[jw1224]

> But what if it's possible to alter your influential genes, through some powerful mechanism? Whether it be through insane willpower or anything else.

Sounds like epigenetics, where the environment actively influences the genes themselves: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epigenetics

[makerdiety]

Doesn't the environment already affect genes albeit on huge timescales like millions of years? Then the more clear question becomes how to accelerate mutations and for one individual person instead of through delicate and fallible processes like generations of species made through costly reproduction acts like civilizational projects.