What will come first, genetic modification or cybernetic modification of humans?
Posted on December 31, 2011
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Seems like genetic modification is a more permanent and less invasive way (either modifying embryos so new people are born with certain superior traits, or using stem cells or gene therapy to modify existing recipients)…
genetic includes things like cloning new body parts etc, cybernetic would also include nanomachines
Isn’t someone in a wheelchair, by definition, a cyborg?
I’m gonna go with cybernetics.
Yeah, I played the new Deus Ex too
Question is pretty vague. I mean, to a certain extent we are already doing cybernetics.
Well, we already have pacemakers and artificial limbs and those bluetooth earphone thingies for cell phones. So I guess cybernetics will come first.
Yes but things are pretty primitive
in prosthesis, the most advanced system they have is this "myoelectric control" system where electrical impulses from the rest of the limb are interpreted by sensors in the prosthesis.. you concentrate hard about closing your hand, and the hand closes. the problem is, from what I understand, is that it depends on the amount of limb remaining and at which point the nerve were lost, it is probably harder flex a finger for someone who lost their entire forearm than someone who lost it at the wrist (most of the nerve was maintained).
DARPA says they plan to create a neural interface where a chip in the central nervous system (spine or brain) will transmit movement information to a prosthetic limb to allow effortless manipulation just by thinking about it… but DARPA also talks a about a lot of crazy shit like robot armies and cloaking.
its up to our understanding of physiology vs genetics.. if we figure out genetics before we figure out physiology, it might just be easier to use the existing machinery of life and the human body to grow or modify existing cells to our specifications…
that’s pretty amazing.
Amazing times.
The next 30-50 years will be simply mind blowing.
Cybernetics IMO. It creates less controversy so it’s easier to get the heavy funding needed for its advance.
Genetic modification has some strong active opposition while Cybernetics enjoys a pretty wide consensus.
BTW, does a heart-valve fall into cybernetics by your definition? Because there’s some pretty awesome stuff nowadays, no need to look into the future for the answer.
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Cybernetics IMO. It creates less controversy so it’s easier to get the heavy funding needed for its advance.
Genetic modification has some strong active opposition while Cybernetics enjoys a pretty wide consensus. BTW, does a heart-valve fall into cybernetics by your definition? Because there’s some pretty awesome stuff nowadays, no need to look into the future for the answer. |
it does but its very primitive.. and its a good example of the problems cyber implants have. A biological (ie from a pig or a cow) heart valve (not cybernetic per se) needs to be replaced every 10 years because your immune system will eventually eat it away. A synthetic one will last forever, but you must be put on anti-coagulants for the rest of your life because your blood will constantly clot in response to the foreign body, risking embolization… cybernetics would have similar problems (which is actually part of the plot of the new DE game where the company has a monopoly over anti-rejection drugs)
a gentically engineered valve, although not possible with todays technology, would cause none of these problems since its from your own DNA
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it does but its very primitive.. and its a good example of the problems cyber implants have. A biological (ie from a pig or a cow) heart valve (not cybernetic per se) needs to be replaced every 10 years because your immune system will eventually eat it away. A synthetic one will last forever, but you must be put on anti-coagulants for the rest of your life because your blood will constantly clot in response to the foreign body, risking embolization… cybernetics would have similar problems (which is actually part of the plot of the new DE game where the company has a monopoly over anti-rejection drugs)
a gentically engineered valve, although not possible with todays technology, would cause none of these problems since its from your own DNA |
Primitive or not, if we’ve been doing cybernetics for years but are just now starting genetic modification, haven’t you answered your own question?
I think the question you’re trying to ask is which one will have the greater effect in the long run.
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