Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Chinese Clinic Uses DNA Tests To Predict Kids' Talents

Posted by Soulskill on from the this-one-will-be-a-level-80-death-knight dept.

Death Metal writes with this excerpt from CNN: "About 30 children aged 3 to 12 years old and their parents are participating in a new program that uses DNA testing to identify genetic gifts and predict the future. ... The test is conducted by the Shanghai Biochip Corporation. Scientists claim a simple saliva swab collects as many as 10,000 cells that enable them to isolate eleven different genes. By taking a closer look at the genetic codes, they say they can extract information about a child's IQ, emotional control, focus, memory, athletic ability and more. For about $880, Chinese parents can sign their kids up for the test and five days of summer camp in Chongqing, where the children will be evaluated in various settings from sports to art. The scientific results, combined with observations by experts throughout the week, will be used to make recommendations to parents about what their child should pursue."

6 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. bumpersticker on soccer mom's suv... by djupedal · · Score: 3, Funny

    "My kid has better genes than yours and I can prove it..."

  2. Re:And it's only a small step from testing... by keeboo · · Score: 4, Funny

    It's only a small step from testing for these purported genes in kids, to testing for 'em in embryo bits. Then we get eugenics and kid selection, and surprise, there's a superhuman race inheriting the earth. *shrug* I think we all know how these things go.

    KHAAAAAAN!!!

  3. G.O.A.T. by baKanale · · Score: 2, Funny

    They can do that in the Gene Projection now? Wow! Back in my day we had to wait until we were 16 to take the G.O.A.T. and find all that out!

  4. Re:Pygmalion Effect by mwvdlee · · Score: 2, Funny

    So YOU'RE the guy making those "sexy nun" pictures on the interwebs?

    --
    Slashdot social media options: AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Jabber and Mobile Text. Why no MySpace?
  5. Re:Obvious bullshit by The+Wooden+Badger · · Score: 2, Funny

    That's interesting, but it will really have better accuracy in telling if the musician who provided to DNA sample had previously provided a meiotic DNA sample to a groupie.

    --
    Heroscape, it's like legos combined with anachronistic wargames.
  6. Re:And it's only a small step from testing... by TheSpoom · · Score: 2, Funny

    All this means is that Star Trek is right, again. And I thought we'd avoid the eugenics wars. :^(

    Where's time-travelling Jean Luc Picard when you need him?

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs