So you may have heard the news. A team of American geneticists have successfully edited the genes of a living human embryo. It's hard to believe that 15 or 20 years ago all of this is merely science fiction.

But as we take our baby steps towards transhumanism, we should, with all respect, give due credit to those who came before. As well as ask ourselves whether we want to know of what might come after....

If you have a sibling, you can probably note down some differences between yourselves, one of you have your father's eyes, while the other have you mother's. If you then compare yourself with your first cousins, the differences maybe more pronounced.

Now, how far do we have to go back the family tree to be completely unrecognizable? And how did this came about?

The emergence of chordates are the first step that nature made to put rigidity in lifeforms. Having a structure seems to be advantageous along the evolutionary path as this was later joined by the development of exoskeletons. by invertebrates  It also allow for creatures to emerge beyond the buoyant world of the oceans...

​...and take our first steps onto solid ground.

What You See is a short story about a simple subject: what makes us, us? Are our consciousness linked to intelligence, awareness, or our progression on the evolutionary tree?

If it's the latter, then have our consciousness changed throughout human history? And what about those who come after us?

Population genetics is the branch of genetics which studies the genetic composition of populations. It brings together genetics, evolution, natural selection, breeding, statistics and mathematics. It's one of those rare crossroads of multiple disciplines that gives a wider perspective to ourselves and nature.

It doesn't just answer the question of what we are, but also why we are as we are.