A question about genetics and superpowers?

Question

Ok...suppose that people could get superpowers by altering their DNA structure before birth....but what about already born people (i.e. you and me) ?

Is it possible to rewrite an already written strand of DNA?

What about a retrovirus?

Answer 1

Not as such, but you can introduce strands into new cells, as they are formed, or implant cells, through a bone marrow transplantation.
Here's the plan: find a willing girl, get her pregnant with an altered, superhuman baby. When the baby's born, use the cord blood, which is normally discarded, to get stem cells. Inject these into yourself, those that survive will produce a variable amount of superhuman powers. It won't be the full amount, but it might be enough to say, help you program the DVD recorder, or find the remote control etc.

When do we start?

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Answer 2

Ok, I have no opinion on altering DNA to gain superpowers... but, the DNA in your cells can and are changed over time- they're called mutations. When a cell divides, the DNA material has to be copied so that 1 copy of each gene is in each of the 2 resulting daughter cells. Each time the DNA strands are copied, there is a chance that mistakes will be made i.e. mutations. Most mutations are in parts of the DNA that don't actually code for proteins and therefore don't seem to have any affect on you, but in some random chances the mutation could affect some important cellular function.

However, these mutations are more likely to cause cancer than some sort of superpower...

Answer 3

Yes. Gene therapy is trying do just this. Many viruses also do it by inserting their nucleic acids into cells, which later recombines with ours. Mutations in the DNA due to environmental factors can accrue if not detected by repair enzymes - tumors form this way. That said, the changes do not affect DNA as a whole in most cases there are point mutations that affect just a specific gene or a regulatory sequence.
As for creating super powers - well I'm sceptical. However, probabilistically it is possible that if you have enough monkeys with typewriters, one of them is going to write a Sheakspeareian play...

Answer 4

I think youve watched the show Mutant X abit too much, but anyways yes gene therapy for many conditions is on its way and being studied. Viruses coded with some dna and such and then inserted in the body and which then the "Virus" multiplies and delivers more of the coded DNA to the body ect. But I think its just theory and not yet practiced but its being studied for medical treatments in the future.

Answer 5

Urfortunately DNA is only part of the equation. There would still be "enviornment" for one to contend with--yes

Answer 6

Watch the show Heroes ;)

Answer 7

...um, that's what viruses do to us. they hijack our cells be inserting their dna into our genome forcing our cells to become "virus factories". not fun.

Answer 8

"Az di bobe vot gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde."
Do you have three grandfathers?

Answer 9

no it would caus fatal effects on you so ud probably die if u tried