"Each human cell already has all of the tools required to build these biocomputers on its own," says Harvard's Yaakov (Kobi) Benenson, a Bauer Fellow in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences' Center for Systems Biology. "All that must be provided is a genetic blueprint of the machine and our own biology will do the rest. Your cells will literally build these biocomputers for you."
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Scientists develop tiny implantable biocomputers
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Wow! This is a very intriguing story, although not too detailed as to precisely how the biocomputer automatas would work--makes me wonder how they might be used to repair or enhance neurons and their synaptic connections in the brain for elevated cogitation, memory, math or other skills and, penultimately, higher intelligence, if at all possible. Exciting!
Still, this kind of biotech really needs to be carefully watched. What if a biocomputer could be protein programmed to modify components of DNA in egg or sperm cells, so that the changes could be passed down to one's offspring? The implementation and particularly ethics of some biological transhumanist developments require deep consideration and evaluation as to their long-term impact and effects.
Any volunteers for the first "mind upgrade" using early prototype biocomputer enhancements?
Personally, I'd wait awhile, unless my life or continuity of consciousness depended on it. Even then...I'm somehow reminded of the 1977 film, "Demon Seed."
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