http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml en-gb 30 Thu 17 Dec 2009 17:59:52 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=17#comment8 Is 'no-brainer' an Americanism? It doesn't seem to make much sense as a phrase, and seems curiously alien to me whenerver I read or hear it, along with 'natch', 'fanboy' and 'rain check'. Sat 16 May 2009 19:31:31 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=15#comment7 Dr Bee (7)I agree with what you say. However, The professor in this research program specifically wanted to address Autism. She also said that she should get help from other brain banks to do this.Is Autism a condition that attacks the nervous system like the conditions you cite? When we talk about 'more effective treatments', does this also include genetic eradication of such conditions?It needs to be remembered that conditions such as Autism exist on a sliding scale. There are those who have this condition who do not see it as a disability in the classical sense. And, of course being a savant is a type of autism. Many people see themselves (as do their families) as a blessing rather than a curse. Mon 27 Apr 2009 22:13:44 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=13#comment6 @4 Totally agree with what you are saying - there are some serious ethical issues surrounding the 'genetic elimination' of people who have some of these conditions. Nevertheless, there are still a number of conditions that are very unpleasant for those who have them (and for their relatives & loved ones) and where I find it hard to see any argument against trying to at least understand those diseases better so that more effective treatments and / or eradication can become more likely! My experience of living with MS is that it doesn't add to my abilities in any way at all (ok - I can sleep for Britain nowadays :D) - and having seen people whom I care about succumb to the awful effects of Alzheimers I can't see why anyone would object to understanding and treating that better too. Sun 26 Apr 2009 16:52:42 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=11#comment5 This post has been Removed Sun 26 Apr 2009 07:46:40 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=8#comment4 I'd be happy to donate my brain - but who gets the intellectual rights? I wondered if my children might be entitled to some sort of royalty payment.And what about Data Protection ? Sat 25 Apr 2009 23:28:12 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=6#comment3 You see, I have a problem with all this.Some of the most insightful and artistic people have and do suffer from 'conditions', such as, schizophrenia, Bi Polar and Autism. Indeed some of those same individuals would point to the fact that they would not have been gifted in the way they were but for their condition. If we want to find a genetic way to get rid of such people in the future, I am dead against it. I think I would need more explanation from the professor about the real purpose of her work.Sounds a bit close to eugenics to me. Sat 25 Apr 2009 21:47:38 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=4#comment2 It's a shame the charities Prof. Esiri mentioned don't have the resources to publicise their brain banks properly...I just spent a fruitless 10 minutes searching for someone to give my brain to. I guess a central "Brain Bank" would come in handy with that aspect of it. Sat 25 Apr 2009 21:15:44 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=2#comment1 I'd be willing to donate mine now as long as I can swap for one that works :D I'm one of those lucky people with MS so I'd do anything that might help avoid the consequences of that illness for others. Sat 25 Apr 2009 21:04:23 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/04/a_nobrainer.shtml?page=0#comment0 It's only a couple of years since a friend tried to donate her husband's brain and was told no-one was interested. So someone certainly needs to sort out a proper system. Sat 25 Apr 2009 16:54:04 GMT+1