How many generations would it take to breed genetically robust superhumans?

[astro]

When you breed animals like dogs breeders often force incest “line breeding” to reinforce certain traits. This works but often makes the breed predisposed to various genetically involved ailments.

If you wanted to breed the strongest and smartest humans possible without using incest style reinforcement, how many generations would it take to breed a population of genius IQ - super athletes, *and *have them be able to reliably reproduce more superhumans among themselves without unusual numbers of genetic anomalies and dysfunctions cropping up?

The bottom line question is can you breed a stable, healthy population of superhumans out of regular human populations and then have the superhumans reliably make more superhumans (vs normal humans) ?

[Wesley_Clark]

I don’t know but I’ve wondered the same thing, except with loving altruistic humans. How many generations to create a race of humans full of unconditional love and forgiveness. I don’t understand the math of how much change can happen from generation to generation.

I don’t know, but even 1-2 generations seems to retain a lot of high IQ and athletic traits if both parents have those traits in spades.

[Leaffan]

@Wesley_Clark

I don’t know but I’ve wondered the same thing, except with loving altruistic humans. How many generations to create a race of humans full of unconditional love and forgiveness.

I think these traits are learned and not genetically encoded.

Anyway, I don’t have an answer but surely the OP was inspired by Kahn.

[Sinisterniik]

@astro

If you wanted to breed the strongest and smartest humans possible without using incest style reinforcement, how many generations would it take to breed a population of genius IQ - super athletes, *and *have them be able to reliably reproduce more superhumans among themselves without unusual numbers of genetic anomalies and dysfunctions cropping up?

Well those traits describe me even though my parents are much slower and weaker than I am. They also have gray hair or are balding, bad joints, poor circulation, and a generally difficult time understanding new technology. I, on the other hand, am vastly superior. Once I find a suitably above average human being to breed with I’ll report back right away about our children, who I can only assume will be equally perfect in every way.

So 1 generation. </THREAD>

[drastic_quench]

@Wesley_Clark

I don’t know but I’ve wondered the same thing, except with loving altruistic humans. How many generations to create a race of humans full of unconditional love and forgiveness. I don’t understand the math of how much change can happen from generation to generation.

I don’t know, but even 1-2 generations seems to retain a lot of high IQ and athletic traits if both parents have those traits in spades.

Williams syndrome - Wikipedia

[Napier]

It has taken all of the generations so far, and counting. We are bred as well as possible given how new a species we are, all things considered.

[Michael63129]

@Napier

It has taken all of the generations so far, and counting. We are bred as well as possible given how new a species we are, all things considered.

But I could go on and on about all of the flaws in the human body, including those that cause death at an early age (e.g. the human heart has a propensity to go into fibrillation for no reason (the “heart attack” at age 28 or even much earlier, not to be confused with the kind caused by the body filling up its arteries with gunk and being unable to clean them, which can actually begin before birth), or at least no reason we can tell in many cases; or all of the chronic diseases around today).

[Wesley_Clark]

@Leaffan

I think these traits are learned and not genetically encoded.

Anyway, I don’t have an answer but surely the OP was inspired by Kahn.

There is a genetic component.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=is-altruism-a-genetic-trait

Genes, however, do not tell the full story of what prompts people to be generous. By examining altruism in identical twins, who share nearly 100 percent of their genes, and fraternal twins, who share 50 percent of their genes, researchers can estimate the extent to which genes and the environment contribute to selfless inclinations and behaviors. Overall, these twin studies suggest that genes explain between 30 and 60 percent of altruistic tendencies, with the remaining variation coming from cultural or social effects.