A study done at the University of Pennsylvania shows us how ants behavioural patterns can be manipulated using enzymes.

Introduction:

            It is well known that ants have a very organized structure in their little wee bug communities.  What we do not know is how it is decided which ant becomes a food scout and which ant becomes a soldier or a guard.  Since they are all the same on a genetic basis, there must be some kind of trigger, environmental or otherwise, that would cause them to become what they do. In other words, what makes an ants behavior change to accommodate their place in ant society?

 This raises a much bigger question, Can behavioral patterns, personality traits and overall dispositions be changed by environmental triggers in people and animals? Furthermore, can we manipulate behaviors by systematically trying out different environmental triggers?

The Facts:   

Biologist Daniel Simola conducted a study at the University of Pennsylvania the shows that it is possible to change the behavioral characteristics of carpenter ants.  He and his team discovered a few useful enzymes and found that by injecting them into an ant they could completely change the way that ant behaves.  They can take an ant that was a scout and make it behave like it was a guard its entire life.

            This discovery is definitely a phenomenal one.  Daniel and his team at the university discovered that by manipulating the gene called “Rpd3”, by extension, they are manipulating the behaviors of many other genes as well, and this manipulation is not as complicated as previously thought.

What Does This Mean For Humans?   

Pros:

Although ants and humans have a very different genetic makeup, this discovery means that it is, however farfetched it may seem, a potential possibility for enzymes to be used for mind control on humans.  There are some very good things about this, and some very bad ones too.  If scientists ever figure out the correct enzymes to use for human behavioral manipulation, we could likely see revolutionary changes in the way that a lot of different mental health disorders are treated. It could put a very literal mark on the term “behavioral therapy”.  Anybody who suffers from mental illness or mood disorders knows how difficult they can be to deal with on a daily basis, and the potential possibility of a shot that could make their illness easier to handle, or make it go away entirely, is something that most can only dream about.

Cons:

            On the darker side of this discovery lies the potential for the abuse of human knowledge.  This can be a very dangerous concept if it were to be used by the wrong people.  If humans ever get the ability to control one another through mind control it leaves everyone on earth vulnerable to being taken extreme advantage of.

For years it has been thought that the governments of the world have been working to figure out a way to control the human mind.  Most people believe that they are seeking to further benefit themselves, either by way of winning wars, or simply by disallowing us to make our own choices, at the same time taking away our privilege of free will.

Wrap Up:

The fact that mind control may actually be possible is an extremely remarkable thing to think about. However it is necessary to be aware that it could be very dangerous for the entire world if it isn’t used in the proper way and for the right reasons.  History shows us that human beings often don’t use things for their intended purpose, Let’s hope that when they figure this out we will have also figured out a way to combat its effects if necessary.