The typical conversation with parents that I have at work goes something like:
"Your child has a difference in their genes that means they won't develop along typical lines (I've generalised the gender on purpose). I'm very sorry to have to tell you that they have a condition known as ARX (Aristaless related homeobox) mutation that gives rise to intellectual disability."
If Darwin was right and evolution happened as he claimed, I'd be having conversations like this:
"Your child's development has been a little unusual. We've done a genetic test and he has a mutation on one of his genes that means he will probably never fall ill."
OR
"We've run a genetic test on your child for a recently identified mutation that only boys get. If he develops like most people with this mutation, he will have a life of incredible athletic performance and social capability."
OR
"The tests on your child show that he will be likely to lead an extraordinary life. Your biggest challenge will be to keep him intellectually stimulated because, if he is like others with this mutation, his intelligence will be extremely high."
But its not like this! We don't see beneficial mutations. We see bad stuff and heartbreak instead.
Same story at the Human Gene Mutation Database: not good news.
So, over to you, Mr Darwin...when will we see the beneficial mutations popping up?
