Autism jab? Finally, I can stop being neurotyp- oh
this post was submitted on 04 Dec 2023
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I mean the same approach would work the other way too
Being able to read body language would be nice, but I doubt it will work on adults.
We don't even know if it will work in humans yet. They've only done tests on mice so far, but the gist of it is that they identified a particular protein and a gene responsible for its production. The gene therapy causes more of the protein to be produced which resulted in behavioral changes in the mice. How that plays out with humans is an open question.
It might do something in humans, but the idea that autism is reducible to genes— and a single gene, at that— strikes me as laughable on its face.
How our whole body grows is a product of the genes ultimately, so the way brain connections form, balances of different proteins, and so on are also governed by our genetic makeup. I agree that it's obviously a much more complex picture than a single gene. However, if modifying a particular gene does increase production of this protein and that improves the way people are feeling then it's a tangible benefit. Ultimately that's the goal here.
I have a feeling I know how it is going to play out with western liberals, though (especially right-wing chuds and anti-vaxx groups): "Ebil CCPP spreading autism via vaccination confirmed!!!"
these are the takes I'm expecting
I think it should be 100% voluntary, the last thing I want to hear is people saying that Autism is a disease to be eradicated, I know plenty of people who have it and don’t consider it a disability in any sense. There are admittedly some that I know that don’t like it and the feelings and anxiety that comes with it. I can’t speak to it personally bc I don’t have it but from what I gather (from personal bias admittedly) it’s not something like Polio or Covid or Cancer in which a cure or breakthrough is more important. Just my 2 cents
I agree with that, neurodivergence shouldn't be seen as a negative. It's good to have options available for people, but we should also try to structure society in a way that's as accommodating as possible without people feeling forced to change how their minds work to fit in.
I don't want to totally downplay the incredible work the researchers are doing, but it's a long way off from any kind of actual treatments coming from this.
A lot of research is successful on mice that doesn't actually end up resulting in human treatments for any number of reasons. Even if it could be leveraged into a treatment for humans, we are looking at years and years of further trials and research. Not even mentioning the immense degree of complexity that scientists would be working with.
Still, the work done by China in all sectors, including biology and genetics, never ceases to impress. Even if an autism cure is not viable, the research could be extremely important for other things.
For sure, there's quite a ways to go from trials with mice to human trial. And very much agree that the progress China is making in all STEM areas is very impressive.
Autism is not a disease, and this isn't really an improvement over wanting to abort autistic fetuses. What happens to children who get this gene therapy but stay autistic? That person is going to have to live their whole life with the realization that their parents tried to change them and failed. And any child who is too old for it, because autism is a developmental disorder, but they have a sibling getting it, will feel equally unwanted.
An autism "cure" is an excuse for why a neurotypical world is hostile towards autistic people, deepening that hostility and saying "Well actually it's because you're diseased but that's okay because we're going to try to change who you are."
Do you have the same opinion for someone with a level 3 on the ASD? They will require constant care just to function, and will decrease the material conditions of anyone who takes care of them.
The idea of classifications of autism into high-functioning and low-functioning groups like that was invented by famed Nazi Hans Asperger because he was enthusiastic about eugenics and wanted a method for determining which autistic people should stay and which should go.
Someone who would get classified as "level 3" will 100% have issues that would be classified as diseases, and it makes more sense to treat those diseases first. But for someone with autism and nothing else? Yes I hold the same opinion that they should not have their autism eradicated.
I get your point. Trying to categorize people does create more division.
But we’re not talking about eugenics. We’re talking about treatment. I think the option should be available to autistic people, and it should be their choice to take it.
I think the option should be available to autistic people, and it should be their choice to take it.
To reference capeshit, this was basically the plot of X-Men: The Last Stand, and it was never so simple. People around mutants pressured them and in some cases tried to force them to do it
What do you think of curing photoepilepsy?
Photoepilepsy is a disease. If that's why they're getting gene therapy, then great.
In my case, I have redacted, a genetic demyelenating disease, and I want nothing more than to get gene therapy so I stop losing the ability to walk (because my existing nerve damage will never heal, the most gene therapy can do is keep it from getting worse, which would still be very good) and being at risk of dying every time I hit my head.
I really do appreciate the value of gene therapy for treating diseases. But this isn't being presented as a "photoepilepsy jab", it's being presented as autism jab, and autism is not a disease.