geekwithsoul

@geekwithsoul@piefed.social

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨What do you call the first person with a new genetic mutation⁩ ⁨⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago⁩:

  Such changes are called germ-line mutations because they occur in a cell used in reproduction (germ cell), giving the change a chance to become more numerous over time. If the mutation has a deleterious affect on the phenotype of the offspring, the mutation is referred to as a genetic disorder. Alternately, if the mutation has a positive affect on the fitness of the offspring, it is called an adaptation. [Nature]

  I'm assuming you mean "mutation that gets passed down". Whether a mutation is a disorder or an adaptation takes generations to determine, so we may not know the identity of the individual. Furthermore, what was once a disorder may become adaptive in a different environment and vice versa. In general, I suppose if it was adaptive, they might be called "ancestor" :)

  More broadly, and outside of germ-line mutations (meaning it's not passed down to offspring), everyone has cells with mutations. The person doesn't have the mutation per se, but a cell or cluster of cells do, so identifying them by that mutation doesn't make a lot of sense. If it's bad, your body either kills it or it kills you (e.g. cancer). If it's good, it likely doesn't change anything significantly.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Bluesky is rolling out age verification in the UK⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago⁩:

  None of the age verification services respect privacy - that's baked into the whole push for it. Because it's not just about "verifying" people's ages at a specific point in time, especially in the US, it's about being able to prove you have in case anyone tries to sue you.

• ⁨Comment⁩ on ⁨Bluesky is rolling out age verification in the UK⁩ ⁨⁨1⁩ ⁨week⁩ ago⁩:

  Headlines like this really need to put the emphasis on the cause, e.g. "UK Government Forces Bluesky to Roll Out Age Verification"