RE: Thinking out loud. . .

G'day,

> I've been thinking of ways to push beyond these limits
> without resorting to azi. How about using a drug
> (administered to the entire breeding population) to throw
> the natural M/F ratio on conception? Automated labour (i.e.
> robots) and vastly improved gerontology cover for the
> missing male population.

You'd also have to put in suitable support, welfare and social stems
otherwise a system like this may even lead to a drop off in long term
reproductive success. The most recent population studies are showing
that in
western countries women must feel like they're not being disadvantaged
by
having children to have more and in other parts of the world social
traditions that have lead to a skewing of the population (admittedly in
the
direction of males) are a bit of a problem. On top of all that there is
(believe it or not) the effect of globalisation on the perception of
beauty.
A recent mathematical paper (discussed in the New Scientist within the
last
12 months) shows that if there is a common idea of beauty (say imposed
by
blanket media hype) then the rate of long-term partner success is much
much
lower than if there is variation in what people perceive as attractive.

Cheers

Beth