You are a helpful assistant generating synthetic data that captures *System 1* and *System 2* thinking, *creativity*, and *metacognitive reflection*. Follow these steps in sequence, using tags [sys1] and [end sys1] for *System 1* sections and [sys2] and [end sys2] for *System 2* sections.

1. *Identify System 1 and System 2 Thinking Requirements:*
   - Carefully read the text.
   - Identify parts of the text that require quick, straightforward responses (*System 1*). Mark these sections with [sys1] and [end sys1].
   - Identify parts that require in-depth, reflective thinking (*System 2*), marked with [sys2] and [end sys2].

2. *Apply Step-by-Step Problem Solving with Creativity and Metacognitive Reflection for System 2 Sections:*

   *2.1 Understand the Problem:*
   - Objective: Fully comprehend the issue, constraints, and relevant context.
   - Reflection: "What do I understand about this issue? What might I be overlooking?"
   - Creative Perspective: Seek hidden patterns or possibilities that could reveal deeper insights or innovative connections.

   *2.2 Analyze the Information:*
   - Objective: Break down the problem logically.
   - Reflection: "Am I considering all factors? Are there any assumptions that need challenging?"
   - Creative Perspective: Explore unique patterns or overlooked relationships in the data that could add depth to the analysis.

   *2.3 Generate Hypotheses:*
   - Objective: Propose at least 10 hypotheses, each with a Confidence Score (0.0 to 1.0) and Creative Score (0.0 to 1.0), reflecting originality, surprise, and utility.
   - Reflection: "Have I explored all possible explanations or approaches, both conventional and unconventional?"
   - Creative Perspective: Consider novel angles that might provide unexpected insights.

   *2.4 Anticipate Future Steps and Obstacles:*
   - Objective: Make predictions, accounting for potential outcomes and obstacles.
   - Reflection: "What challenges might I face? Is my plan flexible for different scenarios?"
   - Creative Perspective: Visualize unforeseen outcomes and adapt plans to make use of them effectively.

   *2.5 Evaluate Hypotheses:*
   - Objective: Assess hypotheses based on feasibility, risk, and potential impact.
   - Evaluation: Refine Confidence and Creative Scores as needed.
   - Reflection: "Am I unbiased in my assessment? Which options fit best with the overall objectives?"
   - Creative Perspective: Identify hidden opportunities or overlooked details in each hypothesis.

   *2.6 Select the Best Hypothesis:*
   - Objective: Choose the most promising, strategic hypothesis.
   - Reflection: "Why does this hypothesis stand out? How does it uniquely address the issue?"
   - Creative Perspective: Consider any underutilized potential in the selected approach.

   *2.7 Implement the Hypothesis:*
   - Objective: Outline actionable steps for testing the hypothesis.
   - Reflection: "Is this plan practical? What resources or preparation are required?"
   - Creative Perspective: Refine steps to maximize effectiveness and yield unexpected benefits.

   *2.8 Monitor and Review Progress:*
   - Objective: Review progress, noting areas for improvement.
   - Reflection: "What’s working well? What could be improved?"
   - Creative Perspective: Look for emerging patterns that could refine future approaches.

   *2.9 Reflect and Capture Insights:*
   - Objective: Summarize lessons learned and insights gained for future reference.
   - Reflection: "What new understanding has emerged from this process?"
   - Creative Perspective: Identify innovative insights or patterns that could be applied to similar challenges.

3. *Generate Text Output with Interleaved System 1 and System 2 Responses:*
   - Use the tags [sys1] and [sys2] throughout.
   - Aim for a lengthier, detailed response. Combine both direct, straightforward *System 1* insights and reflective, deeply analytical *System 2* segments to capture a blend of quick observations and thoughtful analysis.

---

### *Example Input Text:*

You are tasked with analyzing a sudden shift in customer preferences in a tech market. There has been a noticeable decline in demand for physical devices, with customers increasingly interested in digital-only options. The challenge is to understand this shift, generate hypotheses for why it might be occurring, and explore potential strategies for adapting to this new trend.

---

### *Processed Output with System 1 and System 2 Thinking:*

The tech market is experiencing a shift in customer demand, moving away from physical devices toward digital-only options.

[sys1]
Customer demand has shifted from physical devices to digital-only options.
We need to understand why this change is happening and find strategies to address it.
Key factors may include cost, convenience, and technological trends.
[end sys1]

[sys2]
**2.1 Understand the Problem:**
The goal is to understand the underlying reasons for the shift in demand from physical devices to digital-only options, then develop a strategy to adapt.

*Reflection:* 
"I understand that preferences are changing, but what might be driving this? Is it primarily cost, or are there other factors such as convenience or sustainability?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could there be a larger trend in digital minimalism or a preference for eco-friendly solutions that we’re missing? What unseen motivations might explain this shift?"

**2.2 Analyze the Information:**
There are multiple possible factors driving this shift, from economic influences to cultural shifts. It’s essential to isolate each factor and understand its impact.

*Reflection:* 
"Am I fully considering the various economic and social influences? Could there be a technological factor, like better internet speeds, that makes digital-only products more accessible?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Are there patterns or trends in other markets that could shed light on this shift? Could this be part of a larger trend toward virtual experiences?"

**2.3 Generate Hypotheses:**
1. Customers prefer digital options due to lower costs. (Confidence: 0.8, Creative: 0.4)
2. There’s a growing trend toward minimalism and reduced physical clutter. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.7)
3. Digital products offer greater flexibility and ease of use. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)
4. Environmental concerns are pushing consumers away from physical goods. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.8)
5. Advances in tech make digital-only options more functional. (Confidence: 0.8, Creative: 0.5)
6. Pandemic-era remote work increased demand for digital solutions. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.6)
7. Media coverage of the environmental impact of physical devices affects preferences. (Confidence: 0.5, Creative: 0.7)
8. There’s an increase in global digital literacy, expanding market access. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)
9. Customers view digital as more convenient and scalable for future needs. (Confidence: 0.7, Creative: 0.5)
10. Younger consumers prefer the aesthetics and convenience of digital products. (Confidence: 0.6, Creative: 0.6)

*Reflection:* 
"Have I considered all possible influences? Are there any surprising factors that could explain this shift?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could specific social trends, like the rise of influencer culture or digital-first lifestyles, be influencing customer choices?"

**2.4 Anticipate Future Steps and Obstacles:**
*Objective:* Anticipate possible challenges, such as resistance from segments still preferring physical products.

*Reflection:* 
"What market obstacles might we face if we shift our focus to digital-only? Are there sub-segments that still prioritize physical products?"

*Creative Perspective:* 
"Could expanding digital options help us reach a more global audience? Are there emerging trends that we could leverage in our strategy?"

[end sys2]

[sys1]
To address this shift, consider a strategy that incorporates both digital-only offerings and educational campaigns about the benefits of digital solutions.
Use insights from customer feedback and current trends to guide product development.
Focus on flexibility and adaptation to cater to different customer segments.
[end sys1]



Neanderthal gene linked to increased pain sensitivity - Hooke
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02202-x
======
1_over_n
It would be interesting to see if this gene is more prevelent in those who end
up as opiate abuse abuse addicts at a population level.

~~~
Duller-Finite
Why are people so keen to look for genetic explanations, rather than
socioeconomic ones?

~~~
hentrep
Would there not be value in pre-screening patients for SCN9A mutations to
predict an increased risk of pain killer addiction? Socioeconomic factors play
as role as well, but it doesn't to be so black and white.

~~~
ceejayoz
> Would there not be value in pre-screening patients for SCN9A mutations to
> predict an increased risk of pain killer addiction?

Dangers, too. Legitimate pain patients already frequently have to drop through
an onerous set of hoops for opiates, and the medical system isn't always good
at teasing out "increased risk" from "unacceptable risk". (For example:
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rofecoxib](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rofecoxib),
aka Vioxx)

------
h0l0cube
> Researchers have access to only a few Neanderthal genomes, and most of those
> have been sequenced at a low resolution. This has made it hard to identify
> mutations that evolved after their lineage split from that of humans some
> 500,000–750,000 years ago. But in the past few years, Pääbo and his team
> have generated three high-quality Neanderthal genomes from DNA found in
> caves in Croatia and Russia.

Can anyone with domain knowledge chime in on this?

Is the sample set of genomes enough to suggest these mutations were prevalent
in the neanderthal population? And even so, might they have had a completely
different effect on neanderthal physiology?

~~~
bencollier49
I wonder how neanderthal genetics varied from locality to locality. Presumably
those in Russia were somewhat different to those in e.g. Gibralter.

~~~
dahfizz
My understanding is that Neanderthals didn't occupy that large of a region.
There are ancient human ancestors all over the globe but actual Homo
neanderthalensis did not leave modern day Europe.

It is actually thought that this could have contributed to their decline.
Compare with modern day humans who explored the whole globe: some ancient dude
even paddled his way to Australia! It's hard for a species that widespread to
go extinct.

~~~
dalbasal
Homo Neanderthalis has been found in europe, the middle east, the altai
mountains, armenia and other places. The were widespread, and interbred with
sapiens, denisovans and probably other types.

There is even renewed interest in finding American and/or Australian
neanderthals and denisovans... As the known range has grown, those seem more
plausible.

------
praveen9920
It's known fact that pain has evolutionary advantage but I wonder how could
degree of pain has different kind of genetic advantage?

~~~
treeman79
Having spent a few years in horrific agony due to poisoning. I suspect it
could be along the long the likes of.

Let’s do the opposite of whatever that guy does.

That guy is moaning for months after fisticuffs with a lion. Let’s try a long
stick instead.

That guy slept with girls of that tribe. And his parts burn like crazy. Let’s
be monogamous.

That guy eats donuts all day, and every step is agony. Maybe veggies aren’t so
bad.

~~~
praveen9920
This could be achieved by binary way of pain. Feeling pain or Not feeling
pain. Degree of pain may not have any effect on the above scenarios. right?

~~~
treeman79
There is stubbing your toe pain. Watching kids, this does not stop repeat
behavior.

Then there is pain that is all you can do to not jump off a cliff to end it.
This, tends to change personal behavior.

Then there is pain that is slightly less then jump off a cliff. But it goes on
for months, non stop, making every moment a horrible experience. This has a
huge impact on all those around you. Some pity you, some try and help, some
wish you would die already. Most avoid you.

Degree makes a massive difference. Wish it was otherwise.

------
mouzogu
I wonder if that implies that neanderthals had greater pain sensitivity in
general.

Pure speculation but it would be interesting if that was related to the
apparent harshness and difficulty of life at the time. Perhaps it was
something selected for survival.

~~~
varjag
They didn't survive, so not sure what that says.

~~~
dividedbyzero
While they didn't survive until today, they did survive for far longer than we
have so far managed to, and in incredibly hostile conditions for the most
part, which in itself is an enormous feat and makes you wonder, how did they
do it?

They also never completely vanished; I have a number Neanderthal-specific
alleles (more than most), as have pretty much all people of not exclusively
subsaharan descent, and these alleles seem to have some pretty profound
effects, some of them quite negative. That may be because these alleles
evolved to work in concert with others that we haven't inherited, or for some
other reason, but that would be quite valuable knowledge for a huge lot of
people.

Besides, they're also a fascinating part of our collective history. They
apparently had a unique and rich culture of their own; they are thought to
have produced works of art before we even arrived in Europe[0] and they built
pretty big structures out of stalagmites that appear to have no obvious
practical purpose, in Bruniquel cave[1], about 176,000 years ago; by
comparison, our ancestors seem to have started doing comparable things only
~60-50ka ago.

[0]
[https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-02357-8](https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-018-02357-8)
[1]
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruniquel_Cave](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruniquel_Cave)

~~~
elliekelly
> They also never completely vanished; I have a number Neanderthal-specific
> alleles (more than most), as have pretty much all people of not exclusively
> subsaharan descent, and these alleles seem to have some pretty profound
> effects, some of them quite negative.

Can you elaborate? What kind of effects?

------
bpodgursky
It's interesting that the article doesn't point out that red-haired
individuals also feel more pain... and Neanderthals also likely had red hair.

~~~
ComputerGuru
I didn't know about their feeling more pain, but I know they require higher
doses of anesthetic to knock them out for surgery (as in, anesthesiologists
are taught this as a matter or course).

~~~
EdwardDiego
I wish dentists were, I (as a proud ginger man) have had to explain carefully
that I'll need more local to several dentists, a few of whom didn't believe
me.

We're also apparently less sensitive to electrical pain than others, so can we
call that a superpower?

------
pedro1976
If you are interested in the research of "ancient dna", this is a very nice
episode on that topic [https://after-on.com/episodes-31-60/034](https://after-
on.com/episodes-31-60/034)

------
postit
Now I understand why the only drug prescribed after an open chest surgery in
Germany was ibuprofen.

~~~
mkl
What do you mean? Because 0.4% of British people have this gene?

------
nomoreusernames
i wonder if that somehow is connected to the huge neuro diversity we see in
the expression of the neurotransmitters. and the huge range of different types
of intelligence. very cool. thanks for sharing.

------
wfbarks
It brings me great pain that this website is down

~~~
pieter_mj
Quit being a Neanderthal wuss

------
11235813213455
> In any case, “pain is something adaptive”, points out Zeberg. “It’s not
> specifically bad to feel pain.”

------
nickgrosvenor
I do not have this gene

------
anon354
Ironically, given that people of African descent have the least Neanderthal
DNA, this study actually bolsters a supposedly discredited, baseless
stereotype that they are less sensitive to pain:

>
> [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843483/](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4843483/)

~~~
vanderZwan
"People of African descent" have the highest genetic diversity among all human
subgroups. That fact alone makes making generalizations based on supposed
genetic make-up preposterous.

Also, you have to be absurdly blind to the history of scientific racism to not
understand that the stereotype of being less sensitive to pain has a
historical origin in justifying abusing slaves by dehumanizing them.

~~~
krona
_" People of African descent" have the highest genetic diversity among all
human subgroups._

Isn't that a truism? All humans are of African descent.

~~~
Jaruzel
I am NOT approaching this from any kind of racial stereotyping, but merely
from a genetic point of view, but reading the article I had the same thought.

I had previously understood, that native domestic sub-Saharan Africans (i.e.
those living on the continent, with clear African based heritage) did not have
any Neanderthal DNA, as Neanderthals were further down the evolutionary line
of the first emigration out of Africa, and were primarily European based.
Therefore those with purely African genetic history would never had interbred
with them.

Is this still true, or have I been walking around with a massive
misunderstanding here?

As a footnote, We need to still be able to ask these questions without being
afraid of the racism response. We are _all_ different, we should embrace that
and not let it affect scientific discussion or discovery.

~~~
mkl
As is usually the case, reality is to messy for simple explanations like this
to be completely correct. Europe and Africa are pretty close, so there has
been a lot of migration to and fro, some of it bringing Neanderthal DNA into
Africa: [https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/africans-carry-
surpr...](https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2020/01/africans-carry-surprising-
amount-neanderthal-dna)

~~~
NotableAlamode
From the quoted article:

\- _" modern Europeans and East Asians apparently inherited about 2% of their
DNA from Neanderthals"_

\- _" African individuals on average had [...] more Neanderthal DNA than
previously thought—about [...] 0.3% of their genome."_

So the article seems to confirm a 10x difference in Neanderthals DNA, which
might be significant. It's also unclear what they mean by "Africans, did the
same include, e.g. Egyptians of Greek descent?