鈥� The snag is not injection into the genome, but rather the 鈥渋ncredible powers鈥� that 鈥渟pontaneously鈥� arise. Either genetic modification or natural selection can create enormous, viable changes. We have applied the latter to plants and animals for millennia in the form of selective breeding programmes. Natural selection also achieves stunning adaptations, but usually more slowly than selective breeding. But to call such changes spontaneous is disputable.
For spontaneous, random, major genetic changes to be immediately functional and viable would be about as likely as winning several lotteries simultaneously. And, quite obviously, it is unlikely that minor changes would endow anyone with 鈥渋ncredible powers鈥�. Genetic change affects only the control and production of proteins and nucleic acids, and through them, the modification of body chemistry and processes.
And who is to say what powers would be considered incredible? Within, say, 50 years we might be able to control obesity, strength, longevity, intelligence, resistance to many diseases and engineer the ability to digest cellulose and metabolise hydrocarbons. But we have no reason to believe that we could produce psychic powers, wingless flight, transmutation of elements, honest politics or common sense.
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Jon Richfield
Somerset West, South Africa
鈥� The possibility of a virus causing some people to suddenly achieve superpowers is unlikely, but the process could be broken down into three components, some more likely than others.
First, can a virus affect specific genes? In this scenario we could envisage a virus that inserts itself into a specific gene or sequence and affects its function or expression. Secondly, could such an insertion have a major effect? Again, this seems possible. A change in a fruit fly gene can cause a leg to grow out of the fly鈥檚 head. Changes in other developmental control genes could produce equally strange phenomena. Thirdly, could such changes lead to superpowers? I think this all depends on what we accept as a superpower. To our ancestors our current intellect might seem like a superpower 鈥� assuming they were capable of appreciating it.
I suspect that a virus is unlikely to endow the ability to fly, emit flames or the like. However, a significantly improved sense, such as long-distance vision, might be possible.
Mike Adams
Biology department
Eastern Connecticut State University
Willimantic, Connecticut, US
鈥� I can鈥檛 comment on the mechanics of a virus injecting DNA into the human genome, but I can say that most of the superhero powers that you see in the movies break well-established physical laws, and therefore such DNA would be impossible to create.
Simon Iveson
Pembangunan National Veteran University
Yogyakarta, Indonesia