Forbidden fruit?
WE stand upon the edge of a precipice, caught by our technology between two possible futures- 'utopia or oblivion.' We can forge a tomorrow of abundance and peace and extreme longevity, or we can be swallowed by time and folly and we can perish.
A lowly nemadote worm has been re-engineered by biologist Cynthia Kenyon - now it can live six times its normal lifespan. The gene and protein in question-SIR2- regulates insulin, and humans possess an almost identical counterpart.
There are lab mice that live about twice as long as normal, because they are caloric starved, which produces internal conditions that we might be able to reproduce in humans with medicines, thus eliminating the need for near starvation.... or the mice live extra long by receiving massive doses of resveratrol, or they are given Alpha -Lipoic acid and Acetly l-Carnitine.
Very soon humans might be able to vastly extend their lifespan by consuming a daily pill, or by receiving a weekly injection.
The computer-human interface continues...one day, our neurons might be replaced with synthetic mechanical microscopic lab created spares.....eventually, we might be able to download our consciousness into a robot/computer. Our new silicon/metallic self would endure as long as a modest civilzation survived, which would provide the 'upkeep' for our new mechanical self.
(The difference between 'actual' and 'replicates'.....)
A culture of death permeates society. We are programmed to accept death, but we can alter out conditioning....
The analogy of the house is apt- kept up, one will last for centuries....
Soon our converging technologies will combine to create a race of eternals, if one wants to partake... . 'Live long enough to live forever.' A desire and dream, coming to fruition in our laboratories, in less than 20 years... making this the last mortal generation. After all, who can be happy with something that has to end ?
" ...Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and only a few will find it."
The New Testament , Matthew 7:14
A lowly nemadote worm has been re-engineered by biologist Cynthia Kenyon - now it can live six times its normal lifespan. The gene and protein in question-SIR2- regulates insulin, and humans possess an almost identical counterpart.
There are lab mice that live about twice as long as normal, because they are caloric starved, which produces internal conditions that we might be able to reproduce in humans with medicines, thus eliminating the need for near starvation.... or the mice live extra long by receiving massive doses of resveratrol, or they are given Alpha -Lipoic acid and Acetly l-Carnitine.
Very soon humans might be able to vastly extend their lifespan by consuming a daily pill, or by receiving a weekly injection.
The computer-human interface continues...one day, our neurons might be replaced with synthetic mechanical microscopic lab created spares.....eventually, we might be able to download our consciousness into a robot/computer. Our new silicon/metallic self would endure as long as a modest civilzation survived, which would provide the 'upkeep' for our new mechanical self.
(The difference between 'actual' and 'replicates'.....)
A culture of death permeates society. We are programmed to accept death, but we can alter out conditioning....
The analogy of the house is apt- kept up, one will last for centuries....
Soon our converging technologies will combine to create a race of eternals, if one wants to partake... . 'Live long enough to live forever.' A desire and dream, coming to fruition in our laboratories, in less than 20 years... making this the last mortal generation. After all, who can be happy with something that has to end ?
" ...Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and only a few will find it."
The New Testament , Matthew 7:14
posted by Zero at 8:30 AM
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