# Key Points from IRC Discussions

• Researchers discussed genetic optimization and machine learning approaches for identifying genes linked to intelligence and disease resistance, with references to resources like Amazon's 1000genomes project containing thousands of publicly available human DNA sequences.

• A Royal Society paper was discussed suggesting that natural selection can favor strategies leading to frequent assessment errors as long as occasional correct responses provide significant fitness benefits, explaining the evolutionary basis for superstitious behaviors.

• Participants explored the possibility of using ritualistic behaviors as a psychometric test for animal intelligence, debating whether the complexity and diversity of rituals could serve as a proxy for measuring cognitive capabilities.

• The conversation distinguished between memory and learning in both biological and computational systems, noting that true learning involves generalization and model creation beyond simple information storage.

• Patent reform challenges in biotech were highlighted, with observations that many desired medical devices aren't technically difficult to develop but are blocked by overlapping patents in Western countries, with manufacturing in China suggested as an alternative.

• A research paper was shared indicating that hyperactivity in ADHD children may actually be a compensatory mechanism that facilitates neurocognitive functioning, with motor activity improving working memory performance in ADHD children while hindering it in typically developing children.

• Archels reported experiments with Peltier cooling devices achieving a temperature differential of 46.2°C when running at 100W, working toward reaching -35°C to create a cloud chamber.