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The Future of the Body

Thursday, Aug. 11 2005 | Author: Dave

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I just recently got my September edition of Popular Science (yes, I know I am a geek, that’s why I write here), and in its pages were some really great articles on how genetic engineering as well as technological advancements will create better, faster, stronger human beings.

I think it would be really nice to be able to take a pill to increase my confidence, my memory, and find some cheap way to fix my sight, and increase my creativity.

Brain chips that enable us to control machines with our thoughts. Kidneys and lungs built to order in the lab. Pills to make you smarter and more creative. An implant that gives you a tan and protects against skin cancer. All these innovations are in development; some are already being tested on human subjects.

The next technological frontier will be our own bodies. Genetics, materials science, tissue engineering and nanotechnology are already yielding products to help the sick and injured, including a Band-Aid-like heart patch and the C-leg prosthesis for amputees. But we are entering a century in which medical science…

I find myself always wishing I had super powers, but not having the ability to gain them always was a downer. In twenty years, when I am too old to really use them, I could actually have super strength and super hearing. The sad part of that is also that they will probably be common place, so it will be much like Gattaca, where it is the normal, unmodified people that are the low class people in the society.

What super power would you want to have? Keeping it decently technologically feasable please.

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4 Responses for "The Future of the Body"

Brad

August 11th, 2005 at 9:57 pm
1

stuff like that leaves WAY too much room for abuse of money and power by “the man” (and anyone without some serious morals…which seems like a lot of people these days). having organs to order for people that need them is one thing, but bypassing evolution and nature to modify the human mind and body is just asking for trouble
LifeHut

August 12th, 2005 at 9:18 am
2

I agree Brad.

and to go a little further.

ALL these revolutionary technologies always use the same excuse over and over for wanting to go further with their technology

“To help the sick and injured”

Like with cloning people, some scientist say,

“This would be great to clone body parts for those that have lost a limb”

and to be honest, I am sure it would, but it opens the doors for all sorts of trouble.

People with money play on the weak, and the weak are those without money, are sick, are defenseless, are hungry, are desperate, and you get the picture.

I personally don’t think we need to be going into this arena. Our bodies were made a certain way, we shouldn’t be altering their chemistry.
John

August 12th, 2005 at 11:20 am
3

“Our bodies were made a certain way, we shouldn’t be altering their chemistry”

Yes, look at Neanderthals for an example of the peak of human evolution. You just can’t beat that design!

Anyways, smart drugs exist today they just haven’t been picked up and marketed by a big company like Pfizer yet. Haven’t tried any myself but I have a colleague that swears by Piracetam.

Link got stuck in the questionable content filter, so Google for piracetam and nootropics
Griffith

August 13th, 2005 at 7:57 pm
4

This might sound a bit radical, but I actually think that we’re headed for a “Ghost in the Shell”-like future. If you think about it we’re not really far either.