This research is as terrific as it is terrifying. These are some terrific insights into the evolution of intelligence. I doubt that it was one gene alone that drove the whole thing, but as the article mentions, the ethical dilemmas already arise, and it's easy to see how scientifically valuable it would be to study the impact of the gene further by allowing the transgenic animals to be born. The ethical dilemmas cut both ways - research like this might be crucial to understanding Alzheimer's and other serious diseases. Complicated and difficult questions to be sure, but it's extraordinary and a testament to the power of science that we're even in a position to be asking those questions. Lets hope we answer them correctly.
Maybe it is time for continental and east asian arms and self defence legislation to add an exception for putting down runaway lab experiments. Standing your ground and castle doctrines are privileges unique to America.
