Moral bioenhancement and agential risks: Good and bad outcomes

In Unfit for the Future, Ingmar Persson and Julian Savulescu argue that our collective existetial predicment is unprecedentedly dangerous due to climate change and terrorism. Given these global risks to human prosperity and survival, Persson and Savulescu argue that we should explore the radical possibility of moral bioenhancement in addition to cognitive enhancement. In this article, I argue that moral bioenhancements could nontrivially exacerbate the threat posed by certain kinds of malicious agents, while reducing the threat of other kinds. This introduces a previously undiscussed complication to Persson and Savulescu's proposal. In the final section, I present a novel argument for why moral bioenhancement should either be compulsory or not be made available to the public at all.     

Cordiera longicaudata sp. nov. and Duroia valesca sp. nov. of the Alibertia group (Gardenieae–Rubiaceae)

Two neotropical species of the Alibertia group (Gardenieae–Rubiaceae) are described and illustrated. Cordiera longicaudata C. Persson & Delprete sp. nov. occurs in Panama and northwestern Ecuador (Awá Reserve) and is characterized by its long drip tips and glabrous to minutely puberulent corollas. Duroia valesca C. Persson & Delprete sp. nov. is from the Atlantic forest of Brazil (states of Espírito Santo and Minas Gerais) and is distinguished by its heteromorphic calyx lobes that are large, 13–15×7–8 mm, elliptic and contorted in female flowers, whereas the calyx lobes of the male flowers are 3–5×1–2 mm and narrowly triangular.     

Film reviews

Bab el‐Oued City Bab el‐Oued City. Directed by Merzak Allouache. 1994. Algeria/ France: Les Matins Films.

Not Without My Veil Not Without My Veil: Amongst the Women of Oman. Produced by Mia Gröndahl; narration, Mia Gröndahl; camera, Allan Persson; sound, Abdalla Lamki; eds., Anders Burman and Johnny Persson; narrator, Pauline Torehall. 1993, 29 minutes, color. English. Distributed by Filmmakers Library, 124 East 40th St., New York, NY 10016.     

On Cognitive and Moral Enhancement: A Reply to Savulescu and Persson

In a series of recent works, Julian Savulescu and Ingmar Persson insist that, given the ease by which irreversible destruction is achievable by a morally wicked minority, (i) strictly cognitive bio‐enhancement is currently too risky, while (ii) moral bio‐enhancement is plausibly morally mandatory (and urgently so). This article aims to show that the proposal Savulescu and Persson advance relies on several problematic assumptions about the separability of cognitive and moral enhancement as distinct aims. Specifically, we propose that the underpinnings of Savulescu's and Persson's normative argument unravel once it is suitably clear how aiming to cognitively enhance an individual will in part require that one aim to bring about certain moral goods we show to be essential to cognitive flourishing; conversely, aiming to bring about moral enhancement in an individual must involve aiming to improve certain cognitive capacities we show to be essential to moral flourishing. After developing these points in some detail, and their implication for Savulescu's & Persson's proposal, we conclude by outlining some positive suggestions.     

Aspects of the feeding ecology of Sargochromis codringtonii in Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe

Sargochromis codringtonii has always been considered a good candidate for the biological control of snails. However, there is lack of data on the feeding ecology of this species. The diet of S. codringtonii was examined by an analysis of stomach contents. The food of adult S. codringtonii in Lake Kariba is dominated by prosobranch snails. Pulmonate snails form a small insignificant component of the diet of S. codringtonii , and the reasons for this are discussed. Electivity indices were used to investigate prey selection. S. codringtonii does not show a particular preference for any snail species. It feeds on any snail species that is readily available. A morphometrical analysis of the feeding structures of S. codringtonii showed that the fish is well adapted to handling a molluscivorous diet. The daily food consumption of S. codringtonii was estimated over different seasons using the Elliot & Persson (1978 ) model [ J. Anim. Ecol. 47. 977–991]. Estimates of food consumption indicate that the fish consumed 14.0% of their dry body weight per day in summer and this falls to 4.5% in winter. The low consumption of pulmonates means that S. codringtonii cannot be a successful biological control agent against the vectors of schistosomiasis.     

Sequence elements essential for the rapid turnover of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crithidia fasciculata</Emphasis> ornithine decarboxylase

Summary. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) has a very fast turnover in mammalian cells, but is a stable enzyme in T. brucei and other trypanosmatid parasites like Leishmania donovani. However, Crithidia fasciculata, which is a phylogenetically closely related trypanosomatid to L. donovani, has an ODC with a rapid turnover. Interestingly, C. fasciculata ODC, but not L. donovani ODC, is rapidly degraded also in mammalian systems. In order to obtain information on what sequences are important for the rapid degradation of C. fasciculata ODC, we produced a variety of C. fasciculata/L. donovani ODC hybrid proteins and characterized their turnover using two different mammalian expression systems. The results obtained indicate that C. fasciculata ODC contains several sequence elements essential for the rapid turnover of the protein and that these regions are mainly located in the central part of the enzyme. Present address: Department of Microbiology, Moyne Institute of Preventive Medicine, University of Dublin – Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland Authors’ address: Lo Persson, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, BMC D-12, S-221 84 Lund, Sweden     

Effects of growth morphology and time of harvesting on the chitosan yield of Absidia repens

Summary Absidia repens (CBS 102.32) was grown in a fermentor and the effects of growth morphology (due to different agitation) and harvest timing on chitosan yield were evaluated. The use of the titration rate as an on-line measure of growth rate was studied. Small pellets, 0.5 mm o.d. allowed the most efficient growth (highest growth rate and highest biomass yields from carbon and nitrogen sources) whereas growth as large pellets, 2–3 mm o.d., or as a viscous pulp exhibited limited growth. The differences were most pronounced during the later part of the cultivations. The chitosan content of the biomass remained essentially constant during active growth, irrespective of morphology, but during the stationary phase, this content continued to increase from 18% to 23% of the biomass, reaching 2.8 g/l. The titration rate of NaOH, in order to maintain constant pH, exceeded the growth rate in all cultures, and this was pronounced when growth was limited. Correspondence to: A. Persson     

Alpine newts (Triturus alpestris) as top predators in a high-altitude karst lake: daily food consumption and impact on the copepod Arctodiaptomus alpinus

1. Population dynamics and feeding ecology of adult and larval alpine newts (Triturus alpestris, Laurenti) were investigated in a high-altitude karts lake to estimate their feeding pressure on the copepod Arctodiaptomus alpinuf (Imhof). Estimates of population size for reproducing adults ranged from 666 to 864 individuals in the lake during July and August. Total abundance of larvae before the onset of ice cover varied considerably between 4400 and 25400 individuals in different years. 2. Arctodiaptomus alpinus was an important prey item for adult and larval alpine newts. During the second half of their aquatic period, adult newts moved to deeper water where the copepod reached its highest densities near the sediment. Adults and larvae exhibited no periodic feeding pattern. The feeding rhythm was more synchronized among the larvae than among the adults. 3. Daily food consumption, estimated using the Elliott & Persson (1978) model, reached 4–21 mg dry biomass in adults. The daily ration of larvae was about 7% of body dry weight in the temperature range 6-11°C. Compared to published estimates of daily food consumption in salmonid fishes, the feeding pressure of newts appears low.     

A new alkalitolerant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis> yeast strain is a promising model for dissecting properties and regulation of Na<Superscript>+</Superscript>-dependent phosphate transport systems

A newly isolated osmo-, salt-, and alkalitolerant Yarrowia lipolytica yeast strain is distinguished from other yeast species by its capacity to grow vigorously at alkaline pH values (9.7), which makes it a promising model organism for studying Na⁺-dependent phosphate transport systems in yeasts. Phosphate uptake by Y. lipolytica cells grown at pH 9.7 was mediated by several kinetically discrete Na⁺-dependent systems specifically activated by Na⁺. One of these, a low-affinity transporter, operated at high concentrations of extracellular phosphate. The other two, high-affinity systems, maximally active in phosphate-starved cells, were repressed or derepressed depending on the prevailing extracellular phosphate concentration and pH value. The contribution of Na⁺/P_i-cotransport systems to the total cellular phosphate uptake progressively increased with increasing pH, reaching its maximum at pH 9.Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 69, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1607–1615.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Zvyagilskaya, Persson.     

An in situ estimate of food consumption of five cyprinid species in Lake Balaton

Daily rations of five cyprinid species, bream Abramis brama , silver bream Blicca bjoerkna , roach Rutilus rutilus , gibel Carassius auratus gibelio and carp Cyprinus carpio , in Lake Balaton, a large shallow lake, estimated by the Eggers model differed from that of the Elliott – Persson model by only − 4.3 to +7.3% (the differences were insignificant). Daily rations varied within the range of 0.23–0.69 in bream, 0.55–3.61 in silver bream, 0.69–4.65 in roach, 0.38–3.16 in gibel and 0.50–9.74 g dry 100 g wet fish mass⁻¹ day ⁻¹ in carp at temperatures ranging from 8.7–25.8% C. Daily ration was related exponentially with temperature in silver bream, roach, gibel and carp. For bream, a significant relationship was obtained only when a daily ration value was excluded from the analysis. Annual rations were assessed using the relationships between the daily ration estimates from the Elliott—Persson model and water temperature, and the long-term averages of the monthly water temperature data. From these estimates the bream population consumed 104%, silver bream 424%, roach 487%, gibel 363% and carp 913% dry mass of food of its wet biomass annually.     

Preventing Ultimate Harm as the Justification for Biomoral Modification

Most advocates of biogenetic modification hope to amplify existing human traits in humans in order to increase the value of such traits as intelligence and resistance to disease. These advocates defend such enhancements as beneficial for the affected parties. By contrast, some commentators recommend certain biogenetic modifications to serve social goals. As Ingmar Persson and Julian Savulescu see things, human moral psychology is deficient relative to the most important risks facing humanity as a whole, including the prospect of Ultimate Harm, the point at which worthwhile life is forever impossible on the planet. These risks can be mitigated, they say, by enhancing moral psychology in novel ways. Persson and Savulescu argue that some parents should modify the underlying biogenetics of their children's moral psychology, if such measures were safe and effective, but they admit these interventions may not decouple humanity from Ultimate Harm. Neither are these modifications the only options, they concede, for addressing risks to humanity. Even with these concessions, saving humanity from itself is a fairly poor reason to modify the moral psychology of children. In most ways, adults would be better candidates, morally speaking, for modifications of psychology. Even then, there is no direct link between morally enhanced human beings and the hoped‐for effect of better protection from Ultimate Harm. Asserting a general duty of all to contribute to the avoidance of Ultimate Harm is a better moral strategy than intervening in the moral psychology of some, even though meeting that duty may involve substantial interference with the free exercise of one's interests.     

Book Reviews

May, R.M. (Ed.) (1981) Theoretical Ecology: Principles and Applications.
Mason, C.F. (1981) Biology of Freshwater Pollution.
Ilmavirta, V., Jones, R.I. & Persson, P.-E. (1982) Lakes and Water Management.
Ball, I.R. & Reynoldson, T.B. (1981) British Planarians. Platyhelminthes: Tricladida.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Sandgren, C.D. (Ed.) (1988) Growth and Reproductive Strategies of Freshwater Phytoplankton.
Savage, A.A. (1989) Adults of the aquatic Hemiptera Heteroptera. A key with ecological notes.
Persson, G. & Jansson, M. (Eds.) (1988) Phosphorus in Freshwater Ecosystems .
Brookes, A. (1988) Channelized Rivers. Perspectives for environmental management .     

Schoenus vegetation and environmental conditions in South and Southeast Sweden

Summary The relations between the Schoenus phytocoena and their site conditions are elucidated by stand and species ordinations (ORDINA, RA) and by comparisons of ordinations of environmental variables alone and ordination of the combined environmental and species variables (RA). Correlations between the environmental variables show that they may be gathered into two contrasting groups, the carbon and the carbonate groupings, respectively. This first direction of variation is related to hydrological conditions causing the differences in thickness of organic soils, content of organic carbon and dry weight of intact soil per unit volume. The second direction of variation is associated with a nutrient factor complex, in this study represented by available phosphate.The carbon grouping and a constantly high level of mainly topogeneous soil water is typical of sites of the Oxycoccus-Schoenus association. The Sesleria group of the Primula-Schoenus association is related to sites with a periodically low table of topogeneous or soligeneous soil water and mineral or mucky soils with high values of carbonate content, pH and CEC and a fairly low nutrient state, while the sites of the Bartsia-Ophrys and Valeriana groups have a fairly high level of mainly soligeneous soil water and mucky soils with variable carbonate content, intermediate pH and CEC and somewhat higher nutrient state. Periodically flooded sites with topogeneous soil water and mineral soils are typical of the Cladium-Schoenus nigricans, Schoenus intermedius-Schoenus ferrugineus and Glaux phytocoena.Nomenclature is the same as in Tyler (1980).This study is part of my doctor's thesis. I am most grateful to Professor Nils Malmer, Head of the Department, for variable advice and discussions. My thanks are also rendered to Dr. E. van der Maarel, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands, Dr. R.S. Clymo, Westfield College, University of London, Great Britain, Fil kand. Stefan Persson, Dr. Germund Tyler, Mrs Maj-Britt Larsson, Mrs Anita Balogh, Mrs Mimmi Varga, Mrs Kerstin Richter, and Mr Robert Dewsnap.     

A numerical study of successions in an abandoned,damp calcareous meadow in S Sweden

Summary Two sites at Örup, SE skåne, Sweden, have been investigated, viz. a grazed, unimproved, tussocky pasture on a calcareous moraine clay; and an originally similar, adjacent area that was abandoned about 1960. On the grazed site the vegetation is extremely rich in species. This vegetation type was formerly widespread, but nowadays it is rare and therefore it is important to try to conserve examples of it. In total, 80 0.1 m² quadrates distributed at random within 4 homogeneous plots were investigated. The species composition and the cover, the height of the vegetation, the position on a tussock or in a depression and the amount of litter were recorded. The cover data were ordinated (PCA). The differentiation between tussocks and depressions and the effects of ceasing grazing were clearly separated. The connections between the vegetation and the position of the quadrat, grazing intensity etc. were investigated. The vegetation of the ungrazed parts had become dominated by Filipendula ulmaria and Carex disticha; on an average there were 5.5 species/0.1 m². The grazed quadrats contained three times as many species and showed much higher spatial variation, important species being Carex panicea, C. flacca, Molinia caerulea, Festuca ovina, Potentilla erecta, Centaurea jacea and Serratula tinctoria.Nomenclature of vascular plants follows Lid (1974), for names of bryophytes see Nyholm (1954–69) and Arnell (1956).This paper is mainly based on a more detailed paper in Swedish (Regnéll 1979).I thank Dr. E. van der Maarel, Prof. Nils Malmer, Fil. lic. Anders Larsson, Fil. Dr. Eva Waldemarsson-Jensén and Fil. kand. Stefan Persson for valuable discussions and encouragement.     

The Issues of Freedom and Happiness in Moral Bioenhancement: Continuing the Debate With a Reply to Harris Wiseman

During the previous years, Harris Wiseman has devoted substantial attention to my stance on voluntary moral bioenhancement. He argued that he has been influenced by that position, but nonetheless criticized it. I haven’t replied to his criticisms yet and wish to do so now. One of the reasons is to avoid my position being misrepresented. By replying to Wiseman’s criticisms, I also wish to clarify those issues in my standpoint that might have given rise to some of the misinterpretations. With the same purpose in mind, I will demarcate my concept of voluntary moral bioenhancement from related standpoints, in particular from Persson and Savulescu’s notion of compulsory moral bioenhancement that, as I argued, diminishes our freedom (of the will). Furthermore, I will consider the possibility of adding another essential element to my position—one that I have not discussed in my earlier publications. It is designed to propose a novel explanation of why humans would be motivated to opt for voluntary moral bioenhancement if its outcome is not a lowering of the likelihood of “Ultimate Harm” (as defined by Persson and Savulescu) or a milder form of self-destruction of humanity. This explanation will be based on the conception that an increase in happiness, rather than Ultimate Harm prevention, might be the grounding rationale for moral bioenhancement.     

Vegetational succession in a South Swedish deciduous wood

Summary The study deals with a small South Swedish deciduous wood (Ulmo-Fraxinetum, Sjögren n.p. 1971), a national park which has been left almost undisturbed during the last 60 years. Since 1925 the number of vascular plants in the area has diminished by 42%. In the tree layerUlmus andFraxinus have increased since 1918 whileFagus has remained fairly constant andQuercus, the former dominant, has become much less important. In the shrub layer youngUlmus are predominant, while the former dominantsCorylus andCrataegus, have diminished markedly. Vegetation analyses of the field layer laid out in a fixed grid system in the years 1935, 1969/70 and 1975/76 show a decrease in both the total number of species recorded and in the number of species per sq. m.Anemone ranunculoides, Aegopodium podagraria andMercurialis perennis are species which have expanded while e.g.Anemone nemorosa, Lamium galeobdolon andGeum urbanum have diminished. Increased shading from the closer tree canopies, increased litter fall, and lower temperature at the soil surface are changes in environmental factors which probably have come about sine 1935 and may be especially important for the field and bottom layer species. The results are discussed in relation to the stability of an ecosystem and to the management of nature reserves.Lennart Lindgren and Stefan Persson were responsible for the project in 1969–1970 and 1975–1976, respectively. They compiled all the material from these investigations. Skilful assistance was given by Brita Billstein, Mimmi Varga and Tommy Wikberg.Nomenclature of species follows Lid (1974).Viola riviniana includesV. reichenbachiana as it was impossible to keep the two species separated throughout.The investigation was sponsored by the Research Council of the Swedish Environmental Board. Most of the text in this paper was prepared by the senior author as a lecture presented at the Symposium on Plant species and plant communities held at Nijmegen on the occasion of the 60th birthday of Professor Victor Westhoff.     

Diel feeding chronology, gastric evacuation and estimated daily ration of juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch (Walbaum), in the coastal marine environment

The feeding periodicity of juvenile coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch , was examined from stomach collections taken during five sampling periods in coastal waters off Oregon. Significant differences in stomach content weight were found between several consecutive 3-hour periods, with peak fullness occurring in early morning and around dusk. The rates of gastric evacuation of euphausiid meals were measured in the laboratory at two temperatures. The decline in stomach contents was best described by an exponential model: 90% evacuation of the wet weight contents required an estimated 28.4 and 18.1 h at 11.4 and 13.7° C, respectively. The method of Elliott & Persson was used to estimate a daily ration of 2.4 and 3.7% of the wet body weight at the two temperatures.     

Reviews of publications

Book reviewed in this article:
The Voyage of Charles Darwin: His Autobiographical writings, selected and arranged by Christopher Railing.
Penguin Nature Guides: Fungi of Northern Europe, Vols I & II, by S. Nilsson &; O. Persson; illustrated by B. Mossberg
Penguin Nature Guides: Plant Communities, by Anned Biilow-Olsen, illustrated by Susanne Larsen; translated from the Danish by Joan Tate; edited and adapted by Francis Rose.
Penguin Nature Guides: Fishes of the British and Northern European Seas, by J. Moller Christensen; illustrated by Bente Nystrom; translated from the Danish by Gwynne Vevers; edited and adapted by Gwynne Vevers and Philip Orkin.
Birds of Wood, Park and Garden, text and illustrations by Lars Jonsson; translated from the Swedish by Roger Tanner
Birds of Sea and Coast, text and illustrations by Lars Jonsson; translated from the Swedish by Roger Tanner