[luminen]

Doubling lifespan is definitely a bigger impact than 4%, but let's explore what the hypothetical "perfect application" of this study to a human life.

A fairly average lifespan is 80 years, so a 4% increase would be about 3.2 years. If I were offered a "wonder drug" that would give me 1,168 more days with a loved one, I would take it.

Obviously that is not how science like this works, but stacking small victories over time is a way to achieve "significant" impact.

[aetherspawn]

Hm, would you go through the process of GM your (otherwise naturally conceived) kid on the chance that their lifespan would increase by 4%? For me personally, OK, 10% ... maybe, 20% definitely.

But what stigma and complications/risks could they live with for a 4% increase in lifespan? What if they find out in 30 years time that their GM means that they can't have kids with their partner or something because there is some biological incompatibility that wasn't anticipated and it just miscarriages. What if some country is Xenophobic to the idea and won't grant them residency or a passport because they are GM, or they are eventually targeted by some kind of anti-GM hate group? Would that 4% be worth it? Like everything it's a risk-reward value prop.

[Out_of_Characte]

Biologic incompatibility isn't as much of a concern. At least not with the modification in the article. Our genes encode a wide variety of proteins and enzymes that differ from person to person. Even people with significantly debilitating mutations havent had trouble conceiving. Even people with extra x or y chromosones do not have to worry about the matter. Though some men do have strange mutations like only being able to conceive girls with their partner.