Ear Pointing via Genetic Engineering?

Recently I got into an interesting conversation with my friend Joseph about what unique mods could be done in his ear — that’s it on the left in the photo — since it has a slightly atypical shape, almost like a pointed ear. But what really blew my mind was when he showed me a picture of his brother’s ear (that’s it on the right), which has a similar but more pronounced atypical shape. Their younger brother apparently has a similar ear as well. The even stranger part of the story is that it only affects their left ears! So what do you think? Is there a gene that we could select for that would let people be born with pointed ears? Or do you agree with my sneaking suspicion that Joseph’s parents are mad scientists that have been doing experiments on their boys? It would explain their 400 IQ and ability to bench press a car. Either way, it’s pretty cool being born with naturally “modified” ears — how funny is it that they could probably show up at a tattoo convention and get people coming up and saying, “I love your ears? Who did the work?”

natural-elf-ears

But seriously, I often think that genetic engineering is the future of human modification, once we get over our ethical hangups. It’ll never replace body modification of course because it completely removes the individual expression from the equation (since your genes are dictated by those who create you), but when it comes to really transforming ourselves, there’s not much that compares to genetic manipulation. Hell, it turned us from ape-like primates — from some sort of fish — from single-celled nothings — into the pinnacle of planetary dominance and destruction we are now. Don’t believe me? Ask Khan Noonien Singh! Bring on the Eugenics Wars! Create the Augments!

KHAAAAAAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!

30 thoughts on “Ear Pointing via Genetic Engineering?

  1. Interesting about the left ear thing. Mine is similar, also on my left ear, as is my 8 month old daughter’s (although hers is less pronounced). I will have to breed some more and report back.

  2. Interesting about the left ear thing. Mine is similar, also on my left ear, as is my 8 month old daughter’s (although hers is less pronounced). I will have to breed some more and report back.

  3. I also have partially webbed toes as well, to go with the ear, not sure if they could be linked.

  4. I also have partially webbed toes as well, to go with the ear, not sure if they could be linked.

  5. or having “naturally modified ears” may be an annoyance in this environment, akin to a naturally large-breasted woman regularly being asked who did HER work. :/

  6. or having “naturally modified ears” may be an annoyance in this environment, akin to a naturally large-breasted woman regularly being asked who did HER work. :/

  7. haha! i got that on both of my ears, i never met someone with naturally pointed ears like mine. only my little cousin also has one pointed ear since birth.

  8. haha! i got that on both of my ears, i never met someone with naturally pointed ears like mine. only my little cousin also has one pointed ear since birth.

  9. You know I had a cat with two crumpled ears. She had 6 kittens. Two with normal ears, one with two crumpled ears, and three with some variation of half crumbled to only one side. But I don’t mean folded like the Scottish Fold. I mean crumpled…

  10. You know I had a cat with two crumpled ears. She had 6 kittens. Two with normal ears, one with two crumpled ears, and three with some variation of half crumbled to only one side. But I don’t mean folded like the Scottish Fold. I mean crumpled…

  11. Not all genetic modification would need to be planned prior to birth. In theory, one could deliver pigment genes into the skin which could produce a truly permanent tattoo.

  12. Not all genetic modification would need to be planned prior to birth. In theory, one could deliver pigment genes into the skin which could produce a truly permanent tattoo.

  13. After the modification is completely healed, would you be able to still get piercings? Ex, plugs, industrial, etc.?

  14. After the modification is completely healed, would you be able to still get piercings? Ex, plugs, industrial, etc.?

  15. just woundering how much it would cost to get the ear pointing procedure

  16. just woundering how much it would cost to get the ear pointing procedure

  17. Ok, I know I’m commenting on a five year old post – but me and at least three of my five siblings have one pointy ear and one round.
    And it’s also the left ear with us that’s pointy.

  18. Ok, I know I’m commenting on a five year old post – but me and at least three of my five siblings have one pointy ear and one round.
    And it’s also the left ear with us that’s pointy.

  19. Just ‘pointing out’ that ear modification – of the folds and parabola will effect your hearing, essentially your perspective of where sounds are coming from. As the ear shape is the fundamental organ for our 3D world of hearing, cut your ears off and everything would sound like you were hearing the world with headphones on,and everything inside your head instead of externally….. careful folks…. the more modified the more disabled.

  20. Just ‘pointing out’ that ear modification – of the folds and parabola will effect your hearing, essentially your perspective of where sounds are coming from. As the ear shape is the fundamental organ for our 3D world of hearing, cut your ears off and everything would sound like you were hearing the world with headphones on,and everything inside your head instead of externally….. careful folks…. the more modified the more disabled.

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