If you could become a tetrachromat, would you? (or any other genetic super-ability)
Asked by
PhiNotPi (
12681
)
April 14th, 2012
Tetrachromacy is a rare genetic condition where a person has four different types of cone cells (the color detecting cells) instead of the normal three. It’s like the opposite of colorblindness—tetrachromats can see up to ten distinct colors in the rainbow, while the rest of us see seven or fewer. They can describe many colors in what most people would only see as one shade of beige.
There are a few disadvantages. The standard “color wheel” approach to color perception no longer works, and computer/TV screens will be incapable of matching any specific color. Different sections of a painted wall may appear to be different colors.
A supertaster is a person with a highly sensitive sense of taste. They can tell the difference between a wider variety of flavors. One downside is that they often perceive things to be more bitter.
Of course there are probably much more that I haven’t described. Is there any genetic “super-ability” that you would like?
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9 Answers
No. I’m good as I am. I already have the super ability to sniff out bullshitters like a bloodhound. Good enough. lol
I would definitely become a tetrachromat if I could. I’d love to see hitherto unknown colors. I would not want to become a supertaster, however. They apparently tend to dislike dark chocolate, which is by far my favorite kind.
These genetic anomolies are not especially useful unless one is very fortunate and by happenstance stumbles into a happy coincidence between talent and life trajectory. For example, one day a friend of mine was noodling around on the piano (he was a bit of an anomoly himself, having taught himself to play from listening by ear from the radio without a single lesson), playing bits of various pieces of music, and, with a frown, I said, “That doesn’t sound right.”
Staring at me intently, he spent the next 15 minutes or so playing and replaying bits of music and asking me, “Does this sound right? How about now? Now?”
Finally, he sat back and said, “You have perfect pitch.”
I have no musical talent whatsoever. My every attempt at learning an instrument has been a failure, and musical theory is gibberish to me. I couldn’t carry a tune with a front end loader and a dump truck. I used to help my father tune his guitar by ear, without really knowing what I was doing, just listening for the proper “spacing” between the tones the strings make, and never thought it was unusual. I was surprised to find out that the talent I have is very rare. It’s also totally useless, except as a curiosity.
That said, I wouldn’t mind having myostatin-related muscle hypertrophy.
(Also: My brother is an award-winning sommelier. He tells me I likely carry the same genes he does for super-taste/smell if I cared to cultivate it.)
I might like to see in other areas of the magnetic spectrum where the eye can not currently “see.”
@SmashTheState But just something is useless doesn’t mean it isn’t cool. I’d love to see whatever colors I’m missing even if I lack any skill in the visual arts.
@SavoirFaire It’s possible you can see those missing colors, if you’re into hallucinogens. lol (jk)
I am a super taster, and it’s definitely not such a great thing. I think it would be pretty damn cool to see more colors, though!
I’d love to have a really strong sense of smell. Mine is pretty weak I think.
Only if I can shut it off on demand, because otherwise I could not work in a visually creative field, as whenever I choose colours for a project, people would think I am insane.
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