Something surprising I've learned during the interview with George Church is about the importance of using prediction to change the future. Throughout this course, we've talked a lot about the different methods to create predictions from oracles in the ancient times to simulations and models used today, but we haven't had as much discussion about the possible implications of those predictions on our decisions about the future. George Church mentions here the possible use of different environment management techniques or gene therapy to fight against your "genetic destiny" that is sometimes easily predictable and thus preventable. It would be very interesting to continue to study how different predictions that have been made throughout history, have literally rewritten their future as a result of this new information. As well as how much we believe in this prediction based on our perceived certainty of the method. For example, in regard to Phenylketonuria in infants, almost all parents seem to take the advice of changing the diet as an easy method to fight off this "genetic destiny, but how likely would they be to listen to this advice if the prediction method carries higher uncertainty or if the solution was of much greater cost.
I love the idea of a focus on how PREDICTION changes the FUTURE... I shall use it—thanks!