SCI/TECH: The FEAR gene

Recently,Howard Hughes Medical Intsitute has supposedly found a gene that is linked to fear in animals. This gene, called GRP, has show in other research that it is connected with the amygdala, a place in the brain linked to fear. Before these tests with mice were produced, no strong evidence was found on the gene. Could there now be cures for the anxiety stricken. Professor Kandel from the Insitute believes that it is theoretically possible. There will still need to be a plethra of studies before any drugs can be created however.



Could we eventually create fearless human beings with specific drugs? It is interesting to see all the new genes that are being linked with dissorders and diseases, but fear? Isnt fear, "mind over matter" ? Can't we control our own fears. I wonder if some people can prove this research wrong, even though it is still in debate.

Related News Links:
www.sciencedaily.com
www.cumc.columbia.edu

As much as i would love all my fears to be eliminated, a little fear is good. Imagine a society with "no fear"- This would mean what? No fear of what we know we'll get us life in prison? I think they had better think what this would do to the consciense.

I think a version of this, and a good one will be if they eliminate "anxiety, social disorder, etc., these types of fear if they were to control them would be simply great.

As far as totally fearless humans, I dont think so.

Eliminating FEAR with "medicine"???

Idiots.

Don't they know that the origin of these kinds of problems are to be found in the psyche.

Awaken Consciousness, observe the "I" or psychological aggregate of fear, and comprehend it in the 49 levels of the mind through Meditation, and dissect it with the scalpel of the Consciousness(not with a microscope, metal scalpel or even the dualistic mind).


This ultramodern "medicine" of the Anti-Christ(official science) will only serve to bury the problem deeper into the psyche, only for it to rear it's ugly head later on...

I don't think concience and fear are linked actually, concience is a Cultural phenomenon mostly as people in Saudi don't seem to feel pangs of guilt over stoning an Adultress to death. If they could take a anti-fear pill it could even get them to stand up to their current establishment(if you don't fear reprisal then you won't fear speaking out)

Right now fear rules our civilization, we fear different cultures, new technologies and well anything that is unfamiliar to us. It has become a hindrance rather then a survival tool which is all fear is good for. It will be interesting if they find a gene that enhances compassion, reduce fear and increase compassion that would be incredible if we were to achieve that.(Sounds kind of like Extasy heh)

[edit on 18-11-2005 by sardion2000]

Originally posted by dgtempe
As much as i would love all my fears to be eliminated, a little fear is good. Imagine a society with "no fear"- This would mean what? No fear of what we know we'll get us life in prison? I think they had better think what this would do to the consciense.

That is definitely a good point. Although it would be nice to know that people keep themselves "in line" because they actually care about others, instead of just are afraid of the consequences.

The fight or flight phenomenon is one of the most important reactions in any live species including humans. To try and alter that is suicidal to th e human race and will cause all matter of issues

That is an Opinion not a preordained outcome.

The world is ruled by Fear and Greed, it has lead to many horrible and idiotic things. Just take a look at the 20th century for proof of that(how many millions died from war in the 20th century? 50 Million? 100 Million? How many died of Famine & Diseases caused by these wars? How many were left horribly scared both physically and mentally by there experiences?)

Human Nature itself is flawed and a romantic notion that it's our Humanity that gives us such virtues like Compassion, Understanding and Wisdom is flawed logic and possibly suicidal for our entire species.

We are already headed down the road to Extinction the way I see it(and I blame Human Nature mostly), I say we do our best to try to avoid it and we need to explore ALL options. Not necessarily implement them on a large scale but at least entertain the idea.

Anyway back on topic, people with Anxiety Disorders will benefit from this the most in the short term and ethically you cannot deny them a possible treatment for what ails them.

I've had a Anxiety Disorder before but worked my way through it on my own, I've met people with far worse forms of the disorder who would only benefit from stuff like this as they are so closed off to people that going to a therapist would be literally impossible for them to do on a regular basis, which is why allot of them go un-diagnosed and un-treated for most of their lives. They are really smart people most of the time so it's kind of a shame they cannot share what they know with others face to face.

Fear, like pain, has survival value. It is anxiety that we need to address. We have good drugs now to deal with chronic anxiety, but of course there could be better treatments.

Well, since i am the queen of "anxiety" i would certainly be all for a medicine that eliminated all that.
What would it be for me to be totally anxiety free!!!!

I just dont want to be totally fearless and think i can beat that car barrelling down the street doing 100 mph.....Nooooooo

A mouse without fear is still a squashed little pile under my shoe when I see it.

Fearles mice will die out as a genetic group, for such a defenceless being fear means survival.

Almost all behaviour is linked to genetics, and especially when you see human like behaviour in rude animals you are seeing how that works. Certainly tho, there isn't a single gene that is responsible for all fear. Genes 'merely' produce proteins. Saying that there is a 'fear gene' is saying that there is a protein in the body that is responsible for all fear, which is on its face nonesense.

Usually these sorts of primitive and overly simplistic representations are the result of the reporters in the original source misunderstanding the science tho, keep in mind.

I'm just wondering, would this be irrational fear? What I mean is would we function logically without fear?

However I don't like the idea of a fearless society. Anybody heard of the MAD concept? Mutually Assured Destruction was probably the only thing that kept the Soviet Union and United States from nuking eachother into oblivion. If we didn't have fear then we'd all be nothing more than radioactive dust sitting on a self illuminating parking lot as the acidic rain falls from the sky.

The finding suggests new approaches for drugs designed to treat conditions such as phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder

Originally posted by Netchicken

A mouse without fear is still a squashed little pile under my shoe when I see it

eh, Netty!! You do not belong to the “Free-Cheese-For-All-Group“, he?


[edit on 20-11-2005 by Riwka]

Originally posted by Tamahu
Eliminating FEAR with "medicine"???

Idiots.

Don't they know that the origin of these kinds of problems are to be found in the psyche.

Awaken Consciousness, observe the "I" or psychological aggregate of fear, and comprehend it in the 49 levels of the mind through Meditation, and dissect it with the scalpel of the Consciousness(not with a microscope, metal scalpel or even the dualistic mind).

This ultramodern "medicine" of the Anti-Christ(official science) will only serve to bury the problem deeper into the psyche, only for it to rear it's ugly head later on...

What they seem to have done is not eliminate fear, but rather block it from entering the brain.
Think of how pain killers work, many of which flood your system with endorphins so you wont feel the pain even though it is still there.

The mind over matter approach is nice, but some people can't do it.
An approach that completely prohibits fear by "unplugging the cord" via drugs will work.
There may be a possibility of "phantom fears" much like amputees can sometimes feel pain in their lost limbs.

I agree, the mind is a powerful system, but every system can be hacked; some just take longer than others.

My greatest fear, pun intended, in this situation is that it will be used to create "fearless armies".

I'm just waiting till they find the age genes so we can live forever.

Originally posted by mrjones
I'm just waiting till they find the age genes so we can live forever.

do you honestly believe that if those in charge find it you will ever know about it let alone reap any benefit from it? think about that and you will know what you should be fearing...

While they couch this in terms of 'the good it will do those who suffer from cronic anxiety', I can't help but wonder about other applications for this research.....

It was done by a 'Howard Hughes' corporation......medical or other wise, to me, that name suggests military connections, funding, etc.

Soldiers bred to be without fear......an old science fiction theme, and perhaps a future possiblilty. This could be good or bad, depending upon the intentions and use it is put to.

Originally posted by frayed1
Soldiers bred to be without fear......an old science fiction theme, and perhaps a future possiblilty. This could be good or bad, depending upon the intentions and use it is put to.

Oh my... This is a horrible thing. The goverment will just send troops into battle to be slaughtered. They'll know they will be without any fear and send in a force by numbers. What i dont understand is what about the "adrenaline rushes" that give you help when your frightend. This fear gene will just make humanity have more causialties* if a war.

Of course to be my "devils' advicate" this will have some benefits in some cases... However we shouldnt dabble in this sort of business TOO much.

~Spart

Some fear has a very practical use like the fight or flight response. But many people have irrational fears.

A few examples

Ablutophobia- Fear of washing or bathing
Aerophobia- Fear of swallowing air
Aulophobia- Fear of flutes
Cnidophobia- Fear of string
Mottephobia- Fear of moths
Xanthophobia- Fear of the color yellow

These are all real
link

If something like this could help people with irrational fears its a good thing IMHO. We already have soldiers without fear they are robots like the Pacbot, and Predator UAV and they are going to play a greater role in the comming years.

If something like this could help people with irrational fears its a good thing IMHO. We already have soldiers without fear they are robots like the Pacbot, and Predator UAV and they are going to play a greater role in the comming years.

Yes that is what i said in some cases would be fine. I dont however believe that this should be used in the military but who knows they dont listen to anybody...

I dont think the would have that much more military value then robots in the near future. It would all be about control and humans arent that easy to control compared to machines. Those same fearless human soldiers in battle would no longer fear a court martial or a long stay at military prison for not following the rules and orders. That could outway any benifit you could get in combat.

Robots on the other hand are very easy to control, well for now