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The idea and implementation of gene drives have been around for a while since the development of zinc finger nucleases ~20 years ago. The issue has been they we
by skosuri 12y ago
The idea and implementation of gene drives have been around for a while since the development of zinc finger nucleases ~20 years ago. The issue has been they were hard to do. Now with CRISPR's it has been remarkably easier. Interestingly in drosophila, there is precedence for engineering other forms of selfish genetic elements such as P elements (transposons). We will see where the technology goes, but we sure do live in interesting times when it comes to the engineering of biology.
- toomuchtodo 12y ago> We will see where the technology goes, but we sure do live in interesting times when it comes to the engineering of biology. Perhaps I'm just too optimistic for the times, but I believe immortality is within our grasp.
- ygmelnikova 12y ago"Immortality within our grasp"? The world is fundamentally evil. 160 million dead via war in the 20th century alone. Optimism in this matter is incredibly naive.
- toomuchtodo 12y agoImmortality from death due to biological breakdown.
- ygmelnikova 12y agoDeath due to honeybees mutated with Box Jellyfish venom. "the venom causes cells to become porous enough to allow potassium leakage, causing hyperkalemia which can lead to cardiovascular collapse and death as quickly as within two to five minutes" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironex_fleckeri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chironex_fleckeri
- toomuchtodo 12y agoFor each malady you bring up, the genome can be hardened against. Humanity has enough time to iterate ;)
- woah 12y agoCould be done with head transplant: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22530103.700-first-human-head-transplant-could-happen-in-two-years.html http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22530103.700-first-hum... Imagine in a distant future, Mark Zuckerberg's 3000 year old head sits atop a healthy young body. Every 20 years he demands a new body donor from the populace as a tribute.
- toomuchtodo 12y agoAnd so the social games begin.
- Terr_ 12y agoHe'll choose from a catalogue known as "Headbook."
- huuu 12y agoThe movie 'In Time' (2011) has a nice view on this subject. Only the rich will be able to live forever but some of them discover they get tired of living. I'm not sure living forever in this world will be that much fun.
- erkkie 12y agoExtreme sports will be more fun though! (Living forever doesn't mean not dying, just raising the bar)
- vidarh 12y agoThe Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect [1] is a fascinating take on immortality (for everyone in this case) as a curse. [1] http://localroger.com/prime-intellect/ http://localroger.com/prime-intellect/
- sbierwagen 12y agoContent warning: TMoPI is hideously graphic at times, and the ending contains an explicit description of father/daughter incest.
- 12y ago
- ChuckMcM 12y agoWell not immortality but really really good cyclists for the Tour de France.
- sanxiyn 12y agoI am not sure about immortality, but I think the final victory against hostis humani generis, the enemy of mankind, Plasmodium falciparum aka malaria, is within our grasp. This would be a trenemdnous boon to the humanity worthy of the Nobel Prize and more.
- mark_integerdsv 12y agoAccording to Neal Stephenson, the most badass adversary humankind has faces is influenza. I tend to nod in agreement, smiling wryly.
- duaneb 12y agoDon't you mean pessimistic?