Comment by Elliot Callender (javanotmocha) on Significantly Enhancing Adult Intelligence With Gene Editing May Be Possible · 2024-01-08T00:17:26.427Z · LW · GW

We know that some genes are only active in the womb, or in childhood, which should make us very skeptical that editing them would have an effect.

Would these edits result in demethylated DNA? A reversion of the epigenome could allow expression of infant genes. There may also be robust epigenomic therapies developed by the time this project would be scalable.

Companies like 23&Me genotyped their 12 millionth customer two years ago and could probably get at perhaps 3 million customers to take an IQ test or submit SAT scores.

Just as you mentioned that academics' aversion from this area, I think genomics companies would be reluctant at best to ask their customers for test scores. Perhaps it wouldn't be bad PR once the public is more concerned about existential AI. Governments might be more willing to provide data.