... where PE readers give their views on the issues of the day
THE QUESTION
Geneticists in Taiwan have 'engineered' some pigs that will glow in the dark. If you could be genetically modified, what enhancement to your present attributes or capabilities would you choose?
THE ANSWERS
Presumably the porcine modifications are a precursor to the next step of genetic engineering - adaptation to flight. In my case, extraordinary levels of 360� vision and hearing would greatly assist in understanding what our internal and external customers are really writing and saying about us behind the scenes, but not prepared to divulge face to face.
Mark Hadley, Much Wenlock, Shropshire
Genetic enhancement? To have the memory of an elephant, the strength of an ox, the nine lives of a cat, the lifespan of a turtle, the spring of a gazelle, all with the stress levels of a koala. Now that would be worth considering.
Andrew Forster, Minehead, Somerset
What might be useful is the ability to alter the rate of one's metabolism at will. If engaged on an urgent task, turn it up. If a passenger on a long journey, turn it down and save the energy. And, after the festive season excesses, turn it up and burn off the weight.
Humph Jones, Tidworth, Wiltshire
An ability to be psychic, so I know when not to turn up on site and also when to turn up. That way I can always be one step ahead of the game and appear to be well on top of any project. I might also be able to read my manager's mind when he assures me he has told me something... when he hasn't.
Helen Currie, Guildford, Surrey
If I could be genetically modified, the first thing would be to remove any predisposition I have to inherited illnesses such as cancer or heart disease. After that, I am afraid in today's world it would all be for purely physical gain - I would go for the perfect body and good looks, along with anti-ageing and eternal fitness.
Rachel Jelly, Kidderminster, Worcs
As I am thinking of organising my next holiday, I would like to be cloned so that my clone could be sat at my desk working while I was off doing something far more enjoyable. Maybe my clone could be engineered so he was also a little happier with his pay and conditions!
Keith Woolnough, Churchdown, Glos
Hands and feet like a gecko, to allow a dramatic demonstration to the kids of van der Waals forces, and handy for doing the upstairs windows. A little of the regenerative powers of a salamander or newt, to offset some of the physical pains of getting older. A brain like a dolphin, which sleeps one hemisphere at a time. This would be excellent for meetings and audits, keeping me just alert enough to predict and respond to dangers, while freeing up time for other low-grade activity like document reviewing and email.
But a little cold-bloodedness and the tear ducts from a crocodile would offer the greatest improvement in quality of life by opening up a career in management consultancy or accountancy.
Aldan Foley, Linlithgow, West Lothian
As an engineer I am regarded as a mushroom (kept in the dark and fed a load of --). If I glowed all over, there might just be enough light for me to find my way out.
John Brown, Worcester
The obvious enhancement would be to be able to communicate more effectively with my three cats. It would be far easier if they could tell me exactly what they wanted. It would be nice to ask why they always sit on my books when I'm reading or walk over my computer keyboard, pressing a combination of keys that is impossible to recover from.
Paul Shipman, Broughton Astley, Leics
I would have my system modified to separate the talking/breathing function from the eating/drinking one, This would greatly enhance my performance at working lunches. Also, depending on the siting of the second orifice, I could perhaps keep things under my hat or close to my chest while talking.
Terry Chivers, Coaley, Glos
If given the chance to 'improve' myself and others I would develop the disease-resistant human. Think of the benefits. No more lame excuses why employees could not come to work, a reduction in taxes needed to fund the NHS, and good health for all.
John Cowan, Bicester, Oxon
A genetic modification to increase my tolerance levels to people spending money on research of dubious value, new-age mumbo-jumbo, platitude-spouting politicians, and all the other irritants in our so-called modern life. But then again maybe we should be irritated by these sorts of things, irritated enough to do something about them.
Alasdair Kyle, Hyihe, Kent
I want to be telepathic. I want to be able to read my wife's mind, since, in line with most of us disadvantaged men, I do not always understand where she is coming from. However, if I were telepathic, given the speed of computer advance, very shortly someone would have designed a USB-compatible plugin telepathy receiver for my PC, and I wouldn't be typing this!
James McLeod, Bishopston, Bristol
I would replace the human capacity for doubt with extra capability to focus. Doubt, developed somewhere in youth, holds many people back from pursuing their potential - or delays them from starting. Lack of focus, however, derails us once we have got under way.
Malcolm Wilson, Chepstow
We were made the way we are for a reason, so messing with nature will cause us more problems in the future. If people live longer due to being genetically modified there will be more of a drain on our precious resources, overcrowding, more pollution and eventual global destruction. Trying to build the perfect race... hmmm, I feel another world war coming on.
Jon Porter, Ross-on-Wye
The enhancement most needed in my case would be the ability to disconnect the food consumed and the result that is the change in waistline. I need my body to use what it needs and throw the rest away. Or a modification to willpower. The next most-needed enhancement would be the ability as a male to deal with more than one thing at once. Then I could compete with my wife on level terms.
Christopher Castleman, Crawley, Sussex
The ability to time travel!
Ian Harper, Derby
