neurobiologist

at America's National Institute of Mental Health, who has detailed

the findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience this month.

The work shows how the monkeys could be made to work

enthusiastically for long periods without the need for a " treat " .

The experiments involved getting monkeys to operate levers in

response to colour changes on screens in front of them. Normally

they work hardest and fastest with the fewest mistakes if they think

a reward for the " work " is imminent.

However, Richmond's team found that they could make the monkeys work

their hardest and fastest all the time, without any complaint or

sign of slacking, just by manipulating D2 so that they forgot about

the expectation of reward.

" Most people are motivated to work hard and well only by the

expectation of reward, whether it's a pay cheque or a word of

praise, " said Richmond. " In these experiments we found we could

remove that link and create a situation where repetitive, hard work

would continue without any reward. "

The original purpose of the research was to find ways of treating

mental illness. " We make decisions all the time based on how

valuable we think a reward is and how much time we think it is going

to take to get it, " said Richmond. " In depression, people think no

reward is worthwhile and all work is too burdensome. In obsessive

compulsive disorder, people work and are never satisfied by what

they have done. If we can find the disturbance in the brain

circuitry related to emotions and reward, we might be able to

relieve these symptoms. "

He said the technicalities of permanently altering human behaviour

by gene manipulation are currently too complex and humans who

underwent this treatment to become live manifestations of Huxley's

Epsilons would not function well.

" They would be indiscriminate and not be able to appreciate that

their efforts were wasted if there was a problem further along a

production line, " Richmond said. " It would be more to the point for

us to motivate people using normal motivating factors. "

However, he and other scientists acknowledge that methods of

manipulating human physical and psychological traits are just around

the corner, and the technology will emerge first as a lucrative add-

on available from IVF clinics.

" There's no doubt we will be able to influence behaviour, " said

n Savulescu, a professor of ethics at Oxford University. He

believes people have " a moral imperative " to genetically enhance

their children.

Although he added: " Genetically manipulating people to become slaves

is not in their interests, but other changes might be. We have to

make choices about what makes a good life for an individual. "

Richmond's findings were discussed at a Royal Society meeting

organised by Bob , the scientist whose work led to the

creation of Louise Brown, the world's first test tube baby.

In a presentation entitled Designing Babies: What the Future Holds,

Yuri Verlinsky, a scientist from the University of Chicago who is at

the forefront of embryo manipulation, said: " As infertility

customers are investing so much time, money and effort into having a

baby, shouldn't they have a healthy one and what is to stop them

picking a baby for its physical and psychological traits? " The

advent of the technology is considered so serious in America that a

meeting to discuss setting up a legal framework for " germline "

genetic manipulation is being held in Washington DC in December.

Stock, author of Redesigning Humans and an ethics specialist

from the University of California, is one of those invited to

attend. " I don't think these kind of interventions are exactly round

the corner, they are a few years away, but I don't think they are

going to be stopped by legislation, " he said.

Scientists find way to make us slaves

Lois , Medical Editor

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,2-523-1313556,00.html

Copyright 2004 Times Newspapers Ltd.

This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and

Conditions . Please read our Privacy Policy . To inquire about a

licence to reproduce material from The Times, visit the Syndication

website .

[Guest guest]

ALDOUS HUXLEY may have got it right. In Brave New World, his classic

futuristic novel, the author envisaged a society divided into castes

from Alpha at the top to Epsilon at the bottom.

The Epsilons were content to plod on with tedious tasks, their

brains numbed by drugs. Until now this has been the stuff of science

fiction.

However, experiments conducted on rhesus monkeys have shown for the

first time that animal behaviour can be permanently altered, turning

the subjects from aggressive to " compliant " creatures.

The scientists did so by blocking the effects of a gene in the brain

called D2, which cut off the link between the monkeys' motivation

and perceived reward. Humans have an identical gene.

The project was led by Barry Richmond, a government neurobiologist

at America's National Institute of Mental Health, who has detailed

the findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience this month.

The work shows how the monkeys could be made to work

enthusiastically for long periods without the need for a " treat " .

The experiments involved getting monkeys to operate levers in

response to colour changes on screens in front of them. Normally

they work hardest and fastest with the fewest mistakes if they think

a reward for the " work " is imminent.

However, Richmond's team found that they could make the monkeys work

their hardest and fastest all the time, without any complaint or

sign of slacking, just by manipulating D2 so that they forgot about

the expectation of reward.

" Most people are motivated to work hard and well only by the

expectation of reward, whether it's a pay cheque or a word of

praise, " said Richmond. " In these experiments we found we could

remove that link and create a situation where repetitive, hard work

would continue without any reward. "

The original purpose of the research was to find ways of treating

mental illness. " We make decisions all the time based on how

valuable we think a reward is and how much time we think it is going

to take to get it, " said Richmond. " In depression, people think no

reward is worthwhile and all work is too burdensome. In obsessive

compulsive disorder, people work and are never satisfied by what

they have done. If we can find the disturbance in the brain

circuitry related to emotions and reward, we might be able to

relieve these symptoms. "

He said the technicalities of permanently altering human behaviour

by gene manipulation are currently too complex and humans who

underwent this treatment to become live manifestations of Huxley's

Epsilons would not function well.

" They would be indiscriminate and not be able to appreciate that

their efforts were wasted if there was a problem further along a

production line, " Richmond said. " It would be more to the point for

us to motivate people using normal motivating factors. "

However, he and other scientists acknowledge that methods of

manipulating human physical and psychological traits are just around

the corner, and the technology will emerge first as a lucrative add-

on available from IVF clinics.

" There's no doubt we will be able to influence behaviour, " said

n Savulescu, a professor of ethics at Oxford University. He

believes people have " a moral imperative " to genetically enhance

their children.

Although he added: " Genetically manipulating people to become slaves

is not in their interests, but other changes might be. We have to

make choices about what makes a good life for an individual. "

Richmond's findings were discussed at a Royal Society meeting

organised by Bob , the scientist whose work led to the

creation of Louise Brown, the world's first test tube baby.

In a presentation entitled Designing Babies: What the Future Holds,

Yuri Verlinsky, a scientist from the University of Chicago who is at

the forefront of embryo manipulation, said: " As infertility

customers are investing so much time, money and effort into having a

baby, shouldn't they have a healthy one and what is to stop them

picking a baby for its physical and psychological traits? " The

advent of the technology is considered so serious in America that a

meeting to discuss setting up a legal framework for " germline "

genetic manipulation is being held in Washington DC in December.

Stock, author of Redesigning Humans and an ethics specialist

from the University of California, is one of those invited to

attend. " I don't think these kind of interventions are exactly round

the corner, they are a few years away, but I don't think they are

going to be stopped by legislation, " he said.

Scientists find way to make us slaves

Lois , Medical Editor

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,2-523-1313556,00.html

Copyright 2004 Times Newspapers Ltd.

This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and

Conditions . Please read our Privacy Policy . To inquire about a

licence to reproduce material from The Times, visit the Syndication

website .

[Guest guest]

ALDOUS HUXLEY may have got it right. In Brave New World, his classic

futuristic novel, the author envisaged a society divided into castes

from Alpha at the top to Epsilon at the bottom.

The Epsilons were content to plod on with tedious tasks, their

brains numbed by drugs. Until now this has been the stuff of science

fiction.

However, experiments conducted on rhesus monkeys have shown for the

first time that animal behaviour can be permanently altered, turning

the subjects from aggressive to " compliant " creatures.

The scientists did so by blocking the effects of a gene in the brain

called D2, which cut off the link between the monkeys' motivation

and perceived reward. Humans have an identical gene.

The project was led by Barry Richmond, a government neurobiologist

at America's National Institute of Mental Health, who has detailed

the findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience this month.

The work shows how the monkeys could be made to work

enthusiastically for long periods without the need for a " treat " .

The experiments involved getting monkeys to operate levers in

response to colour changes on screens in front of them. Normally

they work hardest and fastest with the fewest mistakes if they think

a reward for the " work " is imminent.

However, Richmond's team found that they could make the monkeys work

their hardest and fastest all the time, without any complaint or

sign of slacking, just by manipulating D2 so that they forgot about

the expectation of reward.

" Most people are motivated to work hard and well only by the

expectation of reward, whether it's a pay cheque or a word of

praise, " said Richmond. " In these experiments we found we could

remove that link and create a situation where repetitive, hard work

would continue without any reward. "

The original purpose of the research was to find ways of treating

mental illness. " We make decisions all the time based on how

valuable we think a reward is and how much time we think it is going

to take to get it, " said Richmond. " In depression, people think no

reward is worthwhile and all work is too burdensome. In obsessive

compulsive disorder, people work and are never satisfied by what

they have done. If we can find the disturbance in the brain

circuitry related to emotions and reward, we might be able to

relieve these symptoms. "

He said the technicalities of permanently altering human behaviour

by gene manipulation are currently too complex and humans who

underwent this treatment to become live manifestations of Huxley's

Epsilons would not function well.

" They would be indiscriminate and not be able to appreciate that

their efforts were wasted if there was a problem further along a

production line, " Richmond said. " It would be more to the point for

us to motivate people using normal motivating factors. "

However, he and other scientists acknowledge that methods of

manipulating human physical and psychological traits are just around

the corner, and the technology will emerge first as a lucrative add-

on available from IVF clinics.

" There's no doubt we will be able to influence behaviour, " said

n Savulescu, a professor of ethics at Oxford University. He

believes people have " a moral imperative " to genetically enhance

their children.

Although he added: " Genetically manipulating people to become slaves

is not in their interests, but other changes might be. We have to

make choices about what makes a good life for an individual. "

Richmond's findings were discussed at a Royal Society meeting

organised by Bob , the scientist whose work led to the

creation of Louise Brown, the world's first test tube baby.

In a presentation entitled Designing Babies: What the Future Holds,

Yuri Verlinsky, a scientist from the University of Chicago who is at

the forefront of embryo manipulation, said: " As infertility

customers are investing so much time, money and effort into having a

baby, shouldn't they have a healthy one and what is to stop them

picking a baby for its physical and psychological traits? " The

advent of the technology is considered so serious in America that a

meeting to discuss setting up a legal framework for " germline "

genetic manipulation is being held in Washington DC in December.

Stock, author of Redesigning Humans and an ethics specialist

from the University of California, is one of those invited to

attend. " I don't think these kind of interventions are exactly round

the corner, they are a few years away, but I don't think they are

going to be stopped by legislation, " he said.

Scientists find way to make us slaves

Lois , Medical Editor

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,2-523-1313556,00.html

Copyright 2004 Times Newspapers Ltd.

This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and

Conditions . Please read our Privacy Policy . To inquire about a

licence to reproduce material from The Times, visit the Syndication

website .

[Guest guest]

ALDOUS HUXLEY may have got it right. In Brave New World, his classic

futuristic novel, the author envisaged a society divided into castes

from Alpha at the top to Epsilon at the bottom.

The Epsilons were content to plod on with tedious tasks, their

brains numbed by drugs. Until now this has been the stuff of science

fiction.

However, experiments conducted on rhesus monkeys have shown for the

first time that animal behaviour can be permanently altered, turning

the subjects from aggressive to " compliant " creatures.

The scientists did so by blocking the effects of a gene in the brain

called D2, which cut off the link between the monkeys' motivation

and perceived reward. Humans have an identical gene.

The project was led by Barry Richmond, a government neurobiologist

at America's National Institute of Mental Health, who has detailed

the findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience this month.

The work shows how the monkeys could be made to work

enthusiastically for long periods without the need for a " treat " .

The experiments involved getting monkeys to operate levers in

response to colour changes on screens in front of them. Normally

they work hardest and fastest with the fewest mistakes if they think

a reward for the " work " is imminent.

However, Richmond's team found that they could make the monkeys work

their hardest and fastest all the time, without any complaint or

sign of slacking, just by manipulating D2 so that they forgot about

the expectation of reward.

" Most people are motivated to work hard and well only by the

expectation of reward, whether it's a pay cheque or a word of

praise, " said Richmond. " In these experiments we found we could

remove that link and create a situation where repetitive, hard work

would continue without any reward. "

The original purpose of the research was to find ways of treating

mental illness. " We make decisions all the time based on how

valuable we think a reward is and how much time we think it is going

to take to get it, " said Richmond. " In depression, people think no

reward is worthwhile and all work is too burdensome. In obsessive

compulsive disorder, people work and are never satisfied by what

they have done. If we can find the disturbance in the brain

circuitry related to emotions and reward, we might be able to

relieve these symptoms. "

He said the technicalities of permanently altering human behaviour

by gene manipulation are currently too complex and humans who

underwent this treatment to become live manifestations of Huxley's

Epsilons would not function well.

" They would be indiscriminate and not be able to appreciate that

their efforts were wasted if there was a problem further along a

production line, " Richmond said. " It would be more to the point for

us to motivate people using normal motivating factors. "

However, he and other scientists acknowledge that methods of

manipulating human physical and psychological traits are just around

the corner, and the technology will emerge first as a lucrative add-

on available from IVF clinics.

" There's no doubt we will be able to influence behaviour, " said

n Savulescu, a professor of ethics at Oxford University. He

believes people have " a moral imperative " to genetically enhance

their children.

Although he added: " Genetically manipulating people to become slaves

is not in their interests, but other changes might be. We have to

make choices about what makes a good life for an individual. "

Richmond's findings were discussed at a Royal Society meeting

organised by Bob , the scientist whose work led to the

creation of Louise Brown, the world's first test tube baby.

In a presentation entitled Designing Babies: What the Future Holds,

Yuri Verlinsky, a scientist from the University of Chicago who is at

the forefront of embryo manipulation, said: " As infertility

customers are investing so much time, money and effort into having a

baby, shouldn't they have a healthy one and what is to stop them

picking a baby for its physical and psychological traits? " The

advent of the technology is considered so serious in America that a

meeting to discuss setting up a legal framework for " germline "

genetic manipulation is being held in Washington DC in December.

Stock, author of Redesigning Humans and an ethics specialist

from the University of California, is one of those invited to

attend. " I don't think these kind of interventions are exactly round

the corner, they are a few years away, but I don't think they are

going to be stopped by legislation, " he said.

Scientists find way to make us slaves

Lois , Medical Editor

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/printFriendly/0,,2-523-1313556,00.html

Copyright 2004 Times Newspapers Ltd.

This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and

Conditions . Please read our Privacy Policy . To inquire about a

licence to reproduce material from The Times, visit the Syndication

website .