Genefixing

The practice of "genefixing" consists of testing germ plasm for genetic defects, such as hereditary diseases, and then fixing them through gengineering at conception. This is the easiest type of trait selection for society to accept – making sure that genes for good physical or mental health are coded into children, while defects are fixed.

At mid to late TL8, this is limited to major genetic defects, where genetic errors result in an excess or deficiency of certain proteins or hormones, producing problems like Dwarfism or Hemophilia.

At TL9+, the definition of "defect" can be extended, ensuring that minor flaws like lantern jaw, knock knees, snaggle teeth, excessive acne and so on are not in a genotype.

It should be possible to suppress or edit gene sequences connected with a tendency toward certain mental states, such as rage, lecherousness or poor self-control. It's not possible to genefix specific mental disorders, such as an individual obsession or phobia, but manipulation of genes governing behavior-modifying neurotransmitters (such as serotonin) can deliberately create "stable personality" genotypes that are less likely to suffer from some forms of mental illness. This is the reverse of the technique used to create the "genetic booby traps," described under Behavioral Modifications.

While genetic behavioral modification of this sort may be controversial, eliminating aggressive or unstable mental traits may seem more benign. However, it can have an interesting effect on a culture over the long term. A non-aggressive culture might be in trouble the next time it runs into an external enemy, and who knows how many famous artists, prophets, messiahs, and political leaders might have gained their inspiration from mild mental disorders?

See Taboo Traits for a list of genefixed taboo traits.