CCR5-delta32, LCT promoter region, DISC1, DTNBP1 and NRG1 are all genes that have been shown to have evolutionary consequences and positive selection within populations. Quite strong effects in some cases.

Of course, when our new superintelligent overlords come to power, we'll need all the head-hunting superbrain microbiologists we can get. A few evangelical space-exploring professors wouldn't go astray either.

“I for one welcome the coming of our new superintelligent overlords. I'd like to remind them that as a trusted member of the community, I can be helpful in rounding up others to toil in their underground sugar caves, or whatever they're into.” A quote from the simpsons eh bugsy!

ASymeonakis - "Do not worry! Humanity will not pass from one stage to the other in one moment. It will take some time, enough to learn how to control and double control super humans." Yeah at first glance ASymeonakis this would seem obvious but the problem is no humuns will be able to match the intellect of these “enigmas” and thus nothing of flesh and blood will be able to understand what they are doing or what they are up too. Once the first one of this things is created they will only get more and more intellectually powerful and thus leaving us mere morals far behind.

All sorts of scenario have been put forward since it very much is an event horizon situation.

This site has loads of stuff about it. http://www.kurzweilai.net/index.html?flash=1

Easytimes

Do not panic.

You have forgotten Asimov's 3 Laws of Robotics

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings, except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

All A.I.'s will be imprinted with these laws and we will have nothing to worry about.

BTW with regard to climate change - the effects quite probably will be in effect within the next 20 to 30 years, however, A.I. simply isn't anywhere near that time frame.

Besides, why are you assuming a greater intelligence than ours is something to be feared? You are taking an anthropomorphic view that superior civilisations always wipe out inferior ones. A truly superior intellect may transcend such primitive notions as ethnic cleansing.

And we'll make great pets....

http://littlurl.com/twhn3

Cheers

CJ, see a doc quick- sickle cell alleles off the top of your head?

ET, I hope these unfathomably intelligent future folk are too/to programmed. The good news is Julia Gillard will fund schools on an SES basis soon, which should allay our fears.

Who know that these superhumans, (homo novis?) won't discover God?

CJ,
I suggest you visit the Australian Museum in Canberra and find names like Kevin Rosolen who designed and built the first Government computer used in Space exploration - leader in his field of research in his time. He is a personal friend of austranaut Story Musgrave. One of Kevin's hobbies in retirement is tracking astoroids and their proximity to Earth.

I suggest you research the life of Frank Borman who as a believer in God, read Psalm 8 from the Bible while circling the moon on Christmas day 1968. These men were not trailers in new space science but leaders in space science. They were not theorists but worked in applied sciences

LOL people! I am not worried and lying awake at night thinking about how these enigmas are going to take over the world. I merely putting forward a potential out come which is one of many as a result of reaching the singularity.

Becasue of its event horizon nature nobody knows what will happen and thus all options should be look at and discussed.